Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Levelling

Quite possibly the hardest thing I've done so far.  I'm not sure if its just myself but i found this fiddly and very time consuming and at times frustrating.

Starting with steaming the layers flat you pile the net (trying not to crease too much) on top of the Mannequin.  Looking like white puffy clouds we can begin the long process  of levelling.

Setting the mannequin to the correct height usually of your dancer allows you to be accurate with measurements as you measure from the ground up rather than down from the waist.

The skill fullest at the back wants to create a nice bell shape with a slight dip to the back therefore the back was a inch shorter than the front.  This creates that really romantic feminine feel of ballet.

Graduated slowly in 1/4 inch's at the bust line and side seams these are the first points marked with pins into the net.

You find your own way of doing it after a while but at first it was going horribly.  My hands kept shaking and the pins kept falling out and the each time i check the measurement it would be different.  After a few frustration hours on just the first layer i got the knack of it pinning in sections and cutting in sections, very slowly.

It is a very long process, i cannot begin to think what it is like to do an entire Ballet group but after the 3rd layer as it starts to shape it can be rewarding to see the tutu coming together.

A few pictures of it finished:





I did find it hard to move on from each layer as you could sit for hours trying to cut it dead straight, there are slight wavers in it but i think for a first attempt it be impossible not to.

I did worry about the fact that some of the underneath layers were longer or short that the one after, not knowing the answer i have left it but i may go back to it to try and get them similar levels.  I'm not sure if this is because of the measuring or if i maybe pulled the net but it doesn't should hugely and could just be me being picky and wanted it perfect.

All i have left to do it attach to the bodice and decorate!!

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