Monday, November 29, 2010

A skirt, a wadder and a party dress

The Skirt: Vogue 8603 View A (without the back ruffle)


This is piece 2 in the Endless combinations contest. Great, easy skirt pattern. Despite the fact that I measure for an 18 in Vogue, I usually cut out a 16. It was kind of iffy with the finished measurements that were listed but I'm glad I stuck with the 16. The 16 is still a bit big on me. It's supposed to be a fitted skirt but I have a bit more room in it that I think I'd like. I did not line it since the fabric has some stretch to it. It's a beautiful wool stretch remnant I got from Fashionista Fabrics probably last year some time.





The Wadder: Butterick 5564


Wow, what a disappointment. I really thought this was a cute pattern but man did it look bad on me. I made it out of a slub knit rayon from Fabric.com and maybe that was part of the problem. I have decided I hate this stuff. Nothing against the quality, etc, but it is slippery, thin, and just a bear to work with. Oh, and the pleats in that thin fabric...wow, no fun at all! No more slub knit rayon for me. The shirt looked so sad a droopy on me. I felt like an old woman in a cartoon who's chest had drooped to her waist. I pitched the whole thing, pattern, fabric, and instructions into the trash. I've never done that before but there was no salvaging this. Now, though looking back, maybe it's that "Rose colored glasses" thing, but I wonder if maybe in a beefier fabric it would look better. I really do like the idea of the pattern, maybe it's just three strikes on it for me, bad fabric choice, bad shape for me, and my large chest didn't work together.

I'm so sad...:-(


Party Dress: Burda 6-2009-129

This image was taken from Fehrtrade who made this dress already. I apologize for using the photo and wanted to give her credit. The archive for Burda for this magazine issue does not exist anymore and I couldn't find a photo, at least on the German website and we all know how wonderful the US version is...NOT! Sorry, tangent :-(

Yeah, I found them, on the Russian website. How sad that they can't make it easy. The German site only has archives back through mid 2009 now.





If you remember, I have two parties to go to and one dress was going to be out of the metallic jersey from EOS, shown below.



Well I looked around and decided that I wanted something more figure flattering and was just perusing my patterns when I found this one in the June 2009 issue. I made a "practice" version which I absolutely loved. So I decided to cut into the good stuff. I'm about halfway done and tweaked it here and there with some lining and skipping the facings which I hate! All in all, it's coming out quite nicely.

Some in progress pictures. I've lined the whole thing so far instead of the facings. In the back and on the front skirt, which hasn't been attached yet, is a powermesh and on the inside bodice piece it's lined with some Vera Wang nude colored poly knit. I've had to rethink things quite a bit to get it to work. The shoulders are just basted together right now. I basically put the back shoulder piece around the front shoulder piece then flipped it right side out so you won't be able to see the seams. I don't normally make things with linings so I don't have a clue if I'm doing this the way I should be or not, I'm just making it work.




5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your skirt looks great, such a pity about the top though. Knits are great but sometimes the really fine, thin ones are crazy to work with. I'd be in the same boat as you, there's no way that top would look good on me either.
Your party dress is coming along well.

Karin said...

Bummer about the top, I agree that the pattern looks cute. I also hate this slub rayon from fabric.com. I have a piece left and don't know what to do with it.

The dress looks really promising though. Can't wait to see the finished article!

Michelle said...

Great job on the skirt!! I have that pattern, too, and have been hesitant to use it because I was afraid that the gathers on the hips would make me look bigger...but yours looks fantastic and sleek!! Now I will have to try it! Too bad about the droopy boobie shirt...sometimes I feel like I should have been able to see a wadder coming, when I look back on it. But, live and learn! ;)

Marie-Noƫlle said...

I can't wait to see the finished dress. I love it and it looks great so for.

Sophia said...

Thanks for the info about B5564. I was just about to buy some tissue weight knit for it, and your post reminded me that I hate sewing pleats with that type of knit. So, thanks for saving me some money :)