After finishing my purple ensemble, I pulled out the curved-front/corded-bodice dress I started last fall, and I've finished the assembly on the bodice (yay!). I need to do a fitting to fit the shoulder straps (otherwise I *always* make them too loose), but I'm nervous about basting my temporary lacing strips to the linen bodice. The bodice is linen, with a hemp-corded canvas interlining and linen lining. For some reason, I'm fearful the lacing strips might somehow hurt the fabric/distort something/leave snags/holes or... (I know linen is strong, but I just have this feeling...). When I originally started this dress, I planned to do eyelets in the bodice, but have since decided lacing rings or clasps or ribbon loops would be a lot faster, so I boned in the channel I'd left open for the eyelets. And now I'm not sure how to do the fitting.
Should I save it for the very last thing? Do the lacing rings as Festive Attyre's Jen did here (http://festiveattyre.com/research/workdiary/images/rings.jpg)? For whatever reason, I can't remember how I did this when I made my brown gamurra (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/17691164/275717822.jpg). Logic tells me I might have sewn on a couple of the clasps (which is how I fitted the mockup), but I can't remember for sure.
Suggestions? Lacing rings? Or just stop being silly and use the lacing strips, and if they *do* leave these imaginary marks, cover them up with guards later?
Help!
Is there a reason you cannot first do the lacing solution, and THEN fit the shoulder straps? That way, you could see exactly how it fits, and not have to "allow"for discrepency when using the lacing strips.