Back In The Saddle

I wish I could tell you that, after the denim debacle, I bounced right back and decided to make something and it was super easy and my final product was flawless.

The truth is that I decided I should bounce back and I have been wanting to make Vogue 1250 (everyone's fave new Donna Karan pattern) and I had some poly jersey in my stash so, over the past few days, I gave it a go:



The photos look skewed to me - maybe that's just where I'm at. I've had ear pain and a headache for days so my opinion is likely unreliable.

I also notice that the dress looks baggy on the mannequin. My, ahem, padding is slightly more evenly distributed (maybe even ample) so, on me, it looks more va va voom.

About the Fabric

I bought this a fabric a long time ago and gifted some of it to my friend Nicole. She made a fantastic version of Vogue 1179 with it, also a Donna Karan pattern. The op art swirlies are lots of fun and it's a beautiful, stand out blue. But I'm just not a fan poly jersey. It's got lovely drape and it's indestructible but, man, it feels like crap.

About the Pattern

• I made one adjustment in shortening the waist by 1.25 inches. Y'all know I can't make a Vogue pattern (or any, for that matter) without doing that. BTW, if you shorten the waist and you are not short, you should lengthen the skirt. It's not super long. On me, a .5 inch hem was fine, but I wouldn't have wanted to go any shorter.
  

• It fits large for a close-fitting dress. Mind you, my fabric could be contributing to that. I would say that, if you're on the cusp between sizes, make the smaller one. Or consider using larger seam allowances.

• Alas, it's like my serger was on drugs when I made this thing. It did a terrible job on the fabric. I almost wonder if something is up with it. So the inside is regrettably hideous, something that makes me dislike it on principle. (It also looks like gerbils twin stitched the hem. Seriously. Bad. Work.)
  

• I also found the shoulders to be a total pain in the ass to put together - and I've used the method prescribed before. There was something off about either it, or me. Let's just say I'm grateful that the fabric obscures the workmanship.

On the plus side, it's entirely wearable - and seasonal - which is more than I can say for my last sewing project.

On balance, I didn't find this dress as easy to construct as most other people have found it (I could be off my game these days) and I don't love the end result as much. After Vogue 1179 (the sexiest sac ever), this one seems a bit derivative. Mind you, I'll wear it and enjoy it.

Whatcha think?