Lonely Heart - Polka dot revival part 2, sans rant.

Update: Sorry about the sideways photos, I've been using Picnik for editing and the rotate hasn't held.

This is the polka dot dress that is falling apart. It is quite lovely - the skirt has two inverted and sewn down pleats front and back, the bodice is lightly bloused into the waist band, there is a little gathering into the neckline. It's probably more late 30's than late 40's but it is so pastichey, we couldn't resist.

 Here's a close up of the back, the damage is hard to see but it's like stretch marks in the fabric, which is wearing through in a few places. It is not going to make it through five more performances.

 Here is the new fabric. I couldn't get a match on the scale of dot, but could only get smaller or much, much bigger. So the smaller won. I lay the dress on it, and marked around it with a generous seam allowance. 

After cutting it out, I thought about adding a peplum. Not quite right for the front of the dress, but it will hide the damage below the waist and help to protect it. Because the dress has a centre back zip, I made the peplum in two halves.

Here are the two assembled pieces, wrong side up. Darts in the bodice, the peplums bagged in, centre back pressed. I laid this over the back bodice, matching the waist seams, pinned all the way around tucking in the seam allowances, then tacked it on, then sewed it on the machine.

The finished back. It's not fabulous, but it is functional. The machine sewing won't show on such dark and busy fabric, and was necessary to withstand the dragging on the ground.

 I sure hope she survives the rest of the season!