Progress with the 18th century gown!

[madamemodiste]

I've made some progress today with the gown! Yay! But I need some help deciphering some tricky instructions.

I have a feeling only people who have made a saque back gown are going to be able to help with this one, but who knows!! OK. I'm attaching the bodice side front and back lining sections to the outer bodice side front section.

A finished garment looks like this from the inside:



As you can see, there is an inner bodice lining that laces up in the back, but it's covered by the outer shell that has the saque back drapery. Make sense? I hope so!

{EDIT: I think I got the help I need, but if you have any different ideas, feel free to share!}

So...



Here are my instructions to attach that inner lace up section to the outer section that has the drapery steps 13 and 14:



It seems to me that I should sew around the arm hole. It says "neck edge", but there is no neck edge there, and I see little stitch marks at the arm hole, so that's what I did.

See? Since the stitches can't really be seen, I highlighted them in red. This is the two sections "right sides together" just after I sewed them as I thought was indicated.



Turn it right side out, and it looks like this:



I again highlighted where my stitching created a finished outer edge. Looks lovely...but...



So I have this awkward sudden change from a finished edge to a raw edge. The instructions show in step 14 that the entire armhole edge is NOT finished...doesn't it?? Armhole edges look raw in step 16, too. And it makes sense to be unfinished at this point since the sleeves aren't on yet.

So what do they mean by "stitch front and neck edges together" in step 13?? Are they looney?? Am I looney?

Comments

[bauhausfrau.livejournal.com]

I think the seams you see on the pattern are the basting stitches it tells you to do along the raw edges in step 14.

I'm really not sure what the "front and neck edges" means in step 13. To me it seems that really they just mean front edges. I'm not sure though. Hope this helps...

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Ahhh...basting stitches...but from the previous step when I was to baste the lining to the interlining...except I did a spray baste so don't have previous basting in my actual garment. Duh.

Yes, the 'neck edge' reference remains a mystery. I have removed the armhole stitching and am about to do step 14 and baste the pinned sections together. Then it's off to watch Dirty Sexy Money in which they throw an 18th century themed party!!

Thanks for your help!!

[weyakin.livejournal.com]

I think it's just a baste to keep the fabric layers together at that edge. Have you looked further in the instructions to see if they do anything with that unfinished edge later?

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Oh, previous basting stitches!! Yes, that must be what is drawn there. But I still wonder what they mean by 'neck edges'? Misprint?

Thank you!!

[fiofiorina.livejournal.com]

Maybe this article may help you as well.

http://www.marquise.de/en/1700/howto/frauen/contouche.shtml

I know it is long, but it's really helpful, and based on surviving gowns.
Good luck - I am currently fighting with a pet-en-l'air back...