Now before looking at these photos remember that it is a quick and dirty muslin. So it's barely hanging together. I also couldn't get the under collar to fit (no idea why - but if I do end up making this I will wait for the tutorial/sewalong) so I ended up changing the button fold to get the neck to fit and as a consequence the front of the bodice isn't quite right (I didn't properly iron it either). The skirt isn't attached perfectly as by this time I just wanted to get it on to see. Of course it would probably look better if it was sewn up well and the bust darts were right. But how much better? I asked Ben and he said what I was thinking.. that it wasn't flattering and that it made me look chunky around the waist. I think that it might be the placement of the waist maybe it's too low (?) or maybe I just feel/am proportionately thick around the waist. It's annoying because I do like this style of dress and Nadinoo who has always been a bit of a style icon for me has some lovely similar styles.
So, it hasn't been the best sewing weekend for me.. I think I so desperately wanted to sew something that it all went bad. I did make a zipper purse yesterday but the zipper was too short. I tried again today using some fabric in the stash. I think it turned out super cute (100% due to the fabric) although I have a perfection tendency when it comes to zipper purses as I can always find something wrong and the zipper ends still feel lumpy to me. Does anyone have a fail safe method for zipper purses? Surely I should be able to make a simple zipper purse!
Zip purse looks good to me. Very cute fabric. I don't jump on too many bandwagons although I think the (although rough) muslin shows promise.
ReplyDeleteThe best technique for zip insertion I have found is the one in Elizabeth Hartmann's Perfect Zip Bags (http://www.ohfransson.bigcartel.com/product/perfect-zip-bags-pdf-sewing-pattern). Her instructions produce a great finish. I have blogged about two I have recently made...
ReplyDeleteI think the zipper purse looks just fine! Wouldn't have any recommendations on zipper insertion, though, anyway...
ReplyDeleteAbout the dress: it might be a tad low, if you want the waist to be where your natural waist presumably is (about two centimeters higher, maybe?).
Gathered fabric in that area - makes everyone look a bit bigger, maybe. I don't really think it looks bad on you, though.
Just a different silhouette, one you're not used to.
Maybe you should try folds instead of gathers (they lie more flat, so it's less puffy in the middle) or you move the gathers strategically to each side?
Or you wear a petticoat...to really make the skirt look puffy :)
And if you don't like the look at all, you could turn it into a low-waist-dress by inserting some sort of waistband. Completely different dress, though.
I think it has potential - it's just a muslin after all, right?
(Gee, I kind of overdid it commenting here, sorry).
I'm wondering if the fabric you used for your Cami muslin is part of what's keeping you from liking it? The Nadinoo dresses you linked to are gorgeous, and I think in a Liberty print you'd feel differently about this style. I agree though, it's a different style than what you usually do. I personally think it looks fine on you (aside from the fit issues, which you can fix), but if you don't feel like it's "you" then you probably wouldn't wear it a whole lot!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think your zip purse looks fine! Just iron the heck out of it - that's what I do! Elizabeth Hartman's method works better for me than any other I've tried, but it does take longer than the others. For quick and dirty fete items, have you looked at some of the free tutorials by Noodlehead? I'm thinking of the "Lil Cuties" in particular - they use very little fabric and come together really quickly.
Another vote for Elizabeth Hartman from me! :) Though your method may already be similar to hers, from the looks of things! I find the zipper ends sit better if the side seams are sewn just a little farther out than I think is right! The gives enough ease for the fabric and seam allowances to fold around and under the zipper. (I don't know if that makes ANY sense. Ask me to clarify if it doesn't!)
ReplyDeleteI tried out a gathered skirt for the first time lately, and it was awful... I think a circle/gored skirt will always suit me better! I think you should still consider giving Cami a go though.. if you were sewing while desperate, that muslin may not be a great representation of the finished look!
You might try making a frankenpattern and simply add a circle skirt to the bodice of this dress. I think that would be lovely and would eliminate most of the added bulk at the waistline. You have a beautiful figure - it's definitely NOT you.
ReplyDeleteI don´t think this style won´t look like you. As much as I love how you look in pencil skirts, it gets a little while to get use to have all that fabric gathered around your waist, but once you find comfortable I know you are going to look just gorgeus!
ReplyDeleteI think you're right to put this away for a bit, but when you have more time it would be worth it to pull it back out again. I don't like the way gathered skirts look on me since my bottom half is bigger than my top half, but you are so well proportioned that I definitely think you can pull this style off. The zipper bag is soooo cute! I wish I had such adorable fabric in my stash!
