Greywuuf (love ur name) I totally get what you are doing with black thread, and loosy-goose stitches.
I made two wedding gowns, and that is how I did it. I made slopers out of bedsheets, fitted those, then cut them up for patterns for the real fabric.
You are one bravehearted dad.
One tip, don't fit it wrong side out. None of us are balanced.