Walkaway Dress (Butterick 4790)
It seems like it's time for an completion report on my walkaway dress.
Not since my wedding dress have I owned a garment that wanted shapewear this much. It feels strongly about girdles, I tell you.
Evidently for me, it takes a village to make a dress. I owe toadnae a big thank-you for the amazing pressing job, and lthomas987 for hem-marking and hand-holding above and beyond the call of duty.
Good stuff:
* It fits pretty well, and does not gap in the arms
* It's very pretty and femme
* I am GOOD at picking trim, yo
* I love circle skirts!
Hrm:
* I think I ended up taking the shoulder seams in a total of 3 inches. That's a lot, and I am not exactly petite through the upper chest. It shouldn't be an effect of the FBA, either. I have no idea what's up with that.
* I don't love the way the back fits across the top of my butt, but that may be a me-issue, and not a dress issue.
* The hem of the "front" is dragging funny in back. Needs to be fixed.
On me:
* I cut down the neckline about, oh, three inches. Because that high flat neckline makes my breasts look enormous, and not in the good way. Scoopneck all the way, however, it made the whole thing a little more inclined to slide laterally.
* I also laughed hollowly at the thought of a few mere snaps holding the whole assemblage together. I made loops in the front for buttons, and used a trouser hook-and-eye for the back.
* Full bust adjustment is a bit wacky in a pattern this weird. I ended up cutting apart the front bodice and the skirt, and I don't regret that choice.
I'm not sure I'll ever make this again, but it was a heck of an interesting learning experience. I don't think it's a bad pattern, but it may not be a good fit for my body type. Or maybe I need to get better at tailoring. Or get some structural undergarments.
In conclusion:
I like sewing dresses. I will continue to improve.
Not since my wedding dress have I owned a garment that wanted shapewear this much. It feels strongly about girdles, I tell you.
Evidently for me, it takes a village to make a dress. I owe toadnae a big thank-you for the amazing pressing job, and lthomas987 for hem-marking and hand-holding above and beyond the call of duty.
Good stuff:
* It fits pretty well, and does not gap in the arms
* It's very pretty and femme
* I am GOOD at picking trim, yo
* I love circle skirts!
Hrm:
* I think I ended up taking the shoulder seams in a total of 3 inches. That's a lot, and I am not exactly petite through the upper chest. It shouldn't be an effect of the FBA, either. I have no idea what's up with that.
* I don't love the way the back fits across the top of my butt, but that may be a me-issue, and not a dress issue.
* The hem of the "front" is dragging funny in back. Needs to be fixed.
On me:
* I cut down the neckline about, oh, three inches. Because that high flat neckline makes my breasts look enormous, and not in the good way. Scoopneck all the way, however, it made the whole thing a little more inclined to slide laterally.
* I also laughed hollowly at the thought of a few mere snaps holding the whole assemblage together. I made loops in the front for buttons, and used a trouser hook-and-eye for the back.
* Full bust adjustment is a bit wacky in a pattern this weird. I ended up cutting apart the front bodice and the skirt, and I don't regret that choice.
I'm not sure I'll ever make this again, but it was a heck of an interesting learning experience. I don't think it's a bad pattern, but it may not be a good fit for my body type. Or maybe I need to get better at tailoring. Or get some structural undergarments.
In conclusion:
I like sewing dresses. I will continue to improve.