now for some hand sewing

I am well and truely underway on the back of the skirt, probably nearly one quarter done. When I get tired of machine sewing, I can now work on the embelishmen on the front of the skirt. I am using DMC Antique Effects cotton for the couching because it was the closest I could get to the 'gold' upholstery velveteen.

I think it is starting to take on some character now.

The back of the skirt has decided it likes to fray at the edges of the black velveteen. So insead of working from top to bottom in an orderly fashion, I am jumping across to which ever piece needs sewing down quickly and re-ironing repeatedly. Delustered satin and velveteen are not a good combination for easy applique.

Front applique finished

I finally finished appliquing the detail onto the skirt front. Yay. Now on to the back of the skirt and doing the hand embroidery to embelish it (and make it look extra lush).

I estimate that I have spent around 215 hours from enlarging and simplifying the pattern to now. Still a few hours to go but I am looking forward to wearing it at November Crown.

And thanks for the posts... it just tok me a while to work out how to publish them, sigh.

I will post some close ups of the applique shortly.

still working....

No new pictures, but lots of time spent on the applique. I have been using a fine blanket stitch to secure the appliques to the satin. The satin is so slippery that the vislofex keeps lifting off, so it is a process of stitch a little, iron a little more. I have nearly finished the applique on the front of the skirt though.

I must start thinking about the buttons. I will need to carve one and then make a mould so I can cast 100 of them ....