04 - Preparation & Cutting out

These are the overall guidelines for the cutting out, assembly & contruction of each skirt:

CONSTRUCTION

Each skirt was to be made up for an initial fitting & worn with the short dress underneath it. A basic net petticoat would also be made for this fitting to provide a guideline for finished widths. Also this would:

1. confirm general fit as well as overall skirt & net petticoat shape
2. provide definitive measurements for the skirt & net layers (ie. their volume, circumference, shape)
3. confirm ease of dressing & movement in wear

After an initial fitting, it was agreed that the eldest bridesmaid's dress would be subtlety different in its finishing both for the main skirt & petticoat. Also, she would attend for subsequent fittings & the others would have theirs sent to them for a final length check.

CUTTING OUT

All cutting out was completed directly by measurement onto the fabric using a basic 'extra fullness' guideline. The nylon net was cut to approximate lengths & gathered into sample sections. The nets were finally cut to size after the first fitting when their lengths were known. The tulle was left until after the nylon petticoat had been fitted.

ASSEMBLY

The upper & underneath skirt sections were all seamed but left open at the centre back until after the first fitting. The waist edge was gathered for the first fitting & lightly tacked to a waistband. A nylon net 3-tiered petticoat was simply gathered together with a 2-tier tulle one overlaying it - this too was left open at the back for ease of wearing at the first fitting.