This dress started because I wanted to sell something on eBay before selling the lavendar gown. It's been a long time since I've sold anything on eBay and things might have changed, prolly have changed actually. I'm still not sure if I want to sell it but considering I have lost weight, it most likely won't fit me by the time it's finally done and I hate alterations.

So, this is my stash dress. So far I have bought the lining/underskirt fabric, ribbon and beads for the sleeve ties, plain buttons for the button covers, and the red accent fabric. Then again, it might be easier to list what I didn't buy... However, the cost of these little things is far less than the cost of just the main fabric. Stash can be good. Plus, that main fabric took up nearly half a bin so I have a lot more free space now. Of course, I have about three bins worth of fabric on the floor. =)

I've been working on this dress for far too long already but that's nothing new. I made some good progress this past weekend. So, not all of this was done this past weekend but all of the construction was.

The bodice is lightly boned with featherweight boning. This makes the bodice machine wash/dry but it will look the best if worn over a corset. The featherweight boning just keeps it looking smooth while being worn but really won't do much for support by the end of the day. It is fully lined, or will be once I finish around the armholes. Then all that needs to be done is the ties for the sleeves and skirts and the eyelets in the back.

Yes, these are bad pics but I have a few too many projects going on right now so no room to take good pics. =) The forepart has buttons sewn on but I don't have the button covers on right now. It's not quite done and the button covers seem to scratch relatively easy so I'm leaving them off until there is no more sewing. There are three rows of red/gold trim and two of gold. I just have to attach the waistband and serge the bottom edge.

I'm planning on two sets of sleeves. That plan can always change in case one set doesn't turn out very well. The beauty of interchangeable sleeves. One set will match the forepart and these are just about done. The gold trim also continues up the seams joining the upper and under sleeves but it doesn't show up very well in the picture. Just have to attach the sleeve ties and the lining.



The second set of sleeves are the ones that I'm not too sure about. I put piping in 'keyholes' and was going to put the navy linen there but I changed my mind and will prolly use puffs of white fabric. These have a lot more work to go which is why the pic only shows the piping, there isn't anything else to show.



And these are the sleeve ties. I have a thought about them but I'm terrible at describing things so I will wait for pics to do the describing. And the button covers. These will not only go on the forepart and matching sleeves but hopefully will go on the bodice and second sleeves.



Okay, that's all for now and I think it's time to get back to gaming. Oh, wait, sewing. Yeah, time to get back to sewing...



Okay, so I'm not so good with the whole diary concept apparently. I worked on this costume a little bit each week and it never seemed like anything worth putting on the webpage and then I went crazy two weekends in a row and it's done. I actually had to ban myself from playing The Game for two weekends just so I could get something of note done. So, it is done, no more banning from gaming - well, at least for this weekend - and no updates. =P

I do have a few more 'in process' pics but otherwise, it's all the finished pics. I had more pics from the eyelets because I was going to do a tutorial but one disk that I used turned out to be corrupted and I found out after all of the eyelets were done so I get to start all over for the tutorial. Yes, I do use a digital camera that uses floppy disks. It was my first digital camera and so I know it the best but I'm finally starting to realize that it doesn't take the best pics. And with the floppy disk being corrupted, I think it's time I switch to one of my other cameras. Anyway, the few pics that I have...



And that's the process. =) And below are the finished eyelets.



Since I didn't take any more pictures of the process, I will just skip to the link for the final product. It is basically the page that I put up for eBay but it does describe everything pretty well, I hope. Definitely go check it out, if not to see the dress, then go for the jewelry - it's toward the bottom. Llyra made a wonderful girdle and necklace for this dress and they're gorgeous. BTW, she might be available for commissions so go to her website. */end shameless plug* Enjoy!



                                       


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