(no subject)

The Butterick dress is a little over halfway done. The entire front piece is done, and the back bodice just needs the skirt attached. I've already hemmed the skirt, so it's basically just attaching it to the bodice and sewing the shoulders together. However, there's actually quite a bit of hand work that needs to be done, too, like stitching down the facing hems, and the facings at the shoulders. I also decided I wanted to hand hem the CF edges of the skirt because while I don't mind the machine stitching at the hem, I feel like it would look pretty glaring at the CF. Other than that, I think there's a hook and eye that gets attached to the elastic that fastens in back. And there's buttons and buttonholes, of course, and attaching the belt to a belt buckle. However, that last part may have to wait a while, since apparently Joanns no longer carries much in the way of belt buckles. I have one other fabric store to call tomorrow (since what I really want is a fabric-covered belt buckle kit), and otherwise I'll have to order the buckle online.

Anyway, I doubt I'll finish it tomorrow, unfortunately, but it's always a possibility. I got my errands all done today before rehearsal, so the only thing I have on the docket for tomorrow is ushering a show in the evening.

Also, we're one week out from the show! We have a photoshoot on Sunday, but the next rehearsal isn't till Monday. I don't like having this much time off so close to opening! But I really can't wait to actually have a set to rehearse on on Monday. From the drawings, the set (for the MacAfee house) is going to be so cool! 

(no subject)

I'm starting to think maybe this Butterick dress is not meant to be. Because of the strange way it wraps, it is unfortunately impossible to try on until it's fully assembled. Well, it's fully assembled now, with the full bodice linings and hand-stitching and all, and the fit is laughable. For one thing, the front neckline is way too wide (like, minimum 2" too wide, but I could probably take 4" out and still have a decent neckline). The shoulders are also far too long in the back, to the point where they make the whole back of the bodice pouf out. I'm thinking about 2" too long towards the center back. Also, the front section is longer than the back section, so it needs to be hemmed at least 1-1.5" shorter.

I could actually fix these problems without terribly too much trouble. I can make an ugly dart between the bust and neckline, joining it up with one of the darts coming up from the waist. Of course, it would have to be through the outer and lining fabric together, because ripping them apart is way too much work. The dart is actually fully hidden under the part where the back portion wraps around and goes up in points over the bust. I can also undo my handsewing and machine sewing at the shoulders, and take them up, and sew it back together.

But of course, those aren't the only problems. The sleeves are basically dolman cap sleeves, which means that once I do the above alterations, I get weird wrinkles heading toward the armpit. Now, I usually avoid dolman sleeves like the plague, so I don't know - maybe this is normal? Also, the back section that comes around and goes over the bust has a dart in the side, but it is way too high, so instead of fixing anything, it actually just makes the bust pouf weirdly.

So I don't know, should I just give it up? It's a really cute dress beyond all those issues, and I don't think I've ever given up on a project, but I don't honestly see a way that I could turn this into something I love because of all the fit issues... And this was supposed to be a quick project... *Sigh*