Skirt woes

Camera still full, so no photos yet.  I think I will have to buy my own wedding dedicated memory card!  I drafted the pattern for the skirt, a full circle, divided into 4 pieces and cut it out of some white mystery fabric from the bargain bin at Walmart (when they used to sell actual fabric!).  Almost made a few boo boos while doing so but fortunately caught them in time and only ended up with one mis-cut piece.  Sewed them all together and then tried attaching them to the bodice.  For now I have added a 15in train to the back section.  A little side note here; spiral steel boning works great for drawing curves.  I wasn't sure what to use but then it occurred to me that it would make the gentle curve that I needed for the train and be sturdy enought to trace against.  I traced it with a sharpie and voila, a beautifully symmetrical curve!  I think the bride might want it a bit longer but I'm concerned about the weight of all that lace and potential problems with bustling.  Anyway, the skirt was too big to fit so I will need to go back and sew in the seams to adjust for....what?  Poor measuring?  Stretched fabric?  I don't know.  Just know that it was TOO big. \

After a night to think it over I decided that it was probably a good thing that it didn't fit because I really should get the boning in place before I attach the skirt, otherwise the whole thing will be too unwieldy.  Already, Sophie tried to make a bed for herself out of the skirt when the phone rang and I left the room to answer it.  Now I am mulling over the crinoline to go under it.  Trying to figure out what to use to support the heavy lace in the bell shape that we want.  I think actual crinoline is the way to go, with 3 tiers of about 10 in. each to get the right look.  Now, boning channels.  I didn't buy any.  Can I use leftover orange bias tape from a long ago Halloween costume?  I think that I can!