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From: AndreaSews
Date: 07-01-2007, 12:36 PM (1 of 12)
I just finished this bias dress with front tie (http://simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=6244). The single piece shaped torso and center skirt (Ok, one piece for front and one for back) was very hard to customize to my short waist and curved lower back. Since it's on a bias, little tweaks lead to surprising stretches in other areas, making it hard to get things to match up. I'm almost a petite, so I am used to skirts being way too long, but this one seemed to come up shorter than expected. Long enough for me, but still, it looks a bit dumpy. No sense uploading a pic for this one. DH was nice not to say anything, except that it had a 1941 feel to it--great. I'm likely to adjust it a bit and make it into a dress up gown for my daughter, who will feel like a queen in it.  My friend who is learning to sew had hoped to make this one for herself. I decided to try it myself before getting her started, and boy am I glad. I managed to convince her to try something simpler.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: EmaCon
Date: 07-02-2007, 04:27 AM (2 of 12)
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Too bad. It's a very pretty dress. Did it have adjustment lines to make it petite? I've found that not all patterns are petite-able. Sometimes there is too much change in the pattern structure when you squinch it down for a shorter person and it loses its flow. Maybe that's what happened. Or maybe you made too many adjustments when you didn't need to. A bias cut tends to sit better on curves and maybe you over-compensated for the curve in the lower back. Are you willing to try it again? |
User: EmaCon
Member since: 07-28-2006 Total posts: 67 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 07-02-2007, 05:33 PM (3 of 12)
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That pink dress on the pattern front has the top I was just trying to describe in that vintage dress pattern thread.. I love that top...
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 07-02-2007, 08:53 PM (4 of 12)
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Nah, you know why? Since the excess length, for me, was between my upper back and my tush, it just crumpled up in a heap at my lower back. I was able to tuck that away, but it never did start to look like something I'd do on purpose. Plus, the side panels are cut at a funky angle that actually create a hip-ful appearance by placing a big corner at the upper hip on the side seams. It actually stuck out! If it had been a smooth curve, it would have laid flat and draped around the curve of the hip nicely.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: EmaCon
Date: 07-03-2007, 08:11 AM (5 of 12)
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I took a look at the picture again and I see what you mean about the side panels and the odd angle. The pattern does say "misses" and my own experience has been that if it doesn't have a shortening line in the centre of the pattern, it may not be meant for us short gals. That's why I asked in the first post. Libby mentioned the top half looking like a vintage pattern. Could you cut off the bottom (since that is the part that isn't working) and just wear it as a top over another skirt pattern? As you said, you can always make it into a dress up gown for your daughter. If it gives her hours of pleasure over your agony in trying to fix it, then just pass it on to her and move on. |
User: EmaCon
Member since: 07-28-2006 Total posts: 67 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 07-03-2007, 12:00 PM (6 of 12)
 It was easy to let it go. It wasn't hard to sew, just hard to alter. I pulled up the shoulders and it gave a little girl a big smile. It goes right down to floor length for her. These days, she'd love for me to sew for her, but only floor length gowns!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 07-03-2007, 06:38 PM (7 of 12)
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Am I blind?? I don't see any buttons to cut off.. The pattern I loved so way back when had 2 versions.. 1 with a plain princess line skirt falling from right under the bust, and then another had a gathered cumberbund from right under the bust to the natural waistline, then into an A-line skirt.. The top was like the pink picture..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: EmaCon
Date: 07-04-2007, 02:30 AM (8 of 12)
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"Am I blind?? I don't see any buttons to cut off.." I wrote: "cut off the bottom", meaning cut off the skirt part and just make it into a top |
User: EmaCon
Member since: 07-28-2006 Total posts: 67 |
From: MaryW
Date: 07-04-2007, 08:53 AM (9 of 12)
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That's a shame, it's a pretty summer dress.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: bridesmom
Date: 07-04-2007, 10:01 PM (10 of 12)
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I picked up a Vogue pattern that is quite similar to that and haven't had the courage to attempt it. I'm glad to read your post Andrea, as I may just decide to use another pattern. I love how bias dresses hang, but with all the extra pieces, I'm really wondering if it will be worth it in the long run.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 07-05-2007, 11:22 AM (11 of 12)
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Me too, Laura. I think with a bias dress, sometimes keeping it simple is best. I like the idea of taking advantage of the bias to do what lots of pieces are typically meant to do--accommodate the shape. But if there are many pieces but none of them contribute to the shape, then it's just busy work, bias or no bias.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: IsabelleB
Date: 07-18-2007, 05:25 AM (12 of 12)
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That's a shame, Andrea! But good for you, making a little girl happy by altering it to make it fit her.
Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture |
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006 Total posts: 265 |
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