Reflection on Complete Bodice

Looking back at the work gone into the bodice i am proud of what i have achieved. I have learnt many different skills over the time and feel that i have improved greatly as a maker.  There are as said in previous posts mistakes on my bodice but what this has taught me is to problem solve, what is the best thing to do?  For example; on the C/B with the double lines, instead of unpicking it and making what would probably be a mess as it was so close to the edge and the two lines  are close together.  This would have severely frayed and looked awful had i tried to unpick it as it is very fine satin.  As it looked neat and would not be seen from the front as it was the placket i left it and will learn from it next time.  Obviously if this was a real live project i would unpick it as if it ever needed to be altered it would waste time then having to unpick four rows of stitching.

Again with the point on the piping as said in my bodice construction post.  I am not very happy with the outcome of it but without taking off the entire piping and restarting which would waste time and material i used my initiative and rectified it to the best i could do.  I think this is an important part of making a garment to overcome issues and learn from mistakes. I have learnt next time to use my judgement on whether or not it needs to be snipped at all.

I feel apart from these two mistakes i am happy with the construction overall.  There are  things i would change next time:

• Sew down piping neater.
• Leave more piping cord.
• Be careful not to catch the fabric as it pulls very easily.
• Not to leave pins in too long.
• Use clean pins as marks on satin.

This list to me could go on but i feel that even the best makers in the world will still be critical of their work which i feel is important as you will always be striving to do better on each project.

A lot of the instructions on the bodices completion was hand stitching which use to be quite a weak spot for me but i feel i have progressed well with this project.  Learning to take my time and keep it neat and small has greatly improved me in that area and feel that i can transfer that over into all parts of costume making.