I'm Happy – Completed My Dress!

It's done! I finished Vogue 9017 in time for next week's class reunion. Today I it inserted the sleeves, took a 3/8 inch deeper seam in the upper chest through the bust, took a 3/8 inch deeper seam in the upper back, hemmed the dress and the sleeves. One small thing left to do is to sew the hook and eye.

This is a well drafted pattern. My one dislike is the neckline facing. Part of my dislike has to do with the thickness of my fabric and using a neckline facing added extra bulk to the neckline. I trimmed the seams and use lots of steam and a clapper when pressing the neckline. Earlier on in the sewing process I had thought I would use bias tape and with 20/20 hindsight I would redo that for this dress.

I think if I had used a lighter weight knit fabric a facing would be suitable. Of late I have been using bias tape and find that that seems to be suitable for the lighter weight knits I used also.

Here are a few photos of the completed dress on a hanger:

Front 

Back

I chose to use the zebra print fabric for the center back. The pattern illustrations had the back as one solid color. I liked the idea of both center back and center front being the same. I thought that this would be more slenderizing.

Close up upper front with sleeves attached.

I hope to have an opportunity to take some photos of me wearing the dress during the week and at the upcoming event.

Black Ponte Knit Dress

Remember this post where I needed a black ponte knit that would go with a previous purchase of a black and brown ponte knit from EmmaOneSock. The purchase from Mood was a lighter weight fabric that would not work with the brown and black fabric; it was the right black just not enough thickness. I tried applying interfacing to a piece hoping that that would give it the right hand I needed. It did and yet it didn't. Following up with Linda at EmmaOneSock, she sent me 5 different samples and happily 2 of the 5 were perfect and I was able to order what I need.

When that fabric arrives I will switch my focus to making my LBD. I still am trying to choose between two dress patterns. Meanwhile I will still focus on a raglan sleeve top.

More updates to follow. Enjoy your sewing weekend.

Sewing at Casa la Danvillegirl

Limited sewing  took place this past week. There were more starts and stops with little bits completed.

The black ponte knit from Mood fabrics was the perfect rich black color I wanted; the weight or hand of the fabric is somewhat softer/thinner. I don't think it will work with the black and brown fabric. I am going to try to apply a knit interfacing to a square of the fabric to see if this may give it the hand I'm wanting.

Meanwhile I completed the taping of numerous pattern pages for the Tribeca Top. This is an independent pattern from Kitschy Coo. The Penny Pinafore dress pattern was a great fit particularly in the upper bust/chest area. I have now traced and cut out the pattern pieces for my size and will test this with another solid knit fabric from my stash. Hopefully this will fit as well as the other pattern did.

I hope your sewing is going well and will post more later.