Sewing question

[colliemommie]

Okay, my dream is to not have to wear a separate set of stays under my Italian Ren gown. To this end I am possibly overdosing on interlining.

The main bodice, which is sleeveless and a very low v that covers maybe half my breasts and clasps at the center waist, is made out of fashion fabric, one canvas interlining cut on the grain, one canvas interlining cut on the bias, and the lining. I thought the bias cut interlining was pretty genius, since it will hopefully prevent stretching along the forty degree neckline.

It fits pretty well, but does nothing to give me a period bust. I plan on attaching the stomacher permanently on the left inside bodice, and using hooks and eyes on the right side.

To make it flatten appropriately, I'm thinking of doing fashion fabric, buckram, bias cut canvas, buckram, grain cut canvas, lining. I figured the buckram would add a lot of stiffness without adding much thickness.

Does this sound reasonable, or have the pregnancy hormones taken over?

Also, can I use Venetian lace on the neckline of a Florentine gown, or is that a no-no?

(I feel like this should be tagged "help me starlightmasque, you're my only hope.)

Comments

[starlightmasque.livejournal.com]

You are too funny!!

As far as I know, Italian gowns were only stiffened, they didn't wear stays. The Venetians were stiff as a board, with a kind of cardboard and glue built into the bodice. Today's Venetian ladies either wear stays to mimic this, or bone the bodice, or stiffen it some how as you described above. I say ditch the stays and stiffen the bodice! I used boning and a heavy duck cloth to hide the bones. The Florentine ones, though, very said to be soft! Not stiff like the crazy Venetians.

I wouldn't put any lace on the Florentine neckline... most of the paintings out there didn't have any lace on the gown-- just on the camicia underneath. I think a cluny lace would look more like the old style lace they used, a venise would be okay if it was small and airy enough.

I could be wrong, I'm certainly no expert! I just love love love these kinds of gowns and can't wait to see yours!