The Dress that almost was.....

So this is going to be a story about how I thought that I knew what I was doing while sewing my first official dress! I thought I had it down...picked out my pattern...my material (just some polished cotton that I picked up at a 2nd hand store for super cheap) got my sewing machine ready to go and I was all set right?

Oh How Wrong I Was.

I used this retro butterick pattern B5478 and cut out the size 18 based on my measurements.

When I started this project I was very confident that this dress would turn out perfect..and to be honest the process of sewing really didn't give me any problems. I cut everything out (even altered the shape of the neckline slightly) used tailor's tacks to help me ensure that my darts would be even and put it all together. I basted...cut...sewed and put it all together. Below is how the skirt looked before I attached it to the bodice. It is a lovely full circle skirt and the fabric is so lightweight it swishes very easily.

Well this should be a super happy ending shouldn't it?? Well it was wonderful ...until I put on the final product...I thought the fit was off in earlier fittings because the zipper wasn't in and I found out how wrong I was when I put it on. I didn't get any pictures of me in the dress because it is just kind of embarrassing but when I went to zip up the side zipper it went up without a hitch until I hit my full bust.

(picture of completed dress...the best I could get while not wearing it)

(altered the neckline slightly)

(To date this is The Best Zipper that I have installed! I hardly screwed it up at all!)

I did not realize that I needed to do a full bust measurement! How did I not realize this when my full bust measurement is 8 inches larger than my upper bust? To be honest I have no idea! I just kind of assumed that since it was the right size everywhere else that I would be fine. Well ...needless to say it is back to the drawing board....literally!

In Conclusion

In regards to the dress I am calling "Strawberry Fields" As I cannot wear it I am gifting it to a friend of mine who the dress will fit once I alter it a little. As for my future dress...well I have altered the pattern pieces ...made a muslin...and am getting ready for crack number two!

(This is an example of one of the bodice pieces that I added width to... I also had to adjust the bust dart with the help of my Gertie Book and a video by professor pincushion on youtube I think that I did it correctly)

(This is the best picture of the muslin that I could get while taking one handed pictures...please excuse the hint of belly at the bottom)

I have picked out a beautiful Olive Green cotton to use for this new dress and am hoping to finish it up within the week. Thanks for reading about my fitting dilemma. This is a good lesson for me to learn...take it slowly...try it on as I go...and because of my bust make sure that I do a trial fitting first!!

First Vintage Inspired Sewing Project.

Hey all! this is my first official blog post so that is kind of exciting for me! Vintage sewing for me is a lot of things all rolled into one. Firstly it helps me create/alter clothing to fit my body type the right way...I am a bigger gal as you will see in my posts to come. Second, it has helped give me a sense of confidence in myself...knowing that I've made that...people are complimenting this or that and it is just nice to say "Thank you...I made it! (I suppose that's tooting my own horn a little but ...hey...everyone is entitled to do it) And lastly, it helps me to not sweat the small things. No matter how many times I have to adjust the fit, grab the seam ripper, or having a mega-estrogen filled moment while crying over a zipper (I was devastated! ) I don't give up on it, I keep going and that is something that I've been able to apply to other areas of my life. 

Now that you have a little background on me this is the first vintage inspired item of clothing that I made. It is my first drafted Drindl skirt that I made out of a vintage Laura Ashley bedsheet that I thrifted a few weeks ago. It is the one on the far left in the photo below. (Also i picked all of this vintage material up at a second hand store for super cheap! I am a bit of a bargain shopper so when It was only 7.50 for all of it I nearly jumped for joy)

I am absolutely in love with the soft little pink flowers and how they just pop against the ivory background. This skirt took me probably a total of 3 - 4 hours overall to finish...I am pretty happy with it..the only thing that I may adjust is the length of the hem...I was hoping it would hit right at the knee but once putting it on it hits me just below the knee. Which is just fine but I am only 5'2" so at times skirts that are below the knee tend to overwhelm me. The skirt also lacks a little OOMPH! despite all the gathering so I am planning on creating a petticoat to wear underneath of it in the near future :) The pictures aren't great its a very overcast day here in Iowa and so the lighting is very off.  Any comments, or suggestions or anything of the sort are welcome! :) I was also feeling adventurous the night before and actually wet-set my hair for the very first time! This picture was taken at the end of a 9 hour work day and the curls were still intact I was amazed.

This photo is just a close up of the waistband. It was actually trim at the end of the sheet and I cut it and refashioned it as the waistband :)

Thank you for reading...feel free to leave comments, suggestions, or anything else that crosses your mind. Keep it fun, not too serious, and remember to believe in yourself!