Finally, after all these years, the Luna Moth frock is done!
So what still needed to be done on it? Well, when I posted it mostly done the skirt was only basted on the the bodice, and the skirt components were just pinned together. Over the last two weeks I re-did the bodice since the green drape on it wasn’t working, sewed the skirt on properly, sewed the layers of skirt together, sewed on the purple velvet skirt drape and the sash, finished the back fastening, and did more beading.
So is it done? Yes and no. It was ‘done’ for the photoshoot, but I almost always find with the first wearing of a garment that there are lots of little bits that need tweaking to make them work perfectly.
With this dress I need to re-do the bottom-most layer of the skirt as when you pick up the train or when the wind blows it open the white support fabric shows, and that’s just not OK.
I also want to sew purple velvet rosette tassels (hard to describe, but I know just what they will look like when they are done) to the bottom of the back sashes, so that they look like they have a reason to exist. And I want to add beads to the sleeve ends, and perhaps bead along the bodice and basically do a lot more beading.
The big question, especially after all the whinging I’ve been doing about not loving the dress and finding it really hard to finish something I was ultimately going to be unhappy with, is, do I like it?
Yes, and no. I’m tickled pink that it is finished (or wearable finished), and love the way I look in the photos (many, many thanks to Madame O for the photoshoot!), but I’m not happy with it as a reflection of my sewing abilities. I’ve grown so much in the last 3 years, and even 3 years ago I knew I was making mistakes and cutting corners because I had this great idea and wanted to complete it, even if I couldn’t find the right fabric.
So what’s going to happen to the dress? Well, I’ll do the last bits to make it as good as it can possibly be within what I have to work with, and then I’ll probably sell it. If you’re interested now would be the time to put dibs on it. It’s fits a bust 36, waist 29-30, hips 40, height 5’4″ to 5’7″
The Challenge: UFO (Un-Finished Object)
Fabric: Hand-dyed celadon green silk tissue (I think it was 4m), plum-rose coloured silk and rayon velvet (1m), shot green and gold silk taffeta (1m), with linings and bodice support of white cotton broadcloth, and white linen-cotton.
Pattern: self-drafted, based on the Lady Maude Warrender Laurel Dress in Janet Arnold
Year: 1909-10
Notions: Plastic feather-boning, hooks and eyes, hook and eye tape, boning casing, and thousands of glass seed beads.
How historically accurate is it? Ergh. Parts of it (the bodice support) are meticulously historic, the idea and aesthetic are directly based on historic examples, the fabric is reasonably accurate, but to be honest, I’d still only give it a 6 out of 10.
Hours to complete: Double ergh. Let’s not go there. Probably around 100.
First worn: Sunday 27 Jan for photos
Total cost: it’s been 3 1/2 years, but I think I paid $40 for the tissue, $20 for the velvet, and $20 for the taffeta, plus at least $10 for the beads, and I re-dyed the tissue, so another $10, so $100? Yeesh. Maybe it was less.
And one last photo: Here is Wellington. I love my city!
