Sharing, Inspiration and Project Photos XIX

[Lisa]

It's time to start a new thread.  Please continue sharing your wonderful projects and inspirations here!   

Lisa

[Jacs]

Oh Hi Lisa - was obviously writing my post as you did this so here it is for the new page.

Ann  thanks, you always amaze me with the wonderful shirts you make - i had to ban DH from reading this site as he hankers after a shirt like these!  I made him a few when we first met 22 years ago (OMG it doesn't seem that long ago!) but lost the pattern I might go looking or can you suggest a good mens one?

Shams thanks for the info about the dress I had wondered if it was Miyake inspired.  I have changed the next one and added a tie from a Vogue skirt and DD says it looks better - I will take photos of me wearing them.

Karen thanks for the comments, the shrug is something I am very proud of as it was a morph from a New Look miles too small and a Burda Tshirt.  I have it in black brown and multi.  I always shied away from altering patterns but after reading others journey now enjoying trying the odd thing - I'll know I have advanced in this when I finally can contemplate a FBA!!

[Ann]

Jac
It is a simplicity pattern that we redesigned to what we wanted. I used it as a starting point for our shirts and then we did a huge drafting thing to get what we wanted. It seems to be discontinued as is the men's that I use for DH's western shirts. PM please.

Ann

[BetsyV]

I think I've been a bit lax lately, posting photos. Not too interesting, but after DH gets back from the dentist I will get a photo of the Vogue 1117 dress I finished in time for New Year's Eve. It fits so closely I can't zip it up all the way. I tried like anything, but couldn't quite do it. So, wet hair and all from the post-gym shower, here are Mabel and I modeling our two newest Jalie 2805 mock turtlenecks, in two gorgeous knits. I was also able to cut out tank and camisole tops from both of these fabrics, too, but won't stitch them up until spring. And I will stay in this outfit the rest of the day, too.



oh good you can see the fun socks my mom knit me last year for Christmas 2008!

[Jacs]

Nice tops Betsy and I love the socks your mum knitted for you.

[LauraS.]

Love the tops, Betsy, and the socks!

[BetsyV]

Thanks and my wardrobe assistant finally got back from the dentist!

Front and back of the Michael Kors dress, Vogue 1117, which I finished at 4pm New Year's Eve, two 1/2 hours before our dinner guests started to arrive ... This lightweight silk jacquard came from Mekong River Textiles, it's underlined in silk organza, and lined in a stretch silk (because of a perfect color match, with acid green lightening bolts, not because I wanted a stretch lining).

Now that I look at the photo, the back zipper insertion could be better, but I am not doing it again, I can tell you. And I cropped the socks out of these photos 

[vtmartha]

Great job, Betsy!  The tops are really cute and the dress is gorgeous.  It's a terrific fit.  Did you tackle the fit at your Sarah workshop last year?

[lessalt]

Betsy, Great tops and the dress is fantastic - the fit looks perfect.

[ejvc]

Betsy, bless you for posting, I have been looking at that Michael Kors dress -- yours looks lovely on you!  I always watch what you make, you know, since you stole my body type!  Perfect fit!

I like your tops and socks too!

[AnnRowley]

Pretty tops and socks  Betsy, and a wonderful dress -  fabulous fit and beautifully matched stripes.  I have a 'thing' about pattern matching, to my mind it's much more important than the zip insertion. 

[BetsyV]

Great job, Betsy!  The tops are really cute and the dress is gorgeous.  It's a terrific fit.  Did you tackle the fit at your Sarah workshop last year?

Martha, yes. I took the muslin to the Sarah Veblen Patternmaking workshop last August. We took in the top half quite a bit and relieved the skirt pegging approximately the full seam allowance. With my athletic thighs, a pegged skirt just doesn't work if I want to sit down in it - the vent rips open. Then, I made up a full mockup, lined etc, in free fabric from a Craig's List posting (a vertical stripe, which worked out well as mockup fabric) and thought I was golden until I tried it on and it was too big across the upper back and gaped at the upper chest. Again.

