SHANNON'Sdresses

GEORGIANdress

November 2009

Finally, the frouffy, frilly, with-bows-on-it, worthy of Marie Antoinette herself Georgian dress is finished. As proud of it as I am, with all the decorations and elaborate ruffles, I obviously wasn't thinking when I cut out the pieces for the bodice, as I had forgotten that I had modified the pattern since I last used it. Either that or I was subconsciously hoping that it would fit better once it was fastened over my new corset. Anyway, it didn't close up the back very well. (Which is why there are no photos of the back). But other than that, very well fitting and comfortable.

The dress is two parts: the underskirt, and the whole dress itself, closing up the back with laces. The ruffles down the sides of the dress, around the sleeves and across the base of the underskirt are long strips of dress fabric cut on the bias so it wouldn't fray, and then folded in almost concertina-fashion, and sewn down the middle and on one edge, to make the other edge stick out. Satin ribbon was then twisted over the top, and fastened down with small beads sewn to each ruffle. The figure-8 pattern on the bodice was done in a similar way, but minus the ribbon. A strip of lace is sewn around the neckline, and a length of lace from a lace curtain is sewn inside each sleeve opening.

So yes, not a perfect fit, and I should have known, but that's ok. I take every project that I work on as a learning experience, not something that needs to be perfect when it's finished. And I learnt a lot from this dress. So, in all, I reckon it was a success.