So yah, you know that conversation I had a few posts ago about not blogging something because I could never take photos I was satisfied with. Well, this is one of those items.
Pattern: Simplicity 3803
Fabric: Kaffe Fasset Aboriginal Dot, cotton
Size: 14
Started: July 2007
Finished: August 2007
Yes, your eyes do not deceive. This dress is just over a year old. The reason it's dubbed the August wedding dress is because I made it to wear to my friend's wedding in Baltimore last August and then I wore it again this August to another wedding. I fell in love with it when I saw Cidell's seersucker version.
I love the dress and the pattern was really easy and straight forward (I made a minor modification), but there are two things I'd change, the first being the fabric. I love the print and instantly knew this was perfect for the dress when I saw it. But it's cotton and I believe more suited for quilts than garments.
The weave is pretty dense which makes the dress somewhat heavy. This is a lot of dress, not as much as a ball gown, but still significant. If you decide to make this dress, definitely pick lighter fabrics that have good drape. The Kaffe Fasset print was just a bit too stiff and on the bodice, it makes some not so flattering (but also not that noticeable) pleats along the gathers under the bust.
The other thing I would change would be the lining. I decided to line the dress (suggestions I picked up from Pattern Review) with cotton broadcloth. This added to the weight and also felt like a layer of insulation under the dense weave of the Kaffe Fasset print. I also didn't do a very good job in attaching the lining and pretty much winged it. This winging it process led to a lined dress, but not a wearable one. The manner I attached it led limited mobility since I ended up attaching the lining to the zipper which 1.) caused an unsightly wrinkle and pucker at the bottom of the zipper, which just so happened to fall where my ass was, and 2.) the lining couldn't move independently from the dress. There was only one thing I had to do
I cut the lining off the zipper so I could walk normally and have a dress that didn't look I borrowed it from someone's hippie mom who made it back in the 70s. I was already a little self-conscious that I'd stick out like a sore thumb at this wedding because I was afraid my dress would look too folksie and homemade for an evening affair. But I was able to walk and it was all good. Now back to the sewing details...
The only pattern modification I made was to fudge a Full Bust Adjustment (FBA). A year ago when I made this dress, I really had no idea what size I was. I mean, I thought I knew what size I was but it became clear that I really had no idea what size I was once I started making muslins. I started out cutting an 18, WAAAY too big. The 16 was also still roomy. After doing a lot of research online I decided I needed to go with a 14 and do an FBA. But because the bodice was drafted similar to a bikini top, and I didn't want to add a dart, I couldn't do a traditional FBA. I basically extended the curve of the bust gathers at the bottom of the bodice to create more room and it worked! (If you can think of a better way to do this, please share. I'll see if I can dig up my reworked pattern piece to show you, but I may have already tossed it.)
Overall I really like this dress despite the fact that it is really heavy. I'd like to take out the cotton lining to replace with something lighter and cooler, but I'm not sure how much more wear I can get out of this dress. Verdicts from both weddings were good! My friend in Baltimore thought it was a J Crew dress and the bride from the wedding this year told me she liked my dress. So my fears of being folksie are long gone!
So random question for the sewists. When you make a dress to wear to an event or a special occassion, do you tell people you made it if they compliment you on it? I usually don't, say thanks and just smile inside. But sometimes I want to shout out to the world.. "LOOOK WHAT I MADE!" but feel that's kind of rude. For the non-sewists, if you complimented someone on their clothes and they immediately blurted out, "Oh thanks! I made it!" How would you perceive it? Rude? Bragging? Self-righteous?
And another random thought.. looking at this dress I sewed a year ago, I can look at it and instantly think of how I'd do things different now that I've got more experience under my belt, especially the lining, zipper and seam finishes. I love becoming older and wiser! (And thank goodness no one can ever see the inside!)
Comments (17)
i would kill to have a long empire-waist dress like that. kill!!! but alas sewing is not my forte. If I complimented on someone's outfit and they told me that they made it, I would not think it to be rude. In fact, I'd be their new best friend in awe of their skills. Ha.
Posted by winnie | September 4, 2008 11:12 AM
Please. That dress is SO cute- and it looks really comfy, too- despite being heavy! In fact, I'm looking for a rehearsal dinner dress and haven't found anything to my liking- one like this would be so cute! But, considering I've already taken on a last minute project (what up, wedding shawl!) I don't think I should also take on sewing a dress. Just a thought. Anyway, back to your dress- it's awesome!
Posted by Nonnahs | September 4, 2008 11:36 AM
First of all, that's gorgeous. I wouldn't have known there were mistakes if you hadn't pointed them out. Same thing goes for Jared's hat.
And second, since I'm fairly new to both sewing and knitting, I've blurted that out several times. I can't help it. But now that I'm getting older and wiser, I feel like maybe I shouldn't say that, maybe it's bragging, and maybe a simple little tote bag isn't worth bragging about. Then again, if you've taken the time and effort to learn a skill and put your own creativity to use instead of just buying something that's mass-produced, doesn't that buy you some bragging rights?
