Creamy Francaise

Here is another example of how I start one project before finishing another...

but when I went to a thrift store and found some awesome fabric, I just had to jump headfirst into a new project. The store was having a sale on oblong table clothes, so I bought two matching ones for $3. I also found 5+ yards of raw silk for $6, so with just $9, I had enough fabric to make a francaise.

I used the silk for the petticoat, and the table clothes for the francaise.

I sewed it entirely by hand.

This would be the first time I've worked with silk

... can you tell I enjoyed it?

To make the petticoat, I cut four panels that where roughly 38"X46",

and sewed them together. Two opposite panels make the front, and the other two make the sides.

I pleated the front and back panels and sewed bias tape on the top to close them.
For the sides, I made a casing and and used ribbon to gather the fullness around the hips.

The petticoat was so big, it could be used as a tent!

I made the francaise out of the two table clothes.

I designed the front differently this time, in that it laces in the front, 

and the stomacher gets pinned in place on top.

And here is a picture of me in the dress.

I would have posted more pictures, but our photo shoot was interrupted

by the dog ... getting sick...

Okay! I'm back. Here are pictures from photo shoot 2.