There is an over-layer of lace... and I want to keep the scalloped edge of the lace on the skirt, which means the lace over-skirt has to be sewn separately from the lining and underlining.
I can't do plain and simple lined sleeves, because they are tulip-style sleeves... and I want to avoid French seams or scratchy serging on such tiny shoulder seams.
There's an invisible zipper that has to extend into the skirt area, meaning I can't just sew the back seam of the skirt up if I want the zipper enclosed in the lining... and again the free layer of the lace makes that even more difficult.
I want the lining and underlining sewn together at the hem, instead of individually hemming them, so the skirt seams will be enclosed, instead of having to serge or French seam them... although I'll still have to French seam the lace layer.
And that's not to mention the fact that I drafted a whole sloper just to make sure it would fit right!
Is it even possible to machine sew something that complicated, or am I crazy for even thinking of it? Should I just whip everything together and serge it all off, or is it worth all the effort (and the brain-stretching!) for something perfect on the inside and out?
Thanks for stopping by and letting me unload my worries,
PS: Did I mention that I finished cutting all the pieces out... all 33 of them? Really, 33 pieces for one little girl's dress.
Charity, you have taken on quite a project! If you have the extra fabric and you haven't gotten too far into creating the bodice, I would say line the entire bodice (no exposed seams) after extending the back pieces enough for a button-back design. (Ditch the zipper.) You would just need to extend the back pieces just enough for the overlap and the buttonholes. That way you can cut a slit in the back skirt and make a continuous lap placket that will encompass the skirt, slip, and overlay. Hemming the two skirts separately will be easier than trying to fuss with that many layers. As to whether it is all 'worth it' for a flower girl dress, I would ask the mother if the little one would ever wear the dress again. That would influence how I went about making it. Will it be an heirloom? Will another child wear it someday? Will it end up being the foundation for a costume someday? How will it be laundered? I wish I could sit with you and get it done. Two minds and four hands would get it done in no time! My sister was supposed to make my niece's flower girl dress for my wedding. When she hadn't started it 10 days before the wedding I had her bring her machine to my mother's house and we set it up next to mine and my serger and had it finished it less than five hours. Kelly (niece) wore the dress in another wedding that summer and wore it the following year (tiny girl) for both Easter and Mothers Day. It hangs in her closet to this day!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the advice! I did manage to sew the whole thing, and have it well-finished too. =) I would have used buttons and buttonholes, but my buttonhole sensor is not working on my machine, so I would have had to hand sew them, which I am not yet skilled enough to do, or create bound buttonholes or button loops.
DeleteBooper will probably only wear this dress for the wedding, since she never has occasion for formal-wear otherwise, but I know I would have regretted putting less effort into the details of it... every time I sew a quick and simple project I wish I had taken the time to just do it right. I do expect this dress to be an heirloom, and someday I want to see my granddaughters dressed in it. =)