Pesky Peony

I believe I've told everyone who will listen that I've been sitting on this pattern for over a year. I originally wasn't very sold on this dress...I was too smitten with the Clover pattern. Still, after seeing a couple of adorable versions pop up, specifically by Lauren of Lladybird, I purchased the pattern. I knew that a lot of other people who made it had problems with the bodice fit so I went in expecting to make alterations. I made a true muslin of the bodice last year and after deciding I wasn't going to be able to escape a FBA, I made the choice to move the darts outward also. Doing this left the fit in the bust ok but the rest of it baggy. After much internet scouring I found this tutorial by Gertie about shortening and widening the darts to remove excess fabric from underneath the bust. I did this but after making a third muslin of the bodice, the fit still wasn't right and I promptly moved the whole project to my UFO pile.

My pattern when I saved it from the UFO pile. Notice the tear from balling up and throwing.

 I've toyed with picking the pattern up a couple of times since then but obviously I just let it sit. When it was chosen for Sew Colette 2.0 I was pleased for the kick in the butt to finish it and went in feeling I would have a year of sewing/fitting under my belt and a fresh outlook. I made a muslin, and it was a bit of a baggy mess...again. I adjusted it by taking in the side seams, the back center seam and I felt that did a sufficient job of taking care of the fit. Plus, I was already getting stressed out about the whole challenge all over again.

Muslin...looks good except for the HUGE GAPING BACK!

 I bought this fabric 50% off of the clearance rack at Joann's. I actually had been eyeing it for awhile but there was less than 2 yards left on the bolt. I was afraid that there wouldn't be enough but there definitely was. That's actually a huge plus for the dress...less than 2 yards of fabric? Awesome.

 What worked on my muslin did not work on this fabric. Ugh. I fiddled with the darts some more, took in the sides..even more...chopped a couple of inches off of the bodice, took a HUGE chunk out of the center back and called it a day. I am glad I chose to make the cumberbun belt because I think it really adds to this otherwise plain dress.

 I initially planned on this being my wearable muslin but I don't think I'm going to be making this again. I just don't have it in me. If inspiration strikes, I may whip one together but as of now I don't see that happening. I'm disappointed in myself because it was a personal goal to do my best to make the "Parade" at the end of each garment sew along for Sew Colette 2.0. I don't feel this dress is really parade worthy. My family tells me I'm way too hard on myself, and maybe I am. I admit to being my own worst critic.

 I'm not positive what went wrong but I have a few theories. From what I've seen and read from other bloggers, what I originally diagnosed as a too-tight bust (wrinkles and pulling across the bust) may have been from just the dart placement. I think I could have done without the FBA as I feel there was a lot of extra room in that area in the end. I think that the FBA may have solved the initial problem of the bust wrinkles, but with it it set off a whole new set of fit issues. As for the back, it's CRAZY! Was this pattern drafted with a hunchback in mind?! At the end of the day, the only thing saving this dress is the fabric and I'm not sure all those alterations are even worth the outcome. I just feel meh about the pattern as a whole. I have to accept the fact that I do not have the fabulous looks and figure of so many of my favorite bloggers. I think I'm often drawn to a pattern based on the way it looks on someone else and then I end up disappointed when I see the way it looks on me. I'm going to try to make an effort to shop for my body shape when choosing patterns.
 On a side note, sorry for these heavily tweaked photos. I was losing light fast and I'm afraid all the pictures came out pretty washed out looking.

 Now I take a break momentarily from sewing clothes for myself to sewing costumes for my children. I have my oldest daughter's costume in the works and I still have the rest of my little ones to attend to.

Colette Hazel V2.0

Oh look, it's me. In front of an ice cream truck.

Yay, Hazel nummer zwei is finished! I knew that I wanted to showcase the bias cut sides with a striped fabric so I purchased this seersucker. I really wanted a blue or pink striped seersucker, but my lfs was out. Of course a week later they had a gorgeous pink but whatev. I like the way this turned out.

 While constructing the dress I kept in mind that I wanted the bodice to be a little closer fitting. I cut the front bodice pieces in a size 10 and the back a size 8, just like I did the last time. I basted the back closed and tried it on before installing the zipper. It was still fairly large....I think I ended up taking out over an inch by increasing the seam allowances in the back.Another little note on construction....this dress is the only one I've made so far that didn't require a FBA. It may have benefited from one but I'm able to pull it off without, so yay!

  When I finished it, I had not added any embelishments and I wore it to a friend's bday party. I intended on wearing this version without a belt and even though it fit much more snug in the waist I still felt like it needed a pop of color and I threw on a red belt as I headed out the door. I really liked the way it look but damn, belts in the humidity and heat that is a Virginia summer are nasty. I was all sweaty and uncomfortable. blech. When I got home, I took the dress off, pulled out my notions and found some red ric rac. After pinning it on I was really pleased and I added the buttons for another pop of color. I wore the dress out again today while shopping with my best friend and it was so much more comfortable.While getting a frappuccino at Starbucks the barista asked me if I bought my dress at ModCloth. woot, I call this dress a success!

I.hate.shoes.

 I do have one complaint about this dress. I don't own a bra that is low cut enough to not show. The bra I'm wearing peaks out only a little but it's got a crazy black and white pattern that can be seen through the seersucker. I have to wear a slip, which you can see peeking out of the top. I think it ruins the look "/  The amount of bra that shows on the back is horrible. 

crazy bra

Also, and this is purely my own mistake, the straps placement on the back should have been adjusted after increasing the seam allowances. Still wearable, but something that bothers me.

  I took these pics at the end of the second day after spending the day outside in the heat and eating ice cream. You must excuse the wrinkles. Also, if you look close enough there is ice cream on the front. I'm a sloppy eater.

Photobombed by John Deere

 Sooo, what's next? I must put all current sewing projects on hiatus and sew for Independence Day. I have to make my oldest daughter a dress and one for myself. I'm thinking a red, white and blue Colette Lily...yes?

Colette Hazel V 1.0

All done! Truth be told, I wish I had saved this fabric for my second Hazel. Despite it being slightly difficult to work with, it's soooo pretty.
 The pattern was easy and came together quickly. As I mentioned, I had some problem with the fabric, but it was my own amateur mistakes.I cut a size 10 for the whole front and a size 8 for the back bodice pieces. I find all Colette patterns I've made to be a bit big in the back. I also lined the bodice in cotton batiste to give it some structure.

   After wearing it for the full day my feedback is this: The straps are too long and positioned a bit too far out, the bodice a little short and hits right above my natural waist, the dress is still a bit on the loose side around the waist.I plan to add a half an inch to the bodice to fix the bodice length and I'll play around a bit with the straps on the next one. I remedied the waist with a belt, but I'd like the option of not wearing a belt so I think I'm going to take in the seams on the side. All in all, I love this dress and can't wait to make it up again.

 A little bonus for this post...my oldest daughter's birthday is the day after our anniversary. Here she is in the dress I made her on her birthday.

Our inspiration was Minnie Mouse. ; )