The pattern was Simplicity 2579, the fabric is an Italian silk brocade. And, boy, is it nice fabric! Even my husband was impressed. He asked whether I could make myself something in that sort of fabric that is a little more contemporary and wearable. I'd really like to, but I cannot think what to make!
This fabric is a dream to sew, as easy to handle as cotton broadcloth and light as a feather. It's so, SO pretty. It seems to catch the light softly and just glow. The only downside is that it does unravel and fray badly. I just overlocked the seams to cope with that. I didn't want to weigh the seams down with bias tape or anything. The fabric is so light and crisp that I worried that any kind of seam binding would distort the shape. If anything this fabric was too light and crisp. It feels like the skirt has a crinoline underneath it or something because it just poofs and holds the poof all on it's own.
The pattern is constructed so that you cannot slide the zipper between the dress and the bodice lining, so I did bind the seam/zipper edge with bias binding. I wanted to be neat, but also with all the fraying from the silk, it really had to be done so as not to fowl the zipper.
By now, I am tired of sewing Simplicity 2579. I am definitely ready to move on to something new! But, I am certainly not tired of silk brocade. Certainly the most luxurious stuff I have come across.
The Inside Zipper
Handpicked Zipper
(Done mostly to avoid costly mistakes at the end of the project!)
