Dress number two

[rode_kater]

My SO suggested that if I really wanted to learn more about sewing I should pick a pattern made by someone else and make it. She had a MyImage magazine and I picked this dress. I like the design (it has pockets), and I certainly learnt a lot putting it together. This is the end result:

IMG_20201011_175559.jpg

(For a bigger version, click here).

Turns out there was a bug in the pattern I didn't find out till later. I made the sleeves and dress longer, because according to their sizing I'm 38(!) but that's because I have no chest and no hips. I think all up it took me ~16 hours but it was quite the learning experience. I now understand what those pattern books are talking about (there's 7 segments going around the body, doing shaping I don't actually need).

The fabric was my choice, why go for a solid colour when you can have a pattern

For my next project it's either going to be some kind of wrap skirt or some kind of swimwear. The RipSkirt mentioned elsewhere looks attractive, but for the price + shipping and handling to here I can buy very many square metres of material and it doesn't look too complicated.

But lo, according to their site they start distributing in Europe in the spring, yay!

[SkirtsDad]

Well done! Looks great.

[Grok]

Well done! Did you have much trouble adapting this to a male body?

[rode_kater]

Well done! Did you have much trouble adapting this to a male body?

I didn't actually change the shape much, as you can see from the picture it's not very curvy anyway. Like I said I added length to the sleeve and skirt. Following the pattern would have made the skirt 10cm shorter, which would still be ok but not what I wanted. Also the pockets were way too small, I made them bigger but not big enough.

The neck is a "boat neck", which I've decided is not really my thing. Also, it's not a great fit, especially in the chest area (though that's more a question of the neck really). It is however pretty comfortable. However, the pattern means you don't actually see the issues, I think if you made it in a solid colour it would be much more noticeable. The biggest issue I think is that the neck shape doesn't really fit with my face, and it emphasises the shoulders too much. A real adaptation would make the shoulder seams much wider so you a more semi-circular neck opening. My SO suggested a collar with a zip would also look good.

It would be interesting to do a complete reshaping, I'd get rid of the waist shaping then too which would cut the number of panels as well. In the future maybe.

[Jim]

Looks good; I wouldn't have guessed you've just started sewing garments. Maybe I should try, also.

The hairy legs help the look. Don't let people convince you to shave them because that's what many women do.

[rode_kater]

Looks good; I wouldn't have guessed you've just started sewing garments. Maybe I should try, also.

I have some experience with a sewing machine, but it really helps to have someone who can give you tips. For many steps there are easy ways but you're unlikely to figure them out yourself (like the right way to put the piece so you can actually get it under the machine. But gotta start simple.

The hairy legs help the look. Don't let people convince you to shave them because that's what many women do.

I once shaved my legs because there were people saying it felt good. What a disappointment. A lot of work and you end up with prickly legs for a while.

It's my leg hair and I like it the way it is. And it avoids confusion (in case the beard didn't give it away ).

[Grok]

When you start out with sewing you find yourself experimenting a lot. Trying to figure out how to sew, and trying to come up with a garment that works for you.

[Rokje]

Nicely done rode kater.

I too started out sewing. Just seam repair jobs, but I get to know the machine.

[rode_kater]

If you make the dress you have to wear it, right?

Looking at it on the picture I'm stymied as to shoes. I have precisely four pairs: walking boot and sandals (brown), a pair of black sports shoes and a pair of black leather shoes. I think if it was warm enough, the sandals would work ok, but I don't think black shoes would go with this dress. Not sure why, but it feels as if this dress needs more sleek shoes than my usual.

I'm not a fan of heels really, but perhaps some kind of flats? Dark red maybe? Ideas?

The cold weather also requires something on the legs, but to go black seems odd. Perhaps dark red could go there too?

Odd that I spend more time worrying about this compared to my usual clothing where I just take the top of the pile.

[Sinned]

rode_skater, I use the FIFO method when dealing with clothing piles. I add to the top of the pile and take from the bottom of the pile. The only exception is where I want a particular colour or garment to fit in with the rest of the ensemble. That way everything gets used eventually.