OK, so I’ve had varying suggestions as to how to make them, and I think the bottom line is that no matter which way I decide on, they’re going to be time-consuming and tedious to make. I’ve come up with a jig that makes my life a little easier, though. Here are some pics of the process:
This is the jig I settled on. It’s basically three 12″ long dowels that fit into corresponding holes in a 2×2 scrap piece of lumber. The distances that separate the dowels were arrived at by guesstimating on my fingers the size of each petal pouf. I know what you’re thinking: but there’s only three dowels and you need four poufs…read on and you’ll see why.
Get it now? The first and second dowels make the first two petals. Then the third dowel makes the fourth petal. The third petal is formed as you twist and gather up the organza at the end. I made sure to tuck in all the raw edges so they don’t show. Me thinks they’re going to work fine…only 167 more to go…
Just joking! I have no idea how many more I have to make. I’ll just keep plodding on as I can while I stitch up the rest of the gown. I’ll have a better idea once I actually cut into the fabric. But in the meantime, here are some close-ups of those poufs:
Aren’t they cuuuuute?!! OK, I’ll stop now. I’m just really pleased with how they’re turning out. Ask me again after I’ve made a few dozen and I might not be so gushy.
Update! 9-17-07: I think I might still be gushy after all. I’ve got it down to about 4 minutes per pouf! Here’s the product of a couple of hours of work:
SQUEEEEEE!!!
Update! 2-3-08: I’m still working on those dratted poufs. Life has intervened and other projects have taken precedence over this one, so I’m not much further along than what you see here. Let’s hope that I can get going again on it in the next few months!
Update! 4-11-09: I’m STILL working on those dratted poufs. I take my sewing bag with me to meetings and such where I’m not planning on being an active participant and I can sit in the back and listen to what’s going on while getting some work done, but it’s just SLOW going. So just hang in there with me, the project is still in the works, and if I didn’t have to work, I might be further along…oh, well…
Update! 8-12-09: Just to let anyone who is tracking this page know, I’m still working on the poufs. I’m up to 76 completed ones…and it occurred to me that I before I make too many more, I think I’m going to count the ouches that are visible on the original portrait (there are actually 3 different kinds, you know) because I *just* might want to make some modifications to the buttons I have so they look like I have three different types…’cuz I don’t have enough work as it is…yea…
Next time: The Forepart/Petticoat!
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