I need help already with my 18th century gown

[madamemodiste]

So I'm at step one, and I've been trying to picture this for like a half hour. OK...

I was told to cut 4 fashion fabric and 2 interfacing of the center front piece. Why 4 fashion fabric?? Makes no sense to me. Also, I don't use interfacing. I am just using white cotton.

So the initial directions are...

1. "pin interfacing to wrong side of two bodice front sections, having raw edges even. Baste front opening and upper edges along seam line. To form channel for boning, stitch 3/8" from center front. Insert boning through channel. Bast remaining raw edges together.

2. With right sides together, stitch facing (I guess they mean interfacing?) to bodice front, leaving notched edges open between large and small dot, back stitch at dots to reinforce seam. Trim seam and corners, clip curves and to stitching at large dot.

3. Turn bodice front right side out, press, baste raw edges together."

Oye! Can someone put that in easier language?? The way I'm picturing it, they want me to make two front sections and pin interfacing to both in step 1. BUT they only told me to cut 2 interfacing, not 4, so how is that possible? OR they mean by "two bodice front sections" the right and left, as opposed to two pairs. Fine, so then where is the second set of fashion fabric used??

What makes more sense to me is to use 4 interlining and to sew them together to form one underlayer (or lining) in which the bone casing sits, then sew that to the fashion fabric so the bone channels don't show on the outside.

Comments

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Thank you for taking the time to help me!

But why use the fashion fabric underneath? No one can see it. I'm so confused! See, my fashion fabric is white taffeta with black velvet flocking. If it's backed in the same fabric, it'll show through on the white parts any black behind. Can't I just use white cotton back there?

And can you tell from these directions whether that boning channel shows on the outside? I think it does...?

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

I would think you could just use plain cotton for the inside. Then you could put the boning channels on that layer, say using a pre-made boning casing. That way you don't have to use as much fashion fabric for the bodice.

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Oh, good! I just wish they were clearer. I mean, this pattern calls for a lot of fabric. And imagine you are using expensive fabric! Are you going to want to LINE your bodice with expensive fashion fabric? NO!! We want to be economical :) Cotton broadcloth to the rescue! And it's breathable :)

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think it is ridiculous to expect people to line the gown in fashion fabric. That seems like such a waste.