Boutis Technique Has Begun

First, I drew my design.  I actually only drew half of it, then I folded my taped-together paper in half and traced the design so it would be symmetrical. Notice, that I didn't draw in all the details on the ribbon streamers.  I'm not sure if I'm going to put those into the final design or not.  Probably not.

Then, I cut a piece of sky blue (per request of Miss J) batiste long enough for the skirt of her dress doubled!  I sewed the selvage edges together using French seams.  Then, I folded the fabric back on itself in half with the seams to the inside and pressed.  I almost always line little dresses anyway, so this technique is working out perfectly.  (Sometimes I make a slip instead of lining.) 

 Next, I put the drawn design between the two layers of fabric on what will be the front of the skirt.  I pushed it all the way down to the folded edge which will be the hem.   For this photo I just put it under a piece of the fabric so you could see how well it showed through.

 The next step was to trace my design using a pen with ink that disappears when it is dabbed with water.

 Now, it was time to stitch by hand around each line of the drawing.  This took lots of time.  I tried to make itty-bitty stitches.  Some of you quilters out there could have done much better.

When I finish the next step I'll post about it.  It has taken a little trial and error to figure out just what the easiest way to do the next step is, but I think I have it worked out now.  I am going in from the back and pulling yarn into each shape to make it puffy looking.  This technique is sort of like quilting, but not really, if you know what I mean.  It will have a quilted look to it when it's finished.  I just hope it looks like I am envisioning it will when I'm through.  I saw the instructions for doing this in the last issue of Sew Beautiful.