Looks like a dress!

I finished gathering the skirt, sewed it to the waist tape, and sewed the tape onto the bodice, mostly without incident. The CF of the pleats almost matches with the CF bodice point. ;)

And then I mocked up the chemisette, because I'm really avoiding figuring out those sleeves. I had a hard time picking a fabric, because all the originals in my books are made of nice fine muslins (in the historic meaning). Apparently everyone was in denial about the existance of winter 1820-50. (Yes, yes, generally you only save your nice pieces, not your practical ones. Still.) I have some perfectly nice voile that would make a lovely chemisette, for not-winter. So I'm making mine out of muslin (in the modern, American meaning!). The nicest muslin Joann's carries, doncha know. The Legacy muslin's all right. And slightly more substantial, if not as pretty as, voile! I machined the basic seams; I'll flat fell them by hand, and hem the collar (SO DERPY) and attach it by hand too.

Heyyy, looks like a dress!

A summer dress. Who needs sleeves, amirite?
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