Changed My Mind

I had planned to work on the orange paisley fabric with the new Vogue pattern next.  Then a phone call came that sent me into a tailspin.  I couldn't be more excited that relatives were coming to visit from New York.  However, I had to get my house in order -- a monumental task.  In the process, I found the pattern I have been looking for, for over a year now. I can now finish a Suzie Chin dress that I started two years ago.  I stopped when I became dissappointed in the result and knew I didn't have enough time to fix, finish, and find shoes before the wedding we were to attend.  This is the problem:

The pattern does not look like the picture.

The opening in the front of the bodice does not show.  The problem may have occured when I enlarged the bust slightly.  I know that the obvious answer is to make the opening larger, but it became a bit more complicated when I lost the pattern.   I am not sure about how to go about it.  I think I will make a muslin first rather than take any chances.  My thought is to make the slit which is truly only a straight line at this point into a tear drop shape.  Any suggestions?  I would love to see this dress finished on someone else.

New Patterns, Old Fabric

I have promised myself that I would devote this summer to using up a big chunk of my stash and getting rid of the pieces I know I won't use.  I cheated with that last blouse, but I am back to being commited.  Fortunately, Jo Ann's ran a sale over the weekend on Vogue patterns.  They are usually my favorite. 

This is a piece I picked up in a clearance rack at Jo Ann's in 2007 after admiring it for quite some time full price.  I bought this pattern to make the sleeveless wrap dress.

I am afraid that I bought the pattern because the colors were so similar, but I never felt the paisley print fit the style of the dress.  I looked for something a bit more peasant-like, yet never found anything I liked.  Then, I came across this newer Vogue and fell in love with it.  I think the combination will be unique, so I am going to give it a try.

It is definitely a far cry from peasent-like.  But, I have to have it!

You may not see the reveal for a while.  Unfortunately, I have some drapes that need to be finished.

Until then, happy sewing!

Wearing the finished product

I made this dress for a graduation party that I was not able to attend.  Life got in the way, but that's a good thing.  Instead, I wore it to dinner at my inlaws because it was a sundress and ponytail day.  What do you think?  Should I make it into a skirt?  I think it is a little full for my figure.

The Reveal

It is still raining, so I will model at a later time.  What do you think.  I am not in love with it.  I don't like the way the bottom hangs and the tie does not flatter my figure.  I am thinking about wearing it like this:

.

After I finished it last night, I laid in bed thinking about it.  I thought about how much I like the top.  I could cut it off and put an elastic casing at the bottom to wear it as a blouse.  I could add a yoke to the left over skirt and wear them separately.

I would love a comment.  However, I think at this point, I am still blogging to myself.