In this week’s session, I continued our project on draping a custom-made dress inspired by the Burberry design worn by the Princess of Wales. We focused on draping the back bodice and skirt, connecting all four pieces together, and refining the overall fit and silhouette. This session built upon our previous work on the front bodice and skirt, bringing us closer to completing the full drape of this elegant dress.
Demonstration Steps:
- Draped the back bodice, creating shoulder and waist darts for shaping
- Balanced the plaid pattern between front and back pieces
- Draped the back skirt, aligning pleats and darts with the bodice
- Connected all four pieces (front bodice, front skirt, back bodice, back skirt) at the side seams
- Refined the fit and adjusted the silhouette, particularly at the waist and hips
- Marked final lines and made notes for pattern adjustments
Questions & Answers:
- Q: Should ease be added to the skirt where it joins the bodice at the side seam?
- A: Yes, we’ll add ease when assembling all four pieces together. We’ll decide on the amount of ease needed once we see how it fits on the body.
- Q: How do you handle matching plaid patterns between front and back pieces?
- A: It can be challenging during draping. If it’s too difficult, consider using a solid fabric for the back and keeping the plaid only for the front. Alternatively, you can adjust the pattern matching when cutting the fabric.
Next week, we’ll focus on turning this draped piece into a paper pattern and discuss lining and sleeve integration. I’m excited to see how this dress will turn out and I think you’ll really enjoy the final result!
