Progress - Du Barry 2279B Shirtmaker Dress

Progress on Dubarry 2279B is slow but coming along nicely. My thoughtful husband even found my dressmaking model in the attic for me and sourced a suitable replacement for its long-missing stand base. So far I've sewn: 5 bound buttonholes with turned holes in the turn back facing; added rows of shirring on the front shoulders and one row on the back blouse; attached and top-stiched back yoke; and joined side seams. The skirt pieces are constructed and are awaiting their turn. Next up is to hem the facing and attaching the collar, followed by attaching the skirt and tackling the side placket and lapped zipper...

Here is a photo of the front with its shoulder shirring detail and bound buttonholes:

I spent a couple of hours on the buttonholes and facing holes alone but I think the result is really worth the extra effort. It's a practical element that has now become a charming design detail.

Here's a photo of the back with its yoke gathering detail:

A close-up of the front shoulder shirring detail:

The shirring is really just rows of exposed gathering with neatly tied-off ends on the inside of the garment. I think it looks like the base used for smocking, before the embroidery goes on.

My little Californian Bungalow is seriously lacking space for a designated sewing area and I am *forced I tell you* to take over my kitchen when ever I'm in the mood for sewing. I can't fit it in my kitchen but I can see my model taking up permanent residence in the sitting room along with the rest of the furniture. Not ideal perhaps, but so long as the kids leave it alone, it'll be an interesting conversation starter and will hopefully serve as a visual prompt as I'll be able to keep an eye on my current project and visually nut through the next stage of production.

The children are in bed and the husband is at work. Now is the time to sew :0).