Here's a picture of the finished skirt before attaching the ruffle:
I wanted to make 3 small rows of ruffles (2 black&white with black lace trimming and 1 white with white lace trimming), but unfortunately I don't have enough fabric. So I am going to make a larger ruffle. This is the ruffle cut out, sewn together and lace trimming added to the hem:
And this is what it is going to look like when it is finished:
 
But first I have to pin it all to the skirt and make all the pleats. I thought I was going crazy of all these stripes and was glad when it was all done:
  
And here is the finished underskirt:
 
April 4 , 2008
Today I started on the matching parasol. I bought a parasol from Christine Hall on ebay and it is just perfect.
 
First I had to decide if I wanted the stripes vertical or horizontal. At first I thought vertical, because it would match the skirt better. But after trying the fabric on (and even editing a photo in Photoshop to see how it would look)....
 
...it was clear that the stripes had to be horizontal. Vertical just looked too messy.
Next I made a pattern. I just measured one panel and drew it on pattern paper. I didn't want to take the original cover from the parasol. This is the (simple) pattern:
I have cut all 6 pattern pieces seperately in order to match up the stripes. Take your time to carefully lay the pattern on the fabric and match up with pieces already cut, so you can see if the stripes match up. Then again take your time to carefully pin all the pieces together in order to match the stripes.
All six panels pinned together:
 
Just trying how it looks on the parasol. Looking good sofar!
 
April 5 , 2008
Panels sewn together and seams ironed:
 
Pinned to the parasol:
 
April 6 , 2008
Today I have sewed all the panels to the parasol by hand and the parasol is now finished!
  
What do you think? Shall I leave it like this or shall I add a trim? I am not sure yet.
April 10 , 2008
So, the skirt and the parasol are finished. It is time to start on the robe. Tonight I have cut out the bodice. This is the fabric I am going to use. It's black taffeta with black vine embroidery.
 
Cutting out the bodice in taffeta and the lining in cotton:
 
April 20 , 2008
Just a minor update: bodice parts sewn together.
April 21 , 2008
Cutting out the skirt, front and back-pieces. You can't really tell the difference on these pictures :-)
 
Grisley is "helping" with pinning the facing on the front of the skirt:
 
I have not only sewn the skirt together, but I have also attached the sleeves to the bodice. Sleeves are one of the most annoying things to sew, they never seem to fit easily. I always have to fiddle with them. But I managed :-) and here's the proof:
April 22 , 2008
But the sleeves aren't finished yet. I still have to attach the ruffles. The Butterick-pattern had circle-sleeves, but since I have already used them on the red taffeta robe and the purple robe, I want something different for this one. I will use the sleeve-flares from this pattern:
The two upper flares will be made of black taffeta and the lower of black lace:
 
 
May 5 , 2008
After I first made my black & white striped ensemble, I will now continu with this Robe a la polonaise. I want to wear it at the Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig (Germany), which starts this friday (may 9), so time is running short.
This weekend I have already finished handsewing the hook & eye tape:
 
And yesterday I have sewn the flares to sleeves:
I decided to only attach one taffeta flare. Otherwise it would be too bulky. Next I pleated the skirt to the bodice (no picutres taken). I made long fabric straps which will be the pleated decoration on the front and along the neckline. On my other robes I gathered the sleeves by hand and then handsewed them to the robe. This time I will just pleat using my sewing machine, as I don't have much time (handgathering and handsewing is sooooooooo time-consuming). Here are pictures of the pleated trim. I also used black lace on the neckline.
 
And this is the finished result. Unfortunately I don't have a dummy, so it's difficult to see how it looks together (picture extremely highlighted).
June 26, 2008
Pictures of robe a la polonaise with lilac gown:
More pictures here.
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