A New Gown

I'm finally starting on a gown for Elf Agnes. I had picked up some lovely pale gray patterned velour, and a sequinned pink lace shawl, at Value Village a few months ago.  I thought they'd go well together to make a Fantasy Medieval gown similar to Miho's purple gown. I went through my fabric and trims stash and pulled anything I thought I might need....

And while I was at it, I also pulled a second set of fabrics for a possible more Elven outfit...

But first the pink and gray gown. I always start with the bodice and sleeves, and this gown is going to get the long dagged over-sleeves. They are a lot of work, but I think they are worth all the effort. the first step is always to trace the pattern onto the wrong side of the pink satin lining, then pin it right sides together on the gray velour. The stretchy velour and slippery satin make for a challenging combination, so I have to hand baste around the entire stitching line. It takes over an hour per sleeve. Then I machine sew over the basting, remove the basting, cut and clip all the edges, and turn it right side out.Then I need to pull out all the points, and finally hand baste around the outer edge to make everything lay flat before pressing....

The basting around the edges takes over an hour, but then it's still not done.  I plan to embroider and bead around the entire outer edge, and that will take several days for each sleeve. I chose the beads I'd like to use, but there's not enough, and I won't start and then risk running out and not being able to find the exact same beads again, so that means going to the store first.

​I've also cut out the bodice pieces. I love velour for a doll's skirt since it drapes so beautifully, but I never use velour for the bodice, since the scale is wrong on such a small doll. It would be like a real person wearing a gown with a bodice out of fake fur. So I always make the bodice out of a matching colour satin or brocade.  I used some of the lace for the skirt on the centre panel, but thought the sequins and embroidery were too bright and colourful for the bodice, so used the back of the lace. Now the pieces need to be basted together...

I started the under sleeves, building them up in layers...

But I'm not happy with the floral pink satin. It's too bright a pink, and too close in colour to the lining of the dagged over sleeves. I know what I'd really like to use, but I ran out of that fabric with the last gown I made, so I need to come up with something else. I'm just not sure what yet. So, today I get to go through several boxes of fabrics AGAIN, to see if there's something else that inspires me. And I need to go bead shopping.