Sewing for Bleuette is always an adventure when you use her LSDS patterns. Today I finished up binding the edges of the blouse for her disguisement.
It’s very wide.
Bernadette is not wide.
The obvious solution is to just lap one side over the other farther than normal. But as you can see below, it’s quite a large lap (all the way to the pin). As I thought about this, I also realized I have a more challenging issue. My fabric is sheer and it’s only a single layer (because the pattern is LSDS, not haute couture). How am I supposed to stitch any sort of closure to this without my stitches showing?
Hmm. . .
Here’s what the instructions say:
You have to cut four pieces for the blouse, two for the back, with a bias seam at the center back, and two for the front. It is closed in the front with little hooks or with snaps.
Even if I’d used opaque fabric, sewing hooks or snaps on would show from the outside. Why on earth is the closure in the front instead of the back? Why is there no facing? Why didn’t I think about this ahead of time?
Hmm. . .
Another strange thing about this pattern is it’s suggestion of SNAPS as an option. It was published in 1908. I’ve never heard of such a thing on doll clothes of this time period. You’d certainly never see them on the ready made items from Gautier-Languereau.
Dare I say hmm again?
After a nice, strong cup of coffee I decided there’s only one solution that will solve all of my problems (aside from letting Bernadette borrow Marsette’s Persian costume for convention). I’ll have to turn under one side of the opening. This will cut the size of the huge overlap in half, and give me a second layer to hide stitches between.
I’ve done my best to stick with the original pattern. And the front will be mostly covered by the fichu anyway, so I can accept the slight “wonkiness” of a bound edge being turned under. The only question that remains is, should I use hooks? Or should I use snaps?
I hate to say it, but once again, hmmm. . .
To read all the posts about Bernadette’s convention costume, click HERE.
And to see all of Bernadette’s wardrobe posts so far, click HERE.