Marion's Miscellaneous Musings

sewing a prom dress...

...is not really on the top ten list of stupid things to do, but it is close. Especially when you are sewing for a teenager for whom logic is tenuous.

The pattern is Butterick 4315, with the sleeves of Butterick 4050, and a corset Butterick 4254.

It is Tuesday before the prom. The dress (actually it is a skirt with an over dress) is almost done. I have to put the wasitband on the skirt, which is trickier than usual because the skirt is totally covered with lace. I have to hand tack the lining on the overdress, hem the sleeves, and hem the overskirt and skirt. (I think I will sit down in front of the TV for a while, watching either McHale's Navy, Hogan's Heroes, or My Favorite Martian. The TV series.)

I actually got to use my Clover brand mini-iron (the plate is a triangle with a base of 7/8 inches and a height of 1 3/8 inches). This officially makes the purchase worthwhile, since I have now used it twice. Plus I got it on sale for half off. When I put the lace around the neckline, I didn't want to iron the polyester lace on a cotton setting. With the mini-iron, I could do it a lot easier.

The dress is made of velveteen, and everything has been zig-zagged and I am covered with black and dark green velveteen bits.

I have been accused of delaying the whole thing because I didn't want to sew it at all. (I spent $180 on it, do I like to waste money?) Actually the delay was because I need to modify the pattern and I asked a friend who had done it before to help. Since she works full time and I spend the evenings calling for host families for exchange students, yes there was a delay. Even after the explanation I was accused of not wanting to sew it. (Actually, that is true. I'd rather quilt. But being a mature responsible adult, I do things I don't want to do. Something you should learn, elder daughter.)

Now she is disappointed in me because I'm not sewing the corset. Time is a factor, yes, plus I have never sewn a corset before. If you want the support, lets go get a bra-girdle (or whatever they are called). No, she wants me to put the stays back in her corsets she bought from Hot Topic. The corsets are...Ok. The stays have been thrown out. They were plastic and bent all over.

Tips for sewing on velveteen if you can't get out of it: Use a walking foot. Get a lint brush to get all the velveteen off of you. If you other choice is velvet, use velveteen.

posted by Marion @ 12:22 PM