I started this dress for one of the themes on here, I don't even want to think how long ago now, but it's been unfinished in my sewing room (new and old sewing rooms both!) for over a year now at least.
This is the pattern:
I bought it from Moms Patterns and it's a 40" bust. The envelope that it came in says Sue Burness, The Peoria Star. There are other dress patterns advertised on it and they also offered a sewing book of techniques apparently. There is no date on the pattern or envelope.
So, I love this pattern and the fabric but....
1. I tried it on while making it and it was too small. It is now much smaller on me as I've had a baby in the time it's taken to be made. I think it will fit a 42" chest (the dressform is set at 41" and the dress is a little baggy on it) and I *will* wear it one day, just not for a while.
2. The exploded diagram instructions were a bit daunting and it told you to construct it in an odd order, for example to attach the very wide skirt and then sew on the neck facings which would have made it really difficult to work with and heavy. Whilst finishing it I didn't read the instructions and just did it in the order I thought it should be done in and it worked.
3. There were no instructions on how to put the zip in the side, it said to see the sewing book they offered. The instructions with the pattern did tell you how to make a placket and put snaps on but I didn't want to do that. In the end after trying to pin in the zip and having no joy I sewed in an invisible zip without it being pinned and it worked out just fine. I was worried before I ironed it that I'd made a real hash of it but apparently not, I was very excited when I saw that it had worked!
4. I couldn't decide whether I wanted the pocket or not. In the end I decided not. This fabric is a bit more formal looking than regular 'house dress' fabric would probably be so I thought the pocket would look odd.
5. I was worried about the neckline. I didn't understand the instructions for the back neckline (something about ending up with a slit that needed a button and loop) so I ignored it as it fit over my head just fine without it. I was also worried about the shaping of the neckline, I always seem to add up with an off-centre neckline when things require shaping, but this time the sewing goddesses were with me and it worked out fine. I top stitched the opening to keep the facing inside and it looks like this (also a picture showing the pattern on the fabric).
So, with all those buts and worries about sewing the dress and putting it off for so long it took a total of an hour and a half tops to finish, including blind hem stitching the wide skirt on my sewing machine. I am very happy with the way it came out and I look forward to wearing it someday!Anna
ps If you're on Flickr don't forget the Sew Retro projects group which can be found here. Please add your photos!