Ariel Petticoat and CADDing

[theladyrebecca]

I've been working on Ariel for the last few days. I finished the petticoat yesterday, which is a taffeta base, heavily gathered crinoline around the hem, and a layer of ruffled organza from above the knee to the hem.

Here's a pic:



Today, I started on the skirt. It consists of four layers - satin, sequin mesh, light turquoise organza, and a cutaway layer of dark turquoise organza. Each layer is a full circle (other than the top cutaway one). So far, all of the layers are cut out, and the top layer is sewn together and hemmed, which was such a pain!

This is what it looks like with all the layers draped on top of each other.


I'm also having a bit of CADD, which I find often happens when I'm working on commissions. This one is due to an event coming up in the end of May (which I don't even know if I can go to yet). There's a local living history fort that is having a celebration for Queen Victoria's birthday, set in the 1850s, and it seemed like the perfect chance for a sheer dress. And then of course I mentioned how I wish I could make it in time for Port Townsend (in three weeks), and enabler vanessa_lynne said I should/could do it. I don't know if she's right or not, but I did decide on the design and cut out the skirt panels tonight. I'm using the same sheer dead dino fabric I bought half a bolt of at the fabric district in 2012 and used on my 1780s dress. And even after cutting out the skirt, I have soooo much left!

One question, though - it seems like some sheer dresses have a sort of attached camisole/liner, some have a full bodice lining, and some don't have any liner at all. Is this true? Any rhyme or reason to ones that do vs ones that don't?

Comments

[theladyrebecca.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That was super helpful. Do you know if the shirred-front dresses would have likely had the half-high lining, too? That's the kind of lining I'm leaning towards, and the bodice I intend to make.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

I'm not aware of any particular difference by style of dress, so go for it! If anything, that style may benefit from a lining to keep the gathers over the front of the bust instead of falling off to the side. Do you have Costume in Detail? At least one of the dresses there shows a line of stitching from the waist to the shoulder to control the gathers.

[theladyrebecca.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll look through the book - I hadn't consulted it yet.