It would also be helpful if contrasting thread was used in the samples. I also found picture #6. to be from the wrong side, not the right side as the instructions refer to. Perhaps a few more pictures would help explain this process better.

Congratulations on a design well done.
I alter wedding/formals for a living, so I know many of the ins and outs of creating a wedding gown. Most people have 'no clue' how long it takes to add lace and beads to a garment. I'm in the middle of remaking a wedding gown for a customer right now. She's wearing her Mother's wedding gown. The tulle sleeves,bodice and collar have come off, I've made lace covered straps, redesigned the neckline both front and back, let out the sides so it fits her body and created a totally different bustle = 12 lifts.

Again, you should be very proud of what you accomplished.

It's hard to pick just one thing that I'm most thankful for regarding my ability to sew. In my lifetime, so far, I've sewn doll clothes, clothing for me and my family, camping gear,and the current love is making Art quilts. I think though, that the creative ability and desire to create came from my parents. My Dad was always creating something in his basement workshop (wood and metal were his specialty) and my Mom always seemed to have her fingers busy with some kind of fiber or fabric. I learned to sew before my feet could reach the treadle of her Singer machine. I'd sit on her lap and sew on scraps of fabric.

My thread is stored in plastic thread boxes with covers. A couple colors share a box. I keep my machine quilting thread separate, since it's all cotton. My serger thread sits on a wooden thread stand on my sewing table, which is an old dining room table. I have plastic covered storage boxes that hold elastic, seam tape, zippers,snaps, grommets, etc. Each box is labeled on the end and on the top. These are stored on shelves in the closet. My smaller notions that aren't in use, are stored in a dresser drawer in small boxes. My quilting fabric is stored in plastic storage boxes with covers, each labeled on the box ends and covers. Generally one color per box. These are stacked around the edges of the room and under my sewing table. I also have a four drawer plastic storage tower on wheels that holds more quilting fabric. This also serves as my portable ironing surface with a Quilter's Square 'n Press on top. It's just the right height for me to use and stay sitting at my machine, so I can press as I piece my quilt blocks. I try to be organized, but my sewing room is a multi - purpose room for me. It also holds a light stand to start seedlings in late winter, my computer desk, my ironing board is always set up and sometimes used more as a table than to iron on. There's also a dresser which holds some notions, fabric and one drawer for my gardening notebooks. My son made me a ruler rack to store my rotary rulers in, which works wonderfully. There are more slots than I have rulers for, but other items have snuck their way in to be stored upright. Lastly there's a bookcase filled with quilting books and Threads magazines.

I've used this technique also but the sewing method I learned is a bit different. Cut your fabric a couple inches longer than you need and the cording about 4" longer. Begin the same way but as you near the far end of the cording with your seam, slowly stitch away from the cord, creating sort of a funnel. Begin turning the fabric from this end. It's easy to turn this funnel to the right side and then gently pull the fabric down the length of the cording to turn it right side out. This method works on non-slippery cording.