I made up a toile and it's not too bad... still don't have the guts to cut into the vintage, yet! I need to make the neck a little narrower and the bodice a little roomier than this:
(My dog doesn't seem particularly impressed.)
I've read mixed reviews of this pattern. We'll see how I go. How wild is the lobster print?
The thing I'm most concerned about is that the standard 2" extra length that I put in the bodice have made the darts rather messy - they lose a lot of shape when I rule a new line. Anyone got any hints? See below.
livebird.blogdrive.com - swing by and say hi!
This dress is the famous Butterick apron dress, originally published in 1952, and reissued as number 4790. The fabric is from E-Quilter.com.
...but without the husband, kids or the suburbs.
The fabric is a cotton with pink roosters on, and guess where it came from! Yup, but .com this time!
The color is much more vibrant, not pastel skin colored pink at all, way more watermelon jolly rancher pink.
My construction techniques have vastly improved since the last dress I made the hem is much neater... although still not perfect.
Somehow... in my altering to fit my large waist/small bust I made the bust two inches too large. So I need to fix that. I think I screwed up with the darts because I cut the piece to only have a half inch of ease (as suggested).
Anyways, here's my summer somethin' and I'll wear it to my cousin's wedding this weekend (with a quick fix for the boobage).
In my defence I will say that is is very nicely made (actually one of the best jobs I've done, which makes it all the more woeful!) from this fabulous bonafide 1950s pattern, bust 36" waist 28" (although I found it a bit roomy... a more voluptuous gal could probably fill it out nicely.)
The fine print is that I'd like the recipient to pay postage and be genuinely interested in the style and concept, not just up for a freebie.
Drop me a line if you want it - livebirdblog_at_gmail_dot_com.
Update: shirt's gone to a good home. Hurray!
I'm thinking it might work in a plain dark colour; I ran out of grey stripe, which explains the white bodice. One of my major problems is that I like to test the pattern before cutting into unreplaceable fabric. So my toiles are generally something I don't like much. Like this grey - although I did think it looked like it was of an appropriate era.
Sigh. I'm too despondent to post the other thing I made, a wee shirt in screaming buttercup yellow, also unwearable.
Time is running out on my Perfect Pattern for the Post-It Note Yellow Brocade (remember, interesting neckline, lil' waist, slim skirt) and I could post more pictures of patterns I missed (despite a great tip-off from Moggy, thanking you muchly) officially becoming the most pessimistic, unsuccesful poster on SewRetro. But no one wants that.
Happy news soon, I hope.
