Shimmering Blue

I hunted all over New York and Los Angeles for all the fabrics of this series of iridescent colors, since running into the gold one. For this fabric I had some lofty ideas, that is until I made the gold dress of the previous post and found all my dreams of pleating would be far harder to accomplish than I had time or the ability to accomplish with my current skill set. So I left the bodice’s design a little more to chance. Instead I made a point of trying out my new A-line skirt pattern.

I knew I could easily accomplish sewing an A-line skirt, even if I never had before. I decided a somewhat tiered experience with an underskirt would be a little more challenging or at least interesting to make. I cut out the top waist and it's underskirt. Being as thrifty as possible I cut out the bottom tier and pleated it. They pleats stayed at the top, but sort of died out towards the hem. But luckily my biggest interest was to have them be prominent where they met the skirt..

I couldn’t decide on an underskirt fabric. I wanted something matter, but that would give me the volume I wanted. So I got 6 yards of organza for the underskirt. I pleated it and attached it to the underskirt. Placing this created a nice amount of volume. I was afraid it would turn out to ballroom-like, since this is how I make petticoats sometimes. But the A-line was preserved.

I was going for volume starting at the knee, but not so much a mermaid look. I think I nailed it.

I honestly still struggle with bodices and hopefully I'll have a minute to study this properly sooner than later. I am trying to wean myself from using elastic or foldover elastic to finish everything. It's all i know, so it's not quite easy to set aside. If something puckers I use the elastic to pull it in. Since I am still using fabrics with some stretch. I can get away with it.

I had to play around with some draping and gathering until I got something that looked right on the fabric and matched the skirt. I had to drive myself away from the very structured pleating that I was so drawn to trying. This was a feat. Finally I did go for something much looser and easier with the fabric.

Final results.

I successfully created another dress and avoided zippers.