Not having sewn since 1976 qualifies you as... a beginner. So yeah, a bodice would certainly be very scary. I wonder if Susi would have the time to work you thru one at some point. It's pretty fast, once you get going. You two could do it in an afternoon, if you can find that much time when you are both free.
My FIRST piece of advice is.... make yourself a mock-bodice in some cheap fabric you won't mind wasting. Once you get the thing to fit you correctly, you use THAT as your pattern, see? So you never really risk your GOOD fabric.
I have scads of muslin on hand for this purpose... And once i've done a mock-up, i feel very free to write all over it anything i might want to remember two years from now if i want to try again! Cuz i surely won't REMEMBER! *LOL*
The SECOND bit of advice i have is you MUST line it. It won't be sturdy enuf without lining, and boning! Don't scrimp on either!
My final piece of advice is take the time to get the mock-up to fit you *perfectly*, even if that means messing with it (putting it on and taking it off, stitching it and ripping it out over and over and over) for hours on end, because this is how you make your real bodice fit you *exactly* right. This is an extremely *fitted* garment, and it's worth the bother in the mock-up stages to have it come out beautifully later.
I might add... once you get it to come out grand? You just might want to make *another* one immediately, so you'll have two while your confidence is high and while you remember everything. *grin*
All that said, you really need to work with someone who knows how. I KNOW you got peeps around there who know how. Who, besides the eternally-swamped Susi? I only suggested her because we all know how good she is at it, but of course, she's always so busy, too. *sigh* Who else is handy? Y'all need a serious sewing night!!
no subject
My FIRST piece of advice is.... make yourself a mock-bodice in some cheap fabric you won't mind wasting. Once you get the thing to fit you correctly, you use THAT as your pattern, see? So you never really risk your GOOD fabric.
I have scads of muslin on hand for this purpose... And once i've done a mock-up, i feel very free to write all over it anything i might want to remember two years from now if i want to try again! Cuz i surely won't REMEMBER! *LOL*
The SECOND bit of advice i have is you MUST line it. It won't be sturdy enuf without lining, and boning! Don't scrimp on either!
My final piece of advice is take the time to get the mock-up to fit you *perfectly*, even if that means messing with it (putting it on and taking it off, stitching it and ripping it out over and over and over) for hours on end, because this is how you make your real bodice fit you *exactly* right. This is an extremely *fitted* garment, and it's worth the bother in the mock-up stages to have it come out beautifully later.
I might add... once you get it to come out grand? You just might want to make *another* one immediately, so you'll have two while your confidence is high and while you remember everything. *grin*
All that said, you really need to work with someone who knows how. I KNOW you got peeps around there who know how. Who, besides the eternally-swamped Susi? I only suggested her because we all know how good she is at it, but of course, she's always so busy, too. *sigh* Who else is handy? Y'all need a serious sewing night!!