Ballroom dance dress moral support thread

[Starfish]

Ok, I've got good news and terrible news.

The good news is I know what I'm doing with the skirt. I'm gonna buy two layers of chiffon and one layer of crepe for the lining. For the top chiffon layer, I'm gonna make a 2 inch thick bias tape from the leftover satin I have, and do that instead of a hem. So the bottom edge of the skirt will catch the light and have enough weight to really swish when I spin. I did a test run, and with the help of many online tutorials, I am fairly confident I can make enough bias tape without too much trouble.

Now for the horrible news: After using my iron for the bias tape, I thought I would iron the bodice again, since it's gotten wrinkly from me trying it on so much...but the iron was too hot, and I melted a giant hole in the back of it. It happened instantly, and I just stared at it for a couple of minutes, in shock. At least it was the back panel. I would have been more upset if it was the front, because those darts are tricky. So I'm actually less far along than last time I posted, because I have to redo the back.

And I'm exactly one month away from needing to wear it

[Hermana Linda]

[Quiteria]

Oh no!

I guess I would try to cut out the exact same back panel, and replace at the seams.

I was just thinking the same idea for the skirt. I'm pretty sure that chiffon skirts always have a layer of crepe or satin underneath. LOVE the idea of a satin bias ribbon.

I don't really know what I'm talking about, but it's kind of cool to read along and see what I wanted to say already written by the time I got to the end of the thread. I've only made Ren Faire dresses out of cotton.

[Iveyrock]

I think that will look really good

I am so sorry about the huge hole. I can just imagine that moment of shock

[AdrienneQW]

Oh thank goodness it was the back instead of the front! I completely feel your pain, I did the same thing to a dress I was making for Celeste for formal night on our Disney cruise four years ago - and I got off way easier because it was just the bottom ruffle, but I almost didn't have enough fabric to re-make it!

I think your idea for the skirt sounds lovely... you can do it!

[kwisie]

Oh, no! I hope the second time making the back panel is much easier than the first.

When I had a formal dress made over into a ballroom dress years ago, the seamstress put a stiffish fishing line in the hem of the outer layer of skirt to give it a bit of extra swish and make it seem fuller.

[Starfish]

This will actually be the third back I forgot to add any seam allowance to the first one I cut out.

I've heard about the fishing line, but didn't know if you just catch it up inside the hem, or if you use the line like thread and actually sew with it. I'm hoping the trim will stiffen my skirt enough to do the same thing, and I won't need to do both.

[kwisie]

I think mine was just tucked into the seam. It was way too think to sew with.

[Quiteria]

I would probably thread it through the trim from the back, like you would insert a drawstring, into the pocket that the trim will make.

[wendy darling]

I talked to mom the other day and she told me about the ironing incident. I literally gasped I'm glad you're working it all out though. It sounds like it will be very pretty and flowy and waltzy.

[2sunshines]

Can't wait to see pictures of the progress.

I'm still in awe at your sewing skills.

[Iveyrock]

Originally Posted by wendy darling

I talked to mom the other day and she told me about the ironing incident.

hey! why wasn't i informed?

[Stiina]

Oh good grief, are you three all sisters? I'm slow...

Anyway, this dress looks SO GOOD!!! The pic of the back of the bodice..downright sexy! Love. I think it will look so cool when you have the straps fanning out across different parts of your back.

AAHHHHHH I can't wait to see more pictures!!! Very interesting and totally amazing!!!

[Marielle]

Eeek! What a mishap but alas that wonderful Murphy's law has a sibling in sewing. Maybe Nancy's law LOL. Glad you're so upbeat though. I likely would have given the garment and iron a good talking too and walked out in disgust. Yes, I do have arguments with my projects and yes I still profess to be sane.

[Starfish]

Ok, here's the photo of the hole. I can post it now, since it's fixed.



And here's the skirt attached to the bodice:







And now you can help me with disaster #2...I pinned the skirt onto the bodice, and tried to take the dress off, and the pin snagged a big line down the front middle of the bodice. It's not noticeable from far away, but up close it looks bad. Do I ...A) Try to camouflage it with lots of glue-on gems (I'm nervous that trying to glue on stones will result in disaster #3) or B) make a drape out of the sheer skirt material and make a cowl neck type thing across the bust. (I'm a type 2 so drapey necklines look good on me)