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Apr 16, 2011

No, no, NOOOOO!


Another screw up on the cocktail dress!

Remember, I had two skirts to hem: the redingote and the taffeta slip.  I started with the redingote.  First I added the velvet ribbon ties.  No problem.



Then.

Friends, I was tired, I was impatient, I was lazy.  Normally I'd have Michael measure the distance from floor to hem but Michael was busy teaching.  I did it myself, being careful not to bend, which is harder than it sounds.  It looked like seven inches.  It seemed like a lot but rulers don't lie.

Parenthetically, I'd planned to roll hem the lace.  But after extensive testing, I realized my lace was not going to fray -- ever.  I don't know what it's made out of -- vinyl perhaps? -- but rub it, pick it, chew it, it does not ravel.  So I decided to simply slice off the extra length.   I lay it on my cutting mat, measured all around, traced a line with chalk, and chopped.  Then I tried it on.



Gadzooks -- it looked too short!  I don't know how it happened but it was not the length I wanted.  I could hem the skirt higher, but the slip would lose its fullness and its late Forties/early Fifties cocktail dress look.

Suddenly a light bulb: I'd add a lace border!  I hightailed to Pacific Trim on 38th St.  And lo and behold...



I bought three yards.  That little mistake cost me $7.50, not to mention what it did to my blood pressure.  The trim cost more per yard than the 60" wide lace I made the redingote out of.

I got it home, tried on the dress for the upteenth time, and then realized I'd overreacted: a shorter skirt length was actually more becoming.  I enlisted Michael's help this time and measured carefully, matching skirt length to redingote length and hemmed, by hand, the taffeta slip 2" around.



I love it.  Cathy loves it.  I'd panicked unnecessarily.  I'll use the lace border for something else.

I also picked up 3 yds. of black tulle and I may make a little black petticoat with it, nothing fancy.  The white one I made for the rose dress is OK, but it's nice to see black tulle peeking out of a dress like this and who knows if Cathy will be called on to do her famous can-can dance.

Friends, that's it.  I hope I haven't agitated you too much this morning.  Of course tonight's event will be well-documented and I hope to share some photos with you tomorrow.  Now I'm off to make a matching taffeta bow tie for Michael.  Maybe he'd settle for a scarf.

Have a great day everybody and easy with the shears, please!

And speaking of Joey Heatherton...

17 comments:

  1. Been there, done that. I am really looking forward to the day you lead us all in making a personalized dress form for/of ourselves, to avoid mishaps like this. (I believe Sassie Lisa did this on her blog) But it turned out great!

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  2. EEEP! so good it worked out in the end! It's looking super fabulous so far! I CANNOT wait to see photos! Have a wonderful time tonight!

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  3. I love the impression of Joey H that Catherine O'Hara used to do on SCTV. It's irreverent.

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  4. Dawn Young CunninghamApril 16, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    Joey Heatherton! I totally forgot her, she was on the talk shows and variety shows in the '60's and '70's. Was she just a Vegas performer or was she in movies? Maybe Cathy should go blonde with is photo shot to channel Joey's vibe?

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  5. When I saw the hem unevenness my first thought was just add a lace edging, and you did! It looks great! The hem has that finished vintage touch.

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  6. I adore this dress. I can't wait to see pictures tomorrow. It is what will get me through the night!

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  7. my heart stopped there for a bit - glad to know the dress is back on track! I love new turns myself when I sew - actually I don't, but if I manage to keep my col things usually work out fine! Can you imagine the dress without the lace border now?:D

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  8. what you did to MY blood pressure!

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  9. omg, I couldn't breathe for a second when I saw the disparity between the skirt lengths. I totally panicked for you. holy crap.

    And, whew!I'm glad it worked in your favor. Off to wipe the sweat from my brow, now, thanks. :)

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  10. These things happen! Now you have lace trim for something in the future :D

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  11. At least is all seams to be working out now. I can't wait to see your, er Cathy's, finished dress. :]

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  12. I've done that too! The best thing to do is step away, have a cup of tea, relax and a solution will come to you. The dress is looking beautiful!

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  13. I like to think all the asymmetrical skirts that have come in and out of fashion are the result of similar sewing mishaps. It makes me feel better when I try to hem my own skirts/dresses and they come out wonky.

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  14. Oh, Peter, you got me all worried there. Was Cathy going to be shamed at her very special event? Phew ...... so glad there was a happy ending, or should I say a happy hemming?

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  15. oh gosh we've all been there but you pulled it back beautifully!

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  16. Been there and haven't always been able to salvage the situation as beautifully as you did! Looking forward to seeing the outfit in action.

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