Eleven Stitches

Dresses I Like

So after realizing I had a fit issue on some of the previous dresses, I decided to finally figure out how to do a FBA (Full Bust Adjustment).  Most sewing patterns (especially from the big commercial companies) are written for a B cup, and I am not that.  There are some patterns now that have different bodice pieces for different cup sizes, which makes things much easier.

I looked around on Pinterest, and found this Full Bust Adjustment tutorial.  It's pretty clear, but when reading it over again for the 4th time the comments about the movie she's watching get a little old :)  But I successfully altered the front bodice piece for Simplicity 2444, and this is what I got.

This quilting cotton has been in my stash for years.  I think it worked out well for a dress, the vertical pattern is flattering. 

The fit is much better, too!  Yay! The FBA makes the bodice piece a little bit wider, so I adjusted for it by sewing a 3/8 inch center seam in the skirt front instead of the regular 5/8 inch.

I also added in lining instead of facings this time, and I'm much happier with it. 

I decided I was finally ready to cut into some of my batik fabric after this success, and this is instance three of Simplicty 2444.

The batik fabric is a little softer and drapier than quilting cotton. This made the collar a little bit funny after washing it, but I'm sure if I ironed it more carefully than I did here, it would be fine. 

Note that is is Indonesian batik (pronounced BAH-teek there), so it's not the same as the batik fabric you find here in the US.  The design is printed instead of made with a wax resist, but it's based on really intricate designs that were originally made using a series of wax resists and dyeing. 

I'm really proud of myself for figuring this out!  I'm giving Simplicity 2444 a rest for a while now, but I could try making it again with different options for a different look.

Mostly Successful Dresses

Well, I didn't mean to take a big blog break.  I kept putting off blogging because I wasn't entirely happy with the dresses I made several weeks ago, and I didn't really want to post about them.  But I've since made dresses I'm happier with, so lets get through the older stuff first, OK?

I had a big photoshoot today, and now I have a lot of dresses to hang back up again.

First of all, this is Simplicity 2444, which is part of the Project Runway line. 

I bought this fabric at a local festival, and it's originally from Africa.  It's a lightweight woven. 

I love the collar of this dress.  I don't like how it fits.  It's too big above my bust and across the back.  This (and the next dress) convinced me that I really needed to learn how to make a full bust adjustment (or FBA). And this pattern used facings instead of lining.  Now that I'm comfortable with lining dresses, I really don't like using facings. 

This next dress is Simplicity 2215, which is part of the Cynthia Rowley collection.

I love the print on the fabric I used (Denise Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy), and the asymmetrical pleating was kind of fun to do.  But I don't think the fit is especially flattering on me, and it's also too big above my bust.  I adjusted the buttons a little to compensate, but it's still big. 

I surprised myself by choosing white buttons for the dress.  I had red and orange ones that would have worked, but I liked the white ones best.  And then I could wear a red or an orange belt with the dress if I wanted to.

And finally, here is Chantilly in some Summerlove (by Pat Bravo) fabric.

I like the combination of fabric and pattern, but I think the color combination isn't the greatest for me to wear.  Also, this dress is a little shorter than I prefer to wear my dresses, and I feel slightly uncomfortable in it.  (I know it's not that short, but telling myself that doesn't really help.)  If I make this pattern again I'll definitely lengthen the skirt sections.

So there are the three dresses that kept me from blogging for such a long time!  I know they're not bad, but I wished they could have been a little more successful.  I did learn some things, though, and I'll show you some dresses I feel better about soon.