After looking at the sleeve farthingales on my mannequin for like the hundredth time and posting a question on an online forum I frequent, I came up with the idea of trying to draw where Lizzie’s body actualy is underneath all the layers and bling so that I could compare that to what I have. Here are the results:
So which do you think produces the more accurate silhouette? The top line or the bottom one? I keep changing my mind…
One thing is for certain though: my sleeve farthingales are too small. Snif.
9-20-07: The New Pattern
I’ve been mulling over how to fix the sleeve, and this is what I have planned so far: I’m going to leave the one I have how it is and just make a “cap” that will create the right silhouette by fitting over the top of the original sleeve farthingale. That way, I can still use what I have, it’ll just be for a gown with smaller sleeves.
I think this new pattern will do it, but I’m only on the paper/drafting stage at this point. I’m going to make a muslin mock-up to check it next, but in the meantime, here’s a picture of the new top pattern piece:
Update! 3-9-08: The Muslin Mock-Up
YAY, HOORAY, HUZZAH or (insert your own favorite exclamation of joy here)!!!
I think the pattern is going to work! I made a mock-up and just slipped it on over the old sleeve vertingale (not a typo, I just wanted to write it old style for a minute…again, but with an added “h” this time: verthingale. OK, I’m done. You’ll have to forgive me, it’s been a loooong winter.) So anyhow, I slipped the mock up over the sleeve farthingale and just pouffed it up by hand, which is why you see the wrinkles where you see them. What do you think? I’m just pleased as punch with them…can’t you tell?
Click on each thumbnail to see the BIG picture!
Side view:
Back view:
Front view:
I’ve also decided to make a brand spankin’ new set of sleeve farthingales with this bigger, better silhouette rather than fuss with making a sleeve cap and then have two pieces of sleeve to contend with. AND since I’ve also found some fishnet material in cotton at a local fabric store, I’m good to go! What I need now is some more bias tape…lots and lots of bias tape for all those casings…le sigh…stay tuned for more soon!
Top lines, definitely, and that takes care of a lot of the “not tapered enough” look too, at least to my eye. BTW, you’re Crazy!!! I Love It!!!!
It’s people like you that make the rest of us shut up and keep beading, I’m up to 50,000 seed beads on my forepanel, but I’m not sure it’s enough.
BTW, I’m not kidding, I’m just as crazy
Thanks for the comment, Dayna. I think bigger is better, too. I posted the new pattern I’ll be working from, so we’ll see what it looks like when I make the mock-up. Thanks again for your input!
…OH, and I think you might just be crazier than me…50,000 SEED beads?!!
I would never have the patience.