Uh oh.

[mandie_rw]

So I had put on the ballgown bodice this afternoon, to check the fit of the bertha before I committed to cutting it out of satin...and noticed this fun little action in the front seam.



Um, excuse you. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, THERE?? I didn't make especially tiny seam allowances, and the bodice isn't under a lot of stress (I did not make it too small, it's boned in every seam, and of course worn over a corset). So I carefully looked over the rest of the bodice, and one of the side-back seams, while not frayed through, also looks extremely suspicious.

Well, fuck.

I won't pretend I'm not a little upset. You might have noticed I've put quite a bit of work into this dress! Of course I can unpick the boning and re-sew those seams relatively easily, but it'll of necessity be such a small seam allowance that I'm sure it'll fray through sooner rather than later (I've put this bodice on, what, maybe three times total?). Even if I had the fabric, which I don't, there's no time to remake the bodice anyway. Essenially, even if I sew up those seams, this looks like it'll be a one-time use dress.

Good thing I didn't sell off the dress of a thousand triangles like I was thinking about. Think I'll go try it on and see just how bad the fit is right now...

ETA: Yes, I can still wear that dress. Have to lace a little tighter than I like, but definitely wearable. I think I'm going to go sew something else for the rest of today; I can't really work on the satin dress with a clear head.

Comments

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I am so sorry.

I know it's a sketchy thing to try, but could you put some fabric glue on the seam allowance?

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

I may well try that! I think I'm going to leave it alone for now, and see how it wears through the ball - but that's a definite possibility.

[theladyrebecca.livejournal.com]

Oh no! Evil bodice fabric. I second quincy's suggestion, though - hopefully fabric glue will help to hold it!

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to leave it for now - Katherine pointed out it might not be through the *entire* seam, but if it is, there may well be glue slathered all over this thing! :D

[starlightmasque.livejournal.com]

Oh, no!! That happen to me on a big 18th century francaise comission-- I about died! I fixed it with some very fine invisible needlework, but man, that was rough. Hope you're turns out okay!

Or, JUST PUT A BIRD ON IT

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Hee hee, I like the bird idea! xD Thankfully it's under the bertha, so unless it completely splits, I should be fine for one wearing, and then we'll see where we go from there.

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

I've had dresses do that and be fine, it's just the way it pulls. Is the whole seam allowance shredding? If not, it's probably ok!

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Your comment brought me off the ledge, haha. Robin pointed out that I'd probably see a big bubble of frayed fabric if it'd gone through the entire SA, too...whew. And this morning I thought of a way to salvage most of the bodice if, worst-case scenario, it does die after the ball.

Wheeeeeew. *decompresses*