Playing around with some more fabric

I took the opportunity to experiment with draping chiffon on the bodice to create the ruched surplice effect of the design.  I pulled some polyester floral print chiffon from my stash (glad I saved these remnants) for the project.  I expect the silk chiffon will have a much more fluid hand than the polyester stuff.  However, this remnant seemed to serve its purpose.

I cut three pieces of chiffon on the grain and gathered the ends using a ratio of 4:1.  I also ran gathering stitches about avery 8 inches to help drape the fabric and get the gathers positioned evenly.  I removed the gathering stitches in the middle of the piece before I took the pictures.  Two of the pieces provide the surplice design element.  These pieces also form the cap sleeves.  The third piece goes across the front just below the bust to the waist and is parallel to the waist.

Today, I just pinned the pieces together on the front.  For the actual construction I will hand sew these onto the bodice front and back.

Here is how I put it together.

First I pinned the waist piece on.

I then added the first surplice piece.

I finished it with the second piece.

This approach eliminates any bodice gathers being sewn into the waist seam.  The orientation of the gathers diagonally and around the waist should emphasize an hourglass figure and accentuate the bust (always a good thing for a Zaunbrecher girl).

Based on the work today, I am going to take the cap sleeves off the bodice.  I don't need them for construction and they don't add anything to the design.

Overall, I think this will work.  And it is looking less like a Amish dress than before.

Just a note on my blog statistics.  It has gone international.  I have three hits from Thailand (obviously Ginny), one from Russia and one from the Ukraine.