Frock Chick (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} pinkdiamond) wrote,@ 2008-07-24 23:42:00 |
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Sigh, photobucket maintainance means I cannot upload my photos of the bodice. I'm still not sure if it is worthwhile restoring it, unlike the skirt that was part of the lot the lining is not so fragile that folding it is likely to cause tears.... but it is still fragile compared to even the thread I would be using (it is pure cotton and probably as old as the the alteration thread. I will though unpick the cuffs as they are about to tear through the lining in a short while.
Luckily though the lining is striped and the side that was let out means I have a clearer view of the shape of the bodice for taking a pattern. The sleeves and ruffle are going to be a bit harder to do.
I have now had a really good look at the velvet that is used on the bodice and I hate to say it but it really is closest to a dense but shortpiled rayon velvet. I've only found one cotton velvet that came close and that is used for my pouch in the SCA/Winnowed Spinach groups. A good grade velveteen gives a good close approximation too in that the pile is generally very hard to push flat. In my bodice you cannot push it flat or open to see the ground underneath. Unfortunately most of our velveteens are woven too loosely so the pile comes away too quickly. There are no wear spots on any of this velvet that I can see.
The damask used for the body of the garment is really crisp but extremely light and fine. Rather hard to describe. But in crispness it is similar to my silk taffeta and in fineness.... well it's about half the weight and my taffeta is quite light compared to the poly taffeta you can get rather easily.
The facings are in a matching coloured silk like a habotai, again ever so slightly crisper but otherwise the saem as what you can buy in shops bow.
I think the bone from the CB was placed in the front during the alterations as it just doesn't match up with the rest of the placement at all.
The boning cases all appear to be woven as a continuous length of tube and there is tissue paper in them.
The ruffle on the bodice was made and hand sewn in through all layers, it appears to have been gatehred as it was sewn.
The self trim on the bottom of the bodice is entirely detatchable and demonstrates just how crisp the fabric is. It is a strip of fabric folded to create pleat lines and they are not tacked in place, they are crisp enough to remain as they are.
Luckily though the lining is striped and the side that was let out means I have a clearer view of the shape of the bodice for taking a pattern. The sleeves and ruffle are going to be a bit harder to do.
I have now had a really good look at the velvet that is used on the bodice and I hate to say it but it really is closest to a dense but shortpiled rayon velvet. I've only found one cotton velvet that came close and that is used for my pouch in the SCA/Winnowed Spinach groups. A good grade velveteen gives a good close approximation too in that the pile is generally very hard to push flat. In my bodice you cannot push it flat or open to see the ground underneath. Unfortunately most of our velveteens are woven too loosely so the pile comes away too quickly. There are no wear spots on any of this velvet that I can see.
The damask used for the body of the garment is really crisp but extremely light and fine. Rather hard to describe. But in crispness it is similar to my silk taffeta and in fineness.... well it's about half the weight and my taffeta is quite light compared to the poly taffeta you can get rather easily.
The facings are in a matching coloured silk like a habotai, again ever so slightly crisper but otherwise the saem as what you can buy in shops bow.
I think the bone from the CB was placed in the front during the alterations as it just doesn't match up with the rest of the placement at all.
The boning cases all appear to be woven as a continuous length of tube and there is tissue paper in them.
The ruffle on the bodice was made and hand sewn in through all layers, it appears to have been gatehred as it was sewn.
The self trim on the bottom of the bodice is entirely detatchable and demonstrates just how crisp the fabric is. It is a strip of fabric folded to create pleat lines and they are not tacked in place, they are crisp enough to remain as they are.
