Expert: Sharon Vogel - 10/19/2009

Question
Hello. I ahve been sewing 20+ years, but not much w/ special occassion fabric. I am making a dress in taffeta and want to add all-over lace to the bodice of the dress. The dress has underarm darts and I have added back darts for a better fit. My question is should I make the taffeta and lace bodices independetly (separaet darts and side seams), then overlay the lace on the taffeta and join to the garment at the waist? Or should the fabrics be sewn as one, or a combiation making the darts independent, but sewing the two layers as one on the shoulder and side seams. Thanks a bunch for your advise. Dorothy

Answer
Dear Dorothy,
I would layer the fabrics together, baste around the edges and sew as one.  My reason being I wouldn't want the dart folds in the lace fabric showing through.  Since you have sewn for a long time, you know to make sure the fabrics don't shift while you are sewing darts, etc.  I would also do a nice seam finish because taffeta frays and the lace could possibly be scratchy.

Thanks for your question and happy sewing!

Sharon