Almost

Almost made it. While trying to sew down the faux center piece my machine broke. Nothing terrible, I’m sure when I take it to OSMG it will be good as new in a few days. They can work wonders ya know!
Don’t mind the pins or clips you might see in the pictures. I just use those to get the dress to hang right for the pictures.

This kind of gives you and idea of what I am sewing through. That shows the backside of the faux front point. This piece has 1 layer of velvet, vilene, interfacing, and charmeuse. Put that on top of 2 layers of velvet, timtex (not really that but nearly as thick) charmeuse, and various interfacings…..and you get an idea of why the machine died. Mind you that was only after about breaking 10 needles. Now breaking a needle does not scare ma at all. I’ve broken more than I can count, and in the irish dance dress world….it is expected! Needles are gonna break…but why when it happens I still jump out of my chair and shriek I just don’t know! I think it is the optimist in me that is sure I’ve got just the right combination of needles, thread, silicon, tension, presser foot pressure and anxiety….that I’m gonna be lucky this time and not break any this time! Ah….that day has not come yet…but I’ll keep trying.

This is just the skirt with that faux point panel laid out. I have not trimmed the excess off the top of the skirt yet. In the first picture on this post, the skirt is actually hanging a little lower than it will be after the final construction. That is due to the excess ….it makes it hard to pin the skirt on the dress form and be able to put the bodice on.

This shows the soft cape and the patch for attaching it. The back panels are not on there yet. Once I get that front behaving I can attach the back.

Those are the back panels. They will have a diamond shaped applique on top with the same embroidery as the front skirt panels. That is still to come. The embroidery is done, just need to whip up the panels. You can see the underside of the front of the skirt in the photo with the cape. The girls usually like to have a fun underside. Gotta love the kids!

I’m sorry and disappointed in not getting the dress down the the school this weekend. It’s tough to not meet a deadline…I am the one who is always on time or early. I can’t just “make this work” though, because I have to be able to do this over and over for the next dresses. I have a plan of action. I’m going to redo the point, and take out the stiffener. I am going to wrap it into the side seam. I’ll keep posted!