Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Today I am going to begin cuting out the muslin for the gown. I cut out the under dress and begin to mark all the dots, straight of grain, label front, side front, etc. Then I measure up from the hem at 2 ½ inches, 8” another 8” 7 ½”, then up 7 more inches. These will be the points that I will cut the pattern for the outer layer of the dress and add 12 inches of fabric between each line for the extra fabric needed to pull up and make the puffs and layers. I have determined that this dress will consist of a lining layer, an under dress that will be interfaced, and an overdress that will be attached randomly to the undress at predetermined pick-up points and semi ruffles, just like the picture! I call Anna, which size train did you decide you wanted? She likes the cathedral train which measures 7 ½ feet from your back waist. So I lay out the back and side back pattern pieces on the foyer floor and begin to draw out the train on the interfacing that I am using for a pattern piece. The foyer (which is a good size) is not large enough for the whole thing, so I have to move my table in the living room, roll up my oriental rug and work on the floor in there. Perfect! Yea, it is all drawn out. I begin to measure everything and figure out that I will need 37 yards of the silk taffeta to make the under dress, train, and overdress. I still haven’t decided which silk I am lining the dress in. I may line it with the silk taffeta because I have chosen a really light weight one, it feels like heaven! I measure all along the edges of the dress and train and figure that I need 16 yards of the Alencon Lace scalloped trim and since it usually comes in about a 6” or 9” piece with double scalloped edge I will only need 8 yards of that and then about 1 ½ yards of the 36” corresponding lace for the front part. So I write out everything that I need, gather up my swatches of fabrics, pack my bag and get off to bed. I am heading to Mary Jo’s tomorrow and buy all the fabric for the dress! I am so excited!