here is the finished "garden party explosion" dress! i'm super happy with this one. the fit is comfortable and flattering. i love how slimming it is. since the midriff hits just above my natural waistline it skims over all the bits that need skimming over.
i have a few more pics of the finished product but first let me show you my insides. okay, not my insides, the dress's insides. you know what i mean...
once the bodice and midriff were constructed i added a lining to the midriff first to make sure this area was stabilized and second to conceal some of the interior seams. to do this, i sewed the midriff pieces together at the side seams then pinned it to the seam allowance at the top of the midriff and sewed right over my first stitching. this is left free at the bottom edge and will be slip stitched in place later.
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| before stitching i pressed the CB and bottom edge in at 5/8" |
after this, i inserted an invisible zipper...
then hemmed the dress.
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| isn't this a lovely rolled hem? sooo glad i have a rolled hem presser foot! |
once that was done, i pinned then catch stitched the armhole facings to the underlining. i used a catch stitch because it allows for a little bit of movement and it will keep any fraying of the facing edge in check. you can do the same to the neckline facing, but i simply tacked it in place at the shoulder and again halfway down the neckline. this facing doesn't really have the tendency to flip up like the armhole facings do.
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| armhole facing catch-stitched |
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| neckline facing tacked down |
oh, you want to see the outside again?
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| zoom in! i have nothing to hide in this one! |
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| and here's a peek at my shoes, as requested ;-) |
see my review at patternreview.com
I just commented on your PR review but noticed you on Pinterest too! Welcome to the online sewing community.
ReplyDeleteLove your dress, reminds me that I have that pattern in my stash. One request, though, could I get a better view of your shoes? I heart wedges!
thanks so much!!! i really appreciate your interest in my work, it's been fun the short time i've been blogging and i hope to continue for a long time to come. i updated with a pic of my shoes... $20 clearance at the GAP 3-4 yrs ago! major score! they're one of my favorites!
ReplyDeletevery cute dress! sewing is another thing i would like to get better at doing. hopefully once we get a more spacious home, i'll have a place to put a sewing machine. then i will churn out several unwearable pieces and force them upon my children before breaking down and just taking a class.
ReplyDeleteha ha! laura, i have no doubt you would be an amazing sewist! my first projects were halloween costumes, so there was little chance for embarrassment there. well illustrated sewing books are very handy for figuring out techniques. now this may sound stupid, but pillow shams are a good place to start. they use very little fabric, you can practice sewing straight, making ruffles, adding zippers... all sorts of stuff you don't have to wear!
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