Lots has happened since the toile fitting. I dismembered it, to use as the underlining, pinned it straight onto the fashion fabric, and basted along all the stitching lines, then rough cut with generous seam allowances [in case of further alterations nearer the time]
I took my time stitching it all together, and then pressed the hell out of each seam, clipped, and catch-stitched all the seam allowances down nice and flat. This is a tedious task, but really helps.
By the time I'd got front and back assembled, I could see that the seams on the back particularly are going to stretch like crazy [none are on grain] so I need to contrive some reinforcement. I'll probably use selvage strips from main fabric and lining scraps and sew them along each seam. I had to do this on the wife's wedding dress to support the beading weight. This fabric is doing it on its own! I'm undecided at this point whether to do that by hand or just machine it on, as the tulle layers will hide any stitching lines anyway.
At this stage I also realised that quite a lot of the pencil markings from the fitting were showing through BOTH layers [unexpected], so I had to go at it with stain remover and a small scrubbing brush. There was also an unexplained mark on the underlining, and a bloodstain from jooking myself on some pins. All cleared up fine.
Then the tulle.
I spent some time [like, weeks] planning this, and when the tulle finally arrived this week, I was VERY daunted by how fine and soft it is. Just what was needed of course, but floatier than anything I've ever worked with.
I took a deep breath yesterday, and got it all spread out on the living room floor, after removing several coffee tables, piles of stuff, and cats.
7m of 3m-wide fabric take SPACE. I pinned the raw edges together [not easy as the stuff just spits pins back out again]and crawled around, tugging and smoothing and swearing [and sweating- I had to strip down to my undies in the end, there's an image you didn't want!]
Some time later, I managed to pinpoint the place to remove the waist circles [9.5" diameter] from the miles of fabric, got it folded appropriately, and did the deed. I'd long since decided not to even attempt to shape the egg shape I actually need, but to do that when the dress is on and hemmed, as it will need trimming again anyway.
I then took it through to the sewing room and dropped it over the assembled dress bodice, pinning it to the waistline.
And then realised that I REALLY SHOULD have marked the CF and CB before picking it off the floor.
BUM!
I shall contrive.
I'll faff with it a bit then attach some hanging loops and get it stashed away. There should be another fitting next week, when I can drape the illusion mesh bodice and talk about the back fastening and lace.