Truly Victorian News Center

Here is the link to the new pattern, just to get this out of the way first:  TV403 page. And now my story:

When I told my sister Laura I want to find ideas for and Early Bustle bodice, she was mildly interested in helping me look.  For about 5 minutes.  Undaunted, I pulled a dozen books off the shelf and set to finding the next "new thing."   Every five minutes or so, I made her turn away from her computer to look at what I had found, receiving an unenthusiastic "okay..."  to the proffered item at hand.   After failing to really get her attention by the 10th try, I had to give up and try a new tactic.  So the next hour was spent whittling down the list to 3-4 pics I thought might work.   I then showed the short list to Laura, and asked her which one she liked the best.  She picked one, and of course, I picked another.

Laura's choice:

My choice:

The more she looked at the one she liked, the more excited she got about the idea of a new bodice.  She already had a skirt and overskirt made up for a new dress, she just needed a new bodice to go with it.  This would be the perfect match to what she needed.

But since I am the one who does all the work, I finally made the decision to do the one I liked, and "thank you for your help."  Her response was to turn back to her computer  and mumble "okay..."

So, over the next few days, I draft up the pattern for my new bodice.  I work out the kinks, have it pretty much finished, and ask Laura if she wants to try it out for me.  She says she is going to wait for the other one.  This one won't really work right for the skirts she already made.  Looking at her outfit, I can only agree.  And then I start to think about it, what kind of skirt/overskirt would this bodice go with?  Answer?  Not much.  As I picture the bodice paired with each of the patterns in the TV line, I am left with the realization that it just doesn't blend well with what I have.

I am forced to concede to Laura's wisdom, her bodice is indeed the better choice.   A few days later, I show Laura the pattern for her bodice, and she says "Print that up for me,  so I can make it."  Laura, who hasn't made a bodice in over 2 years, started in on it right away. And even more surprising, she finished it in a couple weeks.  OK, she still has some finish work to do, but it is wearable.

End result, I have to say, Laura looks amazing in this dress.