I really had expected to have Laurel’s\u00c2\u00a0dress finished by this afternoon.\u00c2\u00a0 But, as so often happens, complications have arisen.\u00c2\u00a0 The placement of the fancyband was too high.\u00c2\u00a0 It just hurt my eyes.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Frankly, I gave serious through to calling Mildred Turner or Judy Day for advice and inspiration, but even such true and faithful friends as they are deserve\u00c2\u00a0more respect than a 2:30 a.m. phone call that really could wait.\u00c2\u00a0 I could finish off the sleeves and think about it while I worked.\u00c2\u00a0 Instead, I just thought about it,\u00c2\u00a0 evaluating different\u00c2\u00a0techniques and strategies to fix this.<\/p>\n
Finally, I had a plan. I decided to add another row of insertion 1 1\/2″ above and below the band.\u00c2\u00a0 The insertion is a scant 1\/2″ wide but with the \u00c2\u00a0hemstitching and\u00c2\u00a0placement 1 1\/2″ away would make the band wider.\u00c2\u00a0 It also would reduce the gap between the band and hemline, both visually and actually.\u00c2\u00a0 But\u00c2\u00a0that alone\u00c2\u00a0was not enough.\u00c2\u00a0 I had to eliminate some of the fabric below that band.\u00c2\u00a0 I set to work.<\/p>\n
I pulled a thread 1 1\/2″ below the hemstitching of the fancyband and then 3″ below that.\u00c2\u00a0 Every 6 ” a vertical line was drawn.\u00c2\u00a0 The insertion footing lace was straight stitched, through the tiny header, to the first pulled thread closest to the fancyband.\u00c2\u00a0 Then the fabric was cut away, 1\/2″ below the lace and pressed up, away from the lace.<\/p>\n
This left a loop of skirt.\u00c2\u00a0 The upper skirt and the lower piece were pinned together, matching the marked lines.\u00c2\u00a0 The lace insertion was then straight stitched to the pulled thread in the lower skirt, 3″ further down, then pressed away from the lace.\u00c2\u00a0 It will be pinstitched in place.<\/p>\n
To make up for the reduced skirt length, three pieces of lace, stitched together, will be joined to the hemline.\u00c2\u00a0 The skirt will be 1″ shorter than planned, but that\u00c2\u00a0initial measurement was very generous.<\/p>\n
This is probably too tedious for anyone to read.\u00c2\u00a0 But at least, the process is recorded for my own use\u00c2\u00a0if I make this same mistake again.\u00c2\u00a0 Actually, I think I like the skirt better this way than as originally planned.\u00c2\u00a0 So often, the fix is an improvement.\u00c2\u00a0 I hope that is the case with this dress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I really had expected to have Laurel’s\u00c2\u00a0dress finished by this afternoon.\u00c2\u00a0 But, as so often happens, complications have arisen.\u00c2\u00a0 The placement of the fancyband was too high.\u00c2\u00a0 It just hurt my eyes.\u00c2\u00a0 Frankly, I gave serious through to calling Mildred … Continue reading