Mill & Kirtle Updates & Pinterest

[elizabethcbunce]

For good or ill, there are pictures in this post.
First, though, I've joined Pinterest! Come find me! I don't have much up there yet, mostly because of the fear of confessing to liking various things in public (frex, no pix of the totally schlumpy turtleneck pattern I'm thinking of making. Or the fact that my real TBR pile is heavily stocked with

Comments

[christinenorris]

I THINK what you need are a few little snips in the skirt fabric where it comes to the point. Like the little triangle things, you know, when you cut out a pattern, when you are making a sleeve-hole or a curved seam, for example? But I can't tell, because it looks like the cartridge pleating is rolled up a bit, and the rest of the fabric is following suit. SO maybe a snip near where you switch from pleats to smooth?

[christinenorris]

Oh and the best way to get that crisp point is to stop the machine at the V, with the needle still in the fabric lift the foot and pull the fabric around until the other side of the V is properly aligned, then keep going, almost like you're making a pillow cover. Then you'll need to snip close to the stitching to remove the fabric bulk beneath.

[elizabethcbunce]

Thanks, Christine! That sounds similar to what Kate is suggesting below. :)

[olmue]

Well, I think they both look fabulous!

[elizabethcbunce]

:)

[katexxxxxx]

The mill is looking rather fine

[elizabethcbunce]

Thanks, Kate! It sounds similar the technique that Susan Khalje demonstrates in BRIDAL COUTURE. And we started that way, initially (you should have seen it; it was *beautiful!* Unfortunately, it was in the wrong place!!). But it's really tight in there now with the pleats sewn; and it seems to be too complicated to do by machine AND also get the damask to line up properly. I had two more goes at it after unpicking it, and both were disasters. :( I think I'm going to have to go in there by hand, which will let me adjust it as I go and keep an eye on the placement of the pattern repeats, etc. Just need to talk myself into doing it now....

[pinkdiamond]

Are you sewing the skirt into the waist seam? I'd recommend making the skirt and bodice separate and hand sewing the skirt to the edge of the bodice.

But from here you could pin the skirt front to the form below the bodice to hold it steady, pull out the top layer of the bodice and fold and pin the seam allowance under so that the edge of the bodice is smooth on the outside.
Then pin the bodice in place on the skirt. I do recommend hand sewing this from the front and hiding the stitches as much as possible. Then you can clip the excess away from behind and hand sew the lining in place, folding the seam allowances under as well. You can check the hang of the skirt at both the pinned and top section only sewn stages too.

By the way the fit of the bodice is gorgeous. Just so very well made and smooth and yet a bit curvy over the bust.

[elizabethcbunce]

Thank you!! Jenn at CenturiesSewing recommended the same thing, and it's something I can easily wrap my brain around. I think. :|

And thank you for the comments on the bodice fit! (blushes)