At last it is done ..... well skirt applique anyway

After some 575 hours, the applique on the skirt is done! Well all the major bits anyway, moving on to the little loops now, which will probably take a fair while as well.

But this is such a huge milestone for me on this dress, I just had to see what it looked like, so a few pins later and 'ta da'....love to know what you think....

Skirt applique almost done....

Another 10 hours or so done on the skirt and i can finally see the end of the tunnel for the applique, one large gold motif to finish and three small motifs. Then I have to do some filling in of small loops and that sort of thing. After which, on to hand couching.....

An update about not very much...

Just in case anyone is wondering, I am still working on the dress as time permits. Unfortunately is not permitting very much :( as I have taken on the opportunity to lecture a tourism class at the local university as well as my full time job. Great opportunity but sewing time is suffering a little.

I am still appliquing bits on to the skirt and have probably done another 15 hours or so....and still it goes on. I think all of the black sections are done now (other than inside the small loops) and am working my way through the gold motifs.

Eleanora Dress - skirt update

This skirt is really heavy but another couple of hours worked on it and I think (and very much hope) that the large sections of black applique is all done. Lots of little fiddly bits left and lots of gold applique to do. At least the gold upholstery velvet doesn't fray as quickly as the black velveteen, so it should be a little easier to work with.

This really seems to be the never ending dress.

Eleanora dress - sleeves

Black applique finished on one set of sleeve panes. Just the gold applique to go and the sleeve will be ready for couching. However it appears I have not yet prepared   the second sleeve. Bugger, its either do some ironing to get the second sleeve ready or play with the skirt again....

Approximately 570 hours completed on this dress so far.

Eleanora Dress - back bodice

Today I finished off the applique on the back of the bodice. Applique on the front is already done. That just leaves the couching to do. I need to test drive the pattern I plan on using to make up the bodice, so I'll probably make up another dress entirely, wear it to a few events and see how it feels before making up the Eleanora bodice.

Bodice back (before cutting to shape)

Bodice back - reverse

Eleanora gown

I am finally working on Eleanora again. Yesterday I nearly finished the applique on the back of the dress. Just a small section on the outer edges to go. Add another three hours to the tally and time to get another reel of gold thread :).