I chose black velvet for this one, with silver eyelets and either black or dark red ribbons. Alas, I have no more of that type of fabric and I can't buy it at the moment; whether this bodice turns out to be a one-off remains to be seen.
Its layered structure was tricky and rather time-consuming to create properly. Under that velvet lies thick cotton drill for strength, stitched with many lengths of rigilene boning. Behind that is a black cotton lining. The eyelets must be placed with care to avoid damaging the front panels. Everything is neatened and secured to an almost obsessive degree... as usual. And top-stitched. Long-winded for such an apparently small, simple item, wouldn't you say?
Anyways, I intend to make more of these in the near future. First, though, I'm going back to properly developing my waist cincher pattern, and creating one to be listed. The prototype for this design can be seen in the shop, worn with the blue/purple taffeta fairy skirt. Next week I'll be making one from a piece of gorgeous blue/purple/gold butterfly-printed cotton that I have. Let's hope it all goes well; if so it will make my 8th shop listing. Huzzah!
