Violet and Roses Robe a la Francaise: Front Bodice is Done!
The bodice fronts came together pretty smoothly, which is totally not normal!
Got the fake robings done first. I didn't have enough fabric to back them with the silk, so they are backed with plain black cotton, like the lining...
Then I put a small facing on the inside, because I can't stand it when lining shows at the front edges...
Figuring out where to put the furbelows-- spacing the roses and making sure the puffs are nicely puffed. (Gads those roses look hideous with the flash-- they are so demure and pretty to the naked eye! Sheesh!
Made little pinch pleats in the long scalloped strip of fabric.
Attached to the robings with a tack at each pinch pleat...
Adding the roses, just tacked down in a few spots to secure them...
Robings done, with the furbelows attached. I know it seems dumb to do this now, but I've tried to streamline the whole process, and this is how it works out. If I try to do it later, the whole gown is assembled and I'd have to wrestle the skirts to get those roses on in an awkward position. No thank you!
Using drapers tape to secure the snaps in place while I sew them down...
Each snap hole tacked by machine-- so easy! I can't stand doing it by hand, and I know the stomacher snaps have to be hand done and I'm not looking forward to it! Wah!
Pinning and sewing the robings in place...
Adding the false stomacher, which will be laced securely beneath the snapped-on stomacher...
All done!