I made a dress!

[alias_sqbr]

McCall's M5893 size 18 (I'm a 16, but decided a 18-24 pattern would be more easily adapted than a 8-16 one)



It's not very flattering, instead of shortening the skirt and raising the neckline I should have shortened the whole bodice (and shortened the skirt. I had to do quite a bit of shortening :)) Bringing the shoulders in worked really well, I can't remember the last time I had a dress where the arm straps didn't fall off every five seconds. My plan to increase the size of the skirt turned out to be unnecessary: there was only one skirt width designed to work up to size 24, and in fact I think next time I'll make it narrower at the top so it doesn't bunch so much when gathered. Still, it's very comfy and wasn't too hard. And has pockets!

Comments

[fe2h2o.livejournal.com]

Well done:-) It does look comfy—and it certainly does look as though you got the shoulders fitting properly:-)

[alias_sqbr]

It fits my shoulders and my hips AT THE SAME TIME. This makes up for the many other flaws :)

[jesse_the_k]

Wowza! + pockets!

In my childhood we called that sort of a garment a jumper.

[alias_sqbr]

For me a jumper (as an item of clothing) corresponds to an american "sweater". This caused me no end of confusion reading foreign books growing up :)

[sanguinity]

Is 16 more of a top size or a bottom size for you? I would imagine that the alterations would be less time-consuming on something like this if you buy for the top sizing, and then just make the skirt wider. Especially since this particular skirt is a one-size-fits-most tube, yes?

(I can't tell you how much time I've spent looking at pattern packet backs, trying to guess how the actual pattern inside is put together, so that I can make an appropriate decision about what pattern I can use to not do what the pattern was intended for.) (Convoluted sentence is convoluted.)

Yay, comfy! Yay, pockets!

[alias_sqbr]

It's a top size, but I wanted to make the dress larger to take into account any extra changes due to me screwing up the pattern (the last thing I made ended up rather tight) Also I wanted quite a loose fit, since this is a sitting around the house dress.

[triestine.livejournal.com]

I envy your skill! I wish I could make clothes for myself. I have ideas, but no talent.

[kitsune-iii.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! I admire your skill. I have ideas but they are overcome by a fear of sewing machines.

[alias_sqbr]

Yeah, they kind of intimidate me too. But I got SO SICK of never fitting anything.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh, I have very very little talent, or I'd be making rather more interesting things than this :/

[redbraids.livejournal.com]

I always think that any finished garment is better than 100 not finished ones, so good on you for finishing one!

For fitting, I would tend to fit for the top and then make the skirt fit. Some advice I have seen is to fit/choose the pattern to your shoulders exactly, then adjust from there, as that makes it easier.

I often choose different sixes for top and bottom. You can redraw the lines, easing in one for another.

I think an a-line bottom would look good on you. I have seen some nice ones recently, with gathering under the bust, which look good on lots of people.

[alias_sqbr]

Yes, I am very proud of myself for actually finishing something useful!

[nico-wolfwood.livejournal.com]

Congratulation on making something! I envy you your sewing machine. :P

[alias_sqbr]

I envy you your ability to knit :) Speaking of which I saw the prettiest simple scarf yesterday: http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/04/noro-scarf.html

[nico-wolfwood.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I see those all the time - I just haven't found silk gorgeous enough to qualify.