Status update: I cut out my bodice pieces in the striped silk and managed to match them in a chevron pattern around the bodice. I didn't need to baste anything, which I was expecting to do, because the silk wasn't actually that slippery. I've found that if you really want to match stripes on slippery silk you have to hand baste everything and put a stitch in every point that needs especial matching.!
I changed the shape of the sleeve to almost square so I could fit it on the fabric. An old solution to not enough fabric was to "piece" the fabric, which means cobbling together several pieces into the shape of one. If you had a one piece sleeve you could match the pattern of the fabric together and puzzle piece it, basically. I've done it a few times on historical clothing, and it works surprisingly well.
On this project I only did piecing on the skinny ribbon pieces that are decorating the skirt. It is difficult for me to see the seams, even though I sewed them! Strong patterns are easiest to piece because your eye is already distracted by the pattern. 
Can you see the pockets? They're satisfyingly invisible.
I raised the armscye (the curve under the arm) twice, since the first draft was too low. Since I'm not using measurements to make a flat pattern and I really only kind of know what I'm doing I get silly things like that wrong. I'm still a little worried about how low the armscye is, and hope that it works. It should, since I field tested it in sheet, but if I'm wrong I'll have to piece it. Maybe I can make it look like I added gussets under the arms.
Here are the pockets!
Nice covert pocket. I never would have known. I like all the photos! Keep it up! @ironshield
Thanks, Ben! I have to do a tutorial on what I've discovered about pockets. :D :D
I just gave you 2000 pockets! Congratulations! @ironshield
Thanks! I just read the article on what pocketsend was and now my head may possibly be spinning. :D Is it a currency other than Steem? Is that what I'm understanding?
pocketsend:1001@curlygirl85
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New receiving account balance: 1000
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New receiving account balance: 1000
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pocketsend:1001@curlygirl85
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Sending Account: ironshield
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New sending account balance: 977590
New receiving account balance: 2000
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Thanks for using POCKET! MasterPocket is running this confirmer code.
Successful Send of 1001
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New sending account balance: 977590
New receiving account balance: 2000
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You're so talented! I can't wait to see the finished product. You'll of course have to model it for us! I sewed some doggy bow-ties yesterday as Christmas gifts for our friends with dogs...and one with cats. They velcro around the animal's collar. Thanks for another great post!
I'll definitely model it for y'all! I was hoping to have it finished by now, but there's no rush yet, I suppose. Thanks for the compliment! I checked out your doggy bow-tie post; it was pretty cute. :D
Thanks so much for stopping by! :)
Great job with this! I love the way it is turning out. It's beautiful! Can't wait to see the final product.
Thanks! Me too! I hope it lives up to my expectations. ;)