So I took the mockup to the Susan Khalje retreat in early December. I was planning on going right to cutting the silk/organza/lining and starting to put it together but had to get the fit right. The way the dress goes together, there are no mid-construction opportunities to test the fit. So, we took in the upper back again, and it was SK's professional opinion that the chest gaping was due to not stabilizing the seamlines of the bodice and facing pieces - they grew during construction, that edge is on the bias. That was right, in the end, I added organza selvedges to the bodice seamlines and the facing seamlines immediately after cutting them out, and they stayed the same length.

Thank you for the lovely comments! AnnR I have a thing about pattern matching too, which is why I rarely make up any plaids. Elizabeth, this dress would look really great on you, too.

[movinon]

Betsy that's beautiful!  I love the fabric (and I bet it looks GREAT with the socks  ) and you really perfected the fit.  Just curious as to why you lined and underlined, did I miss that (still decaffeinated here on the left coast). 

[vtmartha]

Thanks for all the added info, Betsy.  You did a fabulous job!

[marciae]

Great dress Betsy - wonderful fit!!

[stashpanache]

It's beautiful, Betsy.  You took such care.  Even trying to fit that dress just boggles my mind.

[BetsyV]

Just curious as to why you lined and underlined, did I miss that

You didn't miss anything. I didn't say why, but it's a good question.

Underlined because the silk jacquard was very lightweight, not at all the recommendation per pattern envelope and it was only half or 1/3 the weight of the lining. And I wanted to support the floaters in the jacquard so the seams would not tear at the silk under stress.

Lining: the dress is lined per the pattern. I'm not sure how you would make it unlined. The lining is an integral part of the construction. This is not an easy pattern to fit nor to put together. I can't stand dresses and skirts that are unlined, anyway. Except very lightweight cotton sundresses and skirts.

Stash you are right on fitting this dress. I don't know if I could have done it without help from people who know what they are doing. It helps also that I have a group of sewing friends, and we are able to get together monthly, most of the time. And DeniseM is always reasonably handy.

[Karendee]

Betsy,

You are positively beautiful in your wonderful silk dress. The fit is perfect, as is your figure! We are not discussing weight issues here, but you have certainly conquered yours. Lovely, lovely on you.

Karen

[Ann]

Betsy, I love that dress on you and you certainly did put a lot of work into making muslins so it fits you perfectly. Congrats on having a high end dress. Enjoy wearing it.

Ann

[fzxdoc]

Great dress, Betsy! It reflects all of the careful thought and meticulous sewing that you put into it. And it's so pretty!  You did a marvelous job.

I like your colorful Jalie tops, too. They certainly cheer up the grey winter days.

Outside of your consternation with the zipper insertion (which BTW looks good to me) is there anything else about the dress that you would have done differently or changed? And do you find it comfortable to wear?

Kathryn

[Marji]

Betsy, it's gorgeous! And to reiterate what Kathryn said, it shows all the meticulous time and work you put into it.

[MaryPat]

Your dress is fabulour Betsy. The fit looks perfect and the construction is great, but beyond that YOU look wonderful wearing it. You really nailed it in the fit, style, colour flattery, overall catergories!
Tops are nice too and will be worn more often no doubt, but are just not as satisfying as commenting on such a WOW dress!
Cute socks.

[Jacs]

Betsy I love your dress - I bought the Burda that had a version similar because I loved it so much seeing other people here wearing their versions.  I was disappointed to see that it was in a much smaller size and the difficulty in making it larger.  So it is in my armchair sewing pile and I live through others dresses such as yours.

[kbenco]

Besty it is lovely to see your sewing, I am like Elizabeth and closely watch your outfits for the same reasons!. Your tops look great, but I am just in love with your New Years Eve dress. I own that pattern, but hearing of the fit issues is making me very wary of making it up. Your dress is inspiring and your construction story a bit scary, so I think my pattern is in the same place in my sewing list  . Great job.
Karen

[BetsyV]

Many thanks to everyone for the lovely comments! I do enjoy a few detailed projects every year.

