The reason I've been AWOL:
I've talked about pushing myself more with sewing, both with technique and trying new colors and designs. Soo... a fully lined princess seam dress with pockets! The pattern is Chloe and the fabric choice was a result of roaming around G Street fabrics in mid-July with a $50 Groupon that was going to expire in a matter of days and the fabric selection was WIPED OUT. I loved this gray wool and the combination of red and gray, but I don't have anything remotely like this in my closet. Tights, shoes, cardigan - I have no idea how I'm going to style this one.
The whole time I was a little insecure about the color combination but I felt like I should go for it because something drew me to it in the first place. I was worried it would be a little too Judy Jetson (what is with me and the Hanna-Barbera throwbacks?) but I like it.
Notes:
- I used the lining as my muslin (aHA! Yet another muslin avoided!) and learned that I needed a bigger size in the hips. For the shell (this is crazy), I taped the little sliver of the size 8 back on the hips, and tapered it back up to the size 6 at the waist. This thing fits perfectly.
- Uh, I need to remember that you are 5'10" and I need to remember before I cut the pattern. I only hemmed an inch and did my grandmother's technique of sewing on a strip of seam tape and then hand stitching that as an extension of the hem. It's a little short (!)
- I left off the buttons. There were supposed to be three along each seam line on the chest, and one on each pocket welt.
- I LOVE how the pockets are sewn on (attached to each garment piece separately, and then sewn together as one continuous seam when the garment pieces are stitched together) I realize this is probably how all pockets are sewn, but I never knew that! This is why I'm trying to learn new things.
I've never made a princess seam dress before, I love it, but it is a little constricting because it is so fitted. I am really pleased with Victory Patterns and they just released a bunch of new patterns - sign me up!
And now this is going in my fall wardobe stash...
