Monday, September 3, 2012

Simplicity 1881


I'm fresh out of creative titles.  This will have to do.  This dress is my last me made item from vacation.  And it's probably my least favorite of the tropical things I made.  I had major issues while sewing this dress and I'm not exactly sure the cut is flattering on me.  But you better believe I made sure to wear it at least once after all the frantic late night sewing I did right before we left.  I actually brought my seam ripper on vacation with me and took out all the gathering stitches and some sloppily placed elastic I put in to try and fix the floppy waist at the last minute.  I ended up making a tie belt with the one lone piece of fabric I had left.  The one positive of making this dress was that I used every scrap of fabric I had.  No scraps leftover on this one, which is always a good feeling. 


  

I used Simplicity 1881.  Holy cow, this is a time consuming pattern!  I thought I'd be able to whip it out in plenty of time before our trip, but I was sewing down to the wire to finish before we left.  There was so much gathering and matching of seams.  It was a never ending project.  It was definitely more involved than I imagined.  I made the version with the high neck but just used the shorter skirt.  I initially wanted to do the maxi but didn't have enough fabric.  This pattern was... interesting.  I feel like the version I made is more suited for a woven, yet the pattern calls for knits.  I used an extremely cheap printed jersey which probably had to do with some of my dissatisfaction with the pattern.  It was very wiggly and thin.  I battled with all those gathering stitches and curved seams.  And all the gathering stitches left little white holes after they were removed.  The zig zag stitch was my friend on this project.


The pattern calls for a side seam zipper but I left it out.  I think zippers in knit dresses are strange, unless it's a stable knit.  I used a fusible tricot for the neck band and midriff.  It was the only way I was going to get those curved seams to turn out.  I was disappointed with how much ease the midriff ended up with.  I can see that the curved midriff would be extremely flattering if it were fitted just right.  But it sort of made me feel floppy and wide when it ended up too big.  I discovered this just mere hours before we left so I attempted to fix it in slapdash fashion.  I first tried zig zag stitching elastic along the back midriff seam lines.  It looked horrendous.  Then I went for a belt, which does the job but I don't love it.

My other qualms with this dress involve the cut of the bodice.  I think it looks just like the pattern intends it to, I just don't like it on me.  It hits right at the widest part of my back.  Maybe if the armholes were raised slightly I'd like it better.  Also, after watching Project Runway the other week, I keep thinking souffle boobs. (I hope typing that doesn't come back to haunt me, Google search!)  That's not a good thought.  I do like the back closure with the two buttons. That's fun.  All in all, it's a comfy jersey dress.  It was perfect for the hot temperature in St. John.  I wore it out to dinner one night.  I think now it will go in the magic closet for a while.  Maybe I'll decide I love it next summer.


Now back to real world sewing, friends!  No more tropical vacation photos.  I'll be visiting these posts in the dead of winter, I'm sure :)



28 comments:

  1. It's too bad you don't love it. It looks so pretty in the photos.

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  2. Well, I opened up your post and immediately said, 'oh!'....I don't think you'll have alot of people who don't like this on you- I hope you can see past the parts that bothered you, cuz it is way cute!

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  3. I like this on you. Sometimes we are hard on ourselves because we look at our projects with magnifying eyes.

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  4. Honestly, this dress wowed me as soon as I opened your blog! You should wear this again because it is quite lovely. I think all your hard efforts were well worth it in the end. Good job!

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  5. I think it is flattering on you. Just too bad it was so much trouble to sew! Maybe some time in "the magic closet" this winter, and when you pull it out next summer you will love it- having forgotten about all the hassle along the way.

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  6. The colors in this dress are lovely on you! And I think the overall shape suits you just fine - you're probably being too hard on yourself as everyone has said. I can see why you'd be annoyed about the waist - you'd really want that style to fit snug around the waist area - but your belt fixes that. Could you sew the belt to the side of the waist so that you can tighten it in back and keep the midriff curves more visible? I think you'll be happy for this come summer!

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    1. That's a very good idea about attaching the belt...