... is there anything else about the dress that you would have done differently or changed? And do you find it comfortable to wear?

Well, there is one change I am still considering. The stiffness of the organza underlining makes the skirt pleats puff out a little at the bottom (worst is the view from above, me looking down on it). I may baste them down a little further, see if that helps or if that just moves the problem further down my lower torso. If it helps, I will stitch them down longer. If it doesn't, I will leave them as is.

The only wear/comfort issue I had was that, by the late evening, I had red marks at the front of my arms, from the underarm nearly to the shoulder point on both sides. This may certainly have had to do with making dinner, reaching forward to take things out of the oven, taking and hanging coats up, etc. I am not sure if I would have this same problem if I were a guest at a cocktail party and not the hostess making dinner. Unfortunately, that area is now inaccessible, so I cannot change it on this dress.

I own that pattern, but hearing of the fit issues is making me very wary of making it up.

Karen, I would encourage you to go ahead. I think you would look stunning in it. Carolyn here (and really I should link to the thread where she talked about it) made her wedding dress from this pattern, and her muslin comment was that she did NOT need an FBA with this pattern. After she made her usual, it was too big. Make it up in plain calico and draw all the relevant lines on it. Since you and I have a similar waist to hip ratio, I suggest you eliminate the skirt pegging right from the start. And be sure to stabilize that neckline and facings immediately on cutting out. Staystitching on the muslin worked fine.

[Remnant]

Betsy, that's a stunning dress. It looks great on you - love the color and style. Thanks for sharing!

[mardel]

Betsy, what a gorgeous dress!  You look fabulous.

[DebraMartin]

How cool would it be to do this to a pair of shoes!!



Has anyone here ever done this?

[Elona]

BetsyV, that Kors dress came out just beautifully--so quietly elegant!  Well done.

[Martha Domke]

Debra, my DD2 would love those shoes!!!  I can see Liana turning out a pair like that.  She covers shoes, and I wonder if this wouldn't be too difficult for her.

[Lisa]

I could be wrong, but this looks as if it might be a decorated sock in a pair of black pumps...

Nice idea!

Lisa

[LindaF]

Betsy your dress is beautiful.  I didn't look to see if you have a blog with more details.  After I write here, I'm going to check.
I shows off your figure beautifully, and the details are stunning.  Now that I have seen it on you I feel like it would work for my new figure.

I love the fabric too, was it hard to work with?  And congrats on finishing 2 hours before guests showed up.  At least you weren't putting the finishing touches on when the doorbell rang!
Linda

[cmarie12]

LindaF - this is totally off-topic but the picture of your granddaughter is sooooo cute!  And she weighed 8 lbs - wow - a big girl!  Enjoy her...they grow up so fast.  My little Prince is taking steps and he isn't 11 months old yet! 

[stashpanache]

OT too...

LindaF...LOVE your new avatar.  How sweet.  What a little dolly.

My little GS had his first haircut yesterday.  DS said he just looked around and did not fuss.  He is 7 mos.

[LindaF]

Thank you all for the kind compliments on my avatar.  My GD is so cute and so tiny.  Unfortunately she lives in PA, so I don't get to see her on a regular basis. 

Caroline - I did not know you were a Grandma.  I have not read any blogs in about a year  but now that things have gotten better around here, I am picking up all my old favorites things to do again.  I am adding blogs to a list and hoping to open my own again soon. Does your DS live close by?  Lucky you if he is.  Do you post photos on your blog?

Stash  - Wow a hair cut at 7 months!  His hair must be growing like crazy.   Is that your GS in your avatar?

I am going to be pulling out all the classic patterns I used to use with my DD and make some dresses.  I went shopping with my DIL and we visited a store in the Hershey outlet mall that was high end smocked dresses.  It appears that the classic style is still in and I can just pick up where I left off with my DD.  I really want to make an easter dress which means I had better get cracking!
Linda