I made a two-piece dress for a client who's graduating college in a couple of weeks. (You might remember the bodice mockup I posted a few months ago.) I forgot to take photos of most of the build, and I was so tired of looking at it by the time I finished, I completely forgot to take any final photos! Oops.
But I did photograph the sleeves while I worked on them!
I used two layers of super fine & soft tulle from Mood Fabrics for the sleeves (one layer was just a little too invisible) so I was able to sew the plackets through both layers and turn to encase the seam allowance. And it was much cleaner than trying to sew a separate placket piece to the hard-to-see edge.
I used a piece of tissue paper (the kind you use in a gift bag) to trace the stitchlines. Then I pinned it underneath the two layers of tulle and stitched through all of it including the tissue paper. Much easier than marking tulle and it rips off easily.
Slice, turn, press, and top-stitch. Then attach cuff.
#plackets
I spent the day priming things for paint and then I remembered to shoot a quick video. #SewingStudioBuild
I started cutting all the edges while Janet was away yesterday morning. When she got back after lunch, she pulled out a roller and started filling in. I'll put a pic below in the comments. #SewingStudioBuild
We broke for lunch and then came back with a portal ac unit plugged in to an extention cord from the house. Can't wait until they finished hooking up all the electrical and we have the mini split cooling the room for us - it was stupid humid today! #SewingStudioBuild
Why do you have to be so pretty, brocade? I love you, but you are so fussy to work with!
#derbydress
I made a rub-off dress... the only change I made was to increase the width of the waistband from 2" to 3", which I am more-or-less satisfied with. I'd do a few things, construction-wise, differently next time, but this is an easy, comfortable dress.
The original is from Talbots.
It’s been awhile since I’ve had something to show, but I’m finally getting the pictures up! Both of these were from the Paloma pattern in the Itch to Stitch “Sew Beautiful” book. I did the top first to test the pattern, and tried to add some length to the sleeves, since 3/4 length only works here about 3 to 4 days of the year! I apparently underestimated the length I needed to add, but I had to cut crosswise even to add this much, so I couldn’t have done more.
For the dress, I did add more sleeve length (slightly overestimated this time). I also added ties to the neck and pockets, though in retrospect, I probably should have put them in higher. Based on the shirt, I’d thought putting them in the top part would be too high. So I inserted them in the first ruffle layer and it is maybe a bit too low.
Overall, though, I think this was a worthwhile pattern to play with.
