This week I really need to get my muslin finished. Nothing yet to see here, just a lot of tracing and prep work. And Esteemed Sewing Assistant helping out.
Category Archives: dress
Laurel, The Gatsby-Hacked Version
It took way longer than it should have, but I finally finished my version of Laurel. I finished reading The Great Gatsby on my commute the other week, and I wanted something that would capture the decadent, opulent, lush feel of the novel.
Btw, I didn’t realize how sheer this dress was. I’m lucky there’s a brown fence behind most of me.
Edit: Thanks for reminding me guys, I am entering this in the Colette Patterns contest.
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Pattern Description: Loosely fitted basic sheath dress or top.
Pattern Sizing: 0-18. I cut a 4 on top and tapered to a 6 on the bottom.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, sort of.
Were the instructions easy to follow? I have on idea, I didn’t read the directions.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like how versatile and simple this pattern is.
Fabric Used: Sheer crushed velvet.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I changed this pattern a lot. I dropped the neckline, took out the front and back darts, and raised the hem. I wanted a 60s-inspired does 20s-inspired version. I serged the side seams and hem and used seam binding to finish the neckline and armholes. I removed the darts since I didn’t think the crushed velvet could handle it, and I wanted to keep it simple.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes and yes. I’d really like to sew this so it would actually look like Laurel version, and not severely modified.
Conclusion: I’d definitely make this again.
Work in Progress: Laurel, The Gatsby-Hacked Version
Here’s my progress so far on Laurel. I really wish I made a muslin. I need to adjust the neckline and the hem, and it’s almost there.
What I’m Working on This Week: Laurel, The Gatsby-Hacked Version
Sheer crushed velvet, with topaz and cobalt blue flowers.
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It’s been quiet around these parts since I’ve been doing a lot of pattern modifications on Colette Laurel and have no decent photographs to show for it.
I’ve been working on my version over the weekend. No sleeves, lower neckline, no darts, much more simple shaping. I finished reading The Great Gatsby on my commute last week, a novel thing since I’m a very slow fiction reader, and I’ve been greatly inspired by that. I want something that will mirror the lush opulence and decadence of what the 1920s are in my head (at least based on what I read from Gatsby>), and it’s been slow going.
Hopefully this project will be done in time for the Laurel sewing contest next week.
Special Occasion Sewing: Bridesmaid Dress
One of my friends is getting married in the summer, and I need to make a dress. I’m trying to narrow down the styles/patterns for it. I have it narrowed down to three:
McCalls 7488. This is one of the most unusual dresses in my pattern collection. I plan to remove the gathers from the waist and convert them into darts.
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McCalls 6604. Another really interesting pattern, with double scallops.
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McCalls 5395. Basic sheath dress.
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My first pick so far is the double scallop dress. Any ideas?
What I’m Working on This Week: McCalls 5805, Bodice
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I can only sew once a week these days, so I’ve been working on this slowly but surely. I lined the bodice with cotton broadcloth. I still need to serge the edges and cut the skirt.
What I’m Working on This Week: McCalls 5805
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I was looking through my stash and I found this interesting dress pattern. I plan to make View A, with the pouffy skirt, and to add pockets.
The Live Through This Dress
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Fabric: black wool, $7/yd, approx 2 yd. white lace, approx $5/yd, 1 yd
Pattern: McCalls 7707
Year: 1960
Notions: black invisible zipper, $1
Time to complete: a couple of evenings
First worn: Haven’t been worn yet!
Wear again? Yes
Total cost: $20
Everyone needs an austere black dress with a white lace collar. I’ve been listening to a lot of Hole circa 1994 (especially Live Through This) when I made this dress, and it was inspired by a similar dress that Courtney Love wears.
I think the black wool I used was too stiff for this pattern. I used the scalloped collar and didn’t interface the collars out of laziness, and I think the collar turned out too wobbly.
I plan to make this again with modifications, using a wool with more drape and more simple collar.
It was incredibly cold the morning when I took these photos, so I’ll have to figure out what works for the rest of the winter.
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Pattern used:
McCalls 7707.
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Pattern Review
Pattern Description:
Lightly fitted and flared dress, with high waistline in front, may be sleeveless or have long set-in sleeves. Long sleeves are scalloped at wrists and closed with zippers. Two-piece contrasting collar on sleeveless dress, or matching scalloped dress on collar with sleeves. Collars are interfaced. Buttons are used as decorative trim on upper front. Either version has center back zipper, may be lined.
Pattern Sizing:
Size 12, 32 bust. I had to size it up but I think I made a math error since I had to remove about two inches from the back side seam.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
There weren’t a lot of pieces to this pattern, and I liked how you can customize the collar.
Fabric Used:
Black wool, white lace.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I shortened the skirt and the sleeves.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes and yes.
Conclusion:
I really like it! Very comfortable to wear, and finally a dress with sleeves.
What I’m Working on This Week: McCalls 7707
Here’s what my muslins look like so far for McCalls 7707. There’s two wrinkles by the middle bodice but I think that’s due to user error. I’m doing the version with the scalloped collar.
What I’m Working on This Week: McCalls 7707
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Over the weekend I had a chance to trace and adjust McCalls 7707. I didn’t get very far since most of the weekends was filled with recovery errands, but hopefully I can get to work on it for a bit this week.