Posted by Kris | September 4, 2008 11:56 AM
its a gorgeous dress. JCrew would probably make one just like it, in cotton no less.
I'm still on the fence about if revealing the garment is "homemade" is a good thing. In the right company I think it would be well received...
Posted by loriz | September 4, 2008 12:07 PM
pretty dress!
i know exactly where you are coming from with the heaviness of cotton. i have a few dresses made of quilting cotton and they are extraordinarily heavy. it's too bad though b/c of all the fabulous prints out there. i can never find good prints in lighter weight fabrics.
when people compliment me, i try to graciously say thank you and state simply that i made it myself. i think that if you put the love and work and skills into it, there is no shame in being proud. if people react poorly to it, it's their own problem, not yours.
Posted by Sara | September 4, 2008 12:40 PM
I do not get your hesitation at all. I think I would wear a sticker reading "I made this!" if I could. OK, maybe not... But I am proud of my craft and if someone goes out of their way to compliment something that I made, I will definitely tell them that I made it! (Last week, it happened to me with a bartender. Of course, the only problem with that is that they'll ask you to make them one).
Oh, and I love your dress :) I saw that fabric at Purl and almost bought it. I agree with you about the quilting fabric thing. My 2 favorite stores only carry quilting cottons, and I'm really afraid of trying slippery or lighter fabrics...
Posted by Veronique | September 4, 2008 12:42 PM
The dress is gorgeous! It's absolutely not folksy or hippie-ish!
People always ask me if I knit or sewed what I'm wearing, so I usually answer accordingly. I don't think it's bragging if you tell people you made it -- have some pride! :)
Posted by Ingrid | September 4, 2008 12:59 PM
That dress looks really pretty on you, I wouldn't have come up with folksy at all.
Rude? Bragging? Self-Righteous? I wouldn't ever think that of anyone telling me about their handmade goods (unless they elevate themselves by putting others down). I'm proud of all my crafting skills (well, most of the time;-)) and if I get complimented I don't hesitate to tell it's handmade.
The very fact that someone took the time and created something they love is awesome.
Posted by Steph | September 4, 2008 2:02 PM
I agree with Steph. This is a fantastic dress, R. I like the color, but I do understand about the layers of cotton not being condusive to drape and comfort (it looks pretty though, and you like good in it, so that pretty much cancels out any complaints one might have!). Also, the fact that you made muslins first really impresses me.
Posted by nova | September 4, 2008 2:49 PM
gorgeous dress!!! I don't broadcast that I've made something but those that know me and know I sew...if they ask I'll tell them.
Posted by adrienne | September 4, 2008 4:41 PM
long live the maxi dress! it's one of the best summer fashion inventions *ever*. and i don't see anything wrong in telling people you made it--wearing homemade clothes doesn't carry the stigma that it used to; it's hip now :)
Posted by sixoneseven | September 5, 2008 5:11 AM
I love this dress! I can't believe it's been finished for a year and this is the first we get to see it. To answer your question, whenever someone compliments something I've handmade, I burst out with a big "I made it!!" But, like Veronique mentioned, they inevitably ask me to make them one...
Posted by Kelly | September 5, 2008 6:27 AM
I think this dress is beautiful! I think you should definitely make another one with all the modifications you write about.
Posted by tiennie | September 5, 2008 10:52 AM
The dress looks great! I really need to whip out my sewing machine and try to make something soon. But when I tell people I made this or that, it's usually a positive response and surprised that anyone hand make things anymore.
Posted by Doris | September 5, 2008 12:59 PM
hmm,,, I would have never thought that the inside was this way if you didn't say anything, it looks fabulous on you, if you love it, maybe it worth redoing the lining or maybe just doing another dress in a more suitable fabric because the style is a classic, for may summer wedding too come!
as for stating whether or not I made something I'm wearing to other people, well, some days more than others, sometimes I bask in the fact they really think what i had on is professionally made and just thank them for the compliment, and sometimes I am ultra confident so I would share my little secret, lol, so far so look, I always that that glazed eye, lightbulb effect, its fun!
Posted by toy | September 5, 2008 2:03 PM
it's a lovely dress and it fits you well! if i hear that someone made something that looks well-made and store-bought, i'm usually impresesd. i don't think it sounds like bragging or is self-righteous. however, if i'm wearing a handknit, i don't make a habit of announcing that i made the garment.
Posted by mai | September 6, 2008 11:51 AM
That print is LOVELY! Although I know exactly what you mean when you say it feels more like a quilt fabric - I love quilting prints but they often do have too much body for a drapey style like that.
I would try lining it with a silk habotai next time you try something similar. It'll be more lightweight and hopefully you won't have zipper bunching problems.
Posted by Abby | September 11, 2008 8:46 AM