Design Details - Carolyn's Black Satin Formal

Modified Simplicity 4070 for the bodice and a modified Simplicity 2398 for the skirt.

As you can see there is a lace overlay on the bodice but no lace on the skirt.  The sash and button accents on the back are going to be cream.  The cream ribbon sash will probably also be embellished in the center from with beads/sequins/feathers.  She loves sparkles.

The dress is floor length and has a natural waist line, which is the modifying we will be doing on the skirt.  The lace overlay on the back of the bodice has a zipper until the satin ends and then the lace will connect with snaps.  These snaps will be covered with creamy decorative buttons.  The only modification that will be done on the bodice is to add fabric at the shoulders to give more of a cap sleeve look. :-)

I can't wait to see this when it is finished.  I'm teaching Carolyn the basics of sewing through the experience.  For this reason we are skipping the boning in the bodice. :-)  Now for a shopping success story.  You know how fabric is expensive?  Yeah, and buttons?  Well, with my nifty 50% off coupons and sales we got all the fabric, buttons (like 12), ribbon, zipper and thread for $30.  What a steal.

Edit: We just had our second get together and the bodice is almost done!  Stay tuned for pictures...

Design Details - My Navy Gown

Here is the first sewing post referenced here.  I'm design a formal gown to wear for any number of things in the future but specifically to be worn to out next premiere.

Fabric: Navy blue Casa Collection lace form Joann Fabrics.  Navy blue baroque satin from Joann fabrics.  I meant to get taffeta so that it would have more body. (I wanted the skirt on the vogue dress below to stand out more) but silly me just went by the sign above the bolts instead of looking at the actual bolt.  If had thought about it I would have known just from the feel of the fabric.  Oh well, it may work out better now anyway bec

Vogue 8814 with a modified neckline on the left.  I bought the satin and lace with this one in mind.  I was so taken with it when I saw it the first time.  Because that is the case I know I have enough fabric for the full skirt.

McCalls 6029 is on the right.  This style on the right is very in now and very modest. I'm not sure how it looks on me or how it would look with a lace overlay.

This has no pattern.  I designed it with a 1920s feel and more modern back.  The skirt is a little fuller than it looks here and the sash is full with a full bow in the back made of the same satin as the under-layer.  It was in preparation for this bodice that I experimented with a lace table cloth and made a summer cocktail dress out of scraps.  It didn't have the right back though, I still need to work that out with a toile if I go with this design.

Opinions?  I'm torn and have only a month to work the finished product into my schedule.

Premiere Projects - Index

More people from this area were in our latest movie or are associated (think BlimeyCow associated ;-) with people who were, so us girls decided to make our formal gowns for the premiere together.

Don't know what a premiere is?  Check out the E Pluribus Unum Premiere.

After we decided that, we undecided it.  The one other seamstress is crazy busy and the other two don't know how to sew.  So, I'm doing most of it.  Here is what you're going to be seeing for the next month...

1. Design posts about my dress - navy satin and navy lace

2. Arabella - eggplant satin and eggplant chiffon (maybe some beading?)

3. Carolyn's sewing progress - forest christmas dress to learn techniques

4. Design work - black satin and black lace with a cream satin embellished sash (and sewing progress when it gets started)

5. Post on my "mock up" dress in prep for this whole endeavor. :-)

Images are very loose representations of the actual piece from google. :-)