ReplyDeleteHi Kirsty! I am sorry you're having trouble with the muslin. The step-by-step tutorial will be on at the beginning of next week (here's a tutorial I made before for the collar:http://www.paulinealice.com/2013/08/how-to-sew-shirt-collar.html).
ReplyDeleteAs for the waist, you may want to try to reduce the width of the skirt and you will have less gathers (two pattern testers did this and it looked great!). It might also be that, as Gail said, your muslin fabric is lacking some drape. A less heavier fabric would not look so "rigid".
I hope this will help. Let me know if I can do anything else...
Bye.
I can see why you liked this dress and less width, a lighter weight fabric and maybe fine pleats would flatten the skirt but give you that girlie feel. Full skirts on me weigh me down a lot so I'm still rethinking my approach to the Cambie too.
ReplyDeleteI've been caught short with a too short zipper on a dress so the top 10 cms had pearl buttons with button loops. You worked your way through this cute purse really well.
I think I agree that the waist needs to be a bit higher. That way I think the gathers would fall *over* your hips rather than *off* them. Or if you're not sold on the gathered skirt, why not franken-pattern it (yes, that is definitely a verb!) with Charlotte or another skirt silhouette that you're more comfortable with?
ReplyDeleteI have just finished my version of this dress, and I think that maybe with a lighter fabric the waist looks better, also you can cut a shorter rectangle for the skirt and in this way it will have less gathering. I think that a circle skirt is more wearable and flattering, but I love the volume of these kind of skirts :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's hard not to be disheartened! But I agree with a lot of the other ladies - I'd put it away for another day, get some lighter weight fabric, take some length out of the bust darts and the waist, don't worry about the collar for the muslin and maybe go with a less fuller skirt. The other option if you were really wanting a shirt dress is one like the Lisette Traveller, which is a straight fitting shirt dress - not sure if you've seen it. And I love the cat fabric!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah! Already today after feeling calmer over a number of things I'm looking at the dress in a different light. So many great comments below that I really should give it a go. Oh yes! I forgot I had that cat fabric in the stash!! it's too cute.
ReplyDeleteI just raced over to your blog to see if you've posted it but not yet... can't wait to see it. I agree about the fun in the volume of the skirt. I will definitely persist and probably cut a smaller rectangle for the skirt.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a verb! I think that you are right on the waist - it would probably have helped if I the muslin was sewn even halfway decently.:)
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing with your pearl button and loops!!! I'm interested to see what you do with the Cambie. I think I have a few things to fix but it's all doable.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shar! It just goes to show that you have to be in the right frame of mind to sew! I'm trying to sew a zipper purse a day - I'm finding crazy fabric I'd completely forgotten about!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Merche - you are such a support!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your help Debera! I think a circle skirt could look really lovely. I'll get my sewjo sorted and get back to this.
ReplyDeleteIt never works when the mind is in the wrong place!! Thanks for your advice re the zipper. I had been using the Elizabeth Hartman pattern, but your tip fixed me..( I hope) that and using a lighter weight lining fabric.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gail for your advice on the dress and the zipper purses! I agree, the lighter fabric - and perhaps just a little less of it and not feeling stressed out (!) should do the trick.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your super comments!!! Definitely not overdone. I think that I will raise the waist by a centimetre or two. On reflection and from all the other great comments I think I was harsh on that poor dodgy muslin and the dress should be resurrected!
ReplyDeleteJust checked yours out on your blog. They look great! You've inspired me to get better at them!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sofie. I am now convinced that it has promise so will tackle it with good humour and confidence.. one day soon :)
ReplyDeleteFor some reasons, my reader did not display this post. Kirsty, please don't despair! It's totally OK to try all different shapes and styles which you like! And since it's only a muslin stage, you can play around as much as you want! BTW, this week I'll post about body shapes. Maybe you'll find something for you ヽ(´ー`)ﾉ
ReplyDeleteYep, this one is not for you. With less gathering in the skirt you could have the right shape for you. http://mnyfabrication.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteAwh, Thanks Inna - just so glad I did a muslin rather than recklessly cutting into my fabric. Your posts for the little black jacket are GREAT btw.
ReplyDeleteExactly what my mum said!! Thanks for your honest appraisal and also for including your blog link.
ReplyDeleteThanks Zoe!
ReplyDeleteMy mum said she thinks it's no good but I'm going to persist with it after a few tweaks. Good tip on the way you do it. It might well be a case of never sewing this silhouette again.. but I'll give it one more go.
ReplyDelete