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  7. I actually think this looks cute! The fabric is lovely. I think maybe because it was such a pain to sew, you dislike it and look for flaws? The magic closet might help. Actually magic closets really do work - I once put a coat and a top away for a while, both with flaws I couldn't stand. When I pulled out the top I realized that I actually rather liked it, and that the flaws were minor. The coat was another story - I realized it was even worse than I had thought when I put it away. The top gets worn regularly now, and the coat is history.

    Anyway, I think the dress is very pretty, and I hope that eventually you will grow to like it and it will see more use next summer.

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  8. I agree - it looks lovely on you, however I also sympathies as I'm just as self critical!
    Perhaps is the neck/yoke thing was wider you might feel more balanced? However I think it looks great as is!
    Pop it in the closet for a few days or until next summer and when you take it out all the construction pain and anguish will be gone :-)

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    1. That's an interesting thought about the neck band. I think I would like it if it was wider.

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  9. I love that fabric! I was surprised it was a knit because it does seem like that pattern design, with all its structured curves, would call for an interfaced woven. But those colors are stellar! I think the bodice is quite flattering on you, actually. Wear it! (for your blog readers' sake, anyway).

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  10. It is the perfect fabric for a summer dress...sorry the sewing experience was less than stellar!

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  11. I think its a lovely dress - perfect for a vacation or a summer night out! I'm sorry it was such a bear to put together and that you're STILL not 100% satisfied - thats always such a downer. Also - "souffle boobs" ?!?! Haha - I have no idea WHAT that is but I'm going to go google it now!

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  12. It's a nice dress, the colors are perfect for a tropical vacation. I like the waistband but I have to agree on the neckline. Anyways, how to know if you don't try it out?!

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  13. I think you score many many points for the the fabulous colour selection and the neckline. That neckline looks gorgeous on you....does wonders for your back and shoulders.

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  14. Thanks so much for all the nice words, ladies! I do like the dress, it's just not my favorite. But I agree that a stint in the magic closet may change my mind come next summer.

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  15. That fabric is gorgeous! Even if you're not in love with the dress I think it looks very nice on you. :]

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  16. It looks lovely on you, the colours and fabric design really suit you as does the design of the dress. Its reassuring to know I am not the only one that sews to the wire before a holiday.

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  17. I think it's very pretty and flattering. Funny, because I've got this one (well, the skirt part) on my Sally and I'm waiting to get off of work to start on the bodice. Now I'm a little nervous about starting the bodice - mine will hopefully look as nice as yours when it's done. I'm using the same view too - I wasn't sure how a longer dress would look on me. But, again, I think your dress is lovely!

    I'm also using a bright print for this - if you'd like to see it's over at http://jennysews2.blogspot.com - I'll post the full dress when it's done.

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  18. I LOVE this. Great job. And thanks for commenting on my blog so that I could find yours. Following from now on!

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  19. lovely print and lovely dress ! My first visit to your blog. Awesome:)Try to drop by my blog when you find time. Good day
    -Diya

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  20. Love this! So great! The color is great on you!

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  21. I really like this dress, and it looks great on you.
    Love the fabric!
    Silvia

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  22. STUNNING!! This looks absolutely lovely on you, you are glowing! so it was well worth the frantic finishing off! Amazing colours, these brights really suit you to a T; and a really groovy print too. :)

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  23. Gosh!!! I have to agree with other commenters, it is awesome! What a great print for this style and it looks as if it hangs beautifully. And the style looks so flattering and tropical too...the belt works I think....I hadn't noticed any midriff issues until you mentioned them and had to go looking to see what you meant. It's fab. I hope it comes back put of your magic closet next year :-)

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  24. I loooooooove this! It's so, so cute! I'm glad you stuck it out despite dealing with an annoying knit, because this is totally worth it!

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  25. Stop tripping Liza, you look great in that dress. what wide back? smh you rockin' that dress girlie. thanks for sharing, cause i'm sold on it now. hope mines comes out as good as yours did.

    Paydelady
    ~¿~

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