First, BWOF 3/07 #128 – "the dress that was born to live in the back of the closet, unworn and forgotten". I didn't like the color of the fabric at all, so I used it to test a dress pattern I did like. I think there is hope for me and this dress, in spite of the frumpy way it looks in this photograph. I need to position the bust gathers more carefully. If/When I make it again, I'll use a print fabric to distract the eye from the bust gathers. I felt light-colored buttons would make the dress look too much like an old-fashioned nurses uniform so I chose contrasting buttons. (Why would all of this matter, since I don't plan to actually wear this dress, anyway?) I top-stitched with a contrasting thread to match the buttons. The sleeves are supposed to be gathered, but that little detail got funky somehow, so I'd have to be a little more careful there. I'll probably put this on my list for next spring/summer.I also made #129 Blouse and #130 Pants from the same BWOF issue and had more success. I bought the batik for the blouse on Philadelphia's Fabric Row and the olive green twill for the pants at JoAnn's. Usually I buy coordinating pieces at the same time. These pieces were not purchased at the same time, but fortunately, the green wasn't hard to match. The batik has so many greens in it, it would probably match anything. Again, I've thoroughly hidden the feature I like the most - the seaming on the blouse - with the print fabric. (This is proving to be a hard lesson for me to learn.) I lengthened the blouse by 1 inch and lengthened the crotch by 1 inch. This brings the waistband a little higher on my body.
Welcome back! Since I was there for the purchase of the batik, I'll start with that outfit - I think both pieces turned out great, and the color match really worked.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the dress, I think this worked pretty well as a muslin. All you need is a little better placement on those bust gathers and it'll be fine. And yes, patterned fabric will help out there.
You're as bad as me, I spend way too much time trying to find the details I liked in all my patterned garments.
Ah you know, you win some and you lose some. I loooove the blouse. I have had my eye on that one for a long time. Yours is soooo much better than the one in the magazine which is worn open and not showing the gorgeous fit lines at all. I had a sneaking feeling that if it was buttoned it would be one of those blouses with great fit and your rendition proves it. That blouse fits you to a tee. Now I can't wait to make one too. I just have to add it back onto the list after I complete the gazillion knit pieces I recently bought.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new camera and the new outfit. Love the blouse.
ReplyDeleteI like that dress and with a little work the bust gathers will look great also. The green slacks and tops are beautiful! I really like both of them and the fit looks great.
ReplyDeleteSusan
I was just thinking about you this morning and wondering if you had gotten a camera yet - and here you are! I really like the pants and top, and as others have said, the fit is really good. I also like the dress, but see what you mean about the gathers. I don't think it looks "frumpy" at all and think this is a flattering style for you.
ReplyDeleteThe green outfit is great - and I like that you've added inches to make it work better for you. The dress muslin isn't bad at all. Once you fix that gather placement, I think you'll have a really great dress!
ReplyDeletei luurve your fabric for the blouse. i was perplexed as to what fabric it was at first, but after a closeup - batik - fabulous!
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