I’ve been fighting off some sort of horrid lurgy the last couple of days and it’s made me irritable and unpleasant. As Mr J coughed and spluttered and blew his nose in a manner that was so irritating I could have throttled him, I decided that the best thing would be be remove myself to my sewing table and concentrate on the dress.
The things I do for my marriage.
One almost finished cosmopolitan dress (yes, my mirror is still dusty). I really really love it. It fits well, it’s really comfortable and the inset waist band with the ties gives me back some shape. I learnt a few things (and made notes for next time), mostly that I really needn’t have done the panama at all, or at least not quite as big. There is quite a lot of room up there anyway, and since it’s a knit it stretches… Ah well. For once I have a dress that isn’t either a tent or gaping across the front. I’m still pleased I attempted it since it flipped a switch in my head – patterns are a starting point, and if it doesn’t fit right out of the envelope that doesn’t mean I am a mutant woman thing. It’s a confidence booster too – look what I did to the pattern and I still got a wearable garment from it.
I’m definitely making this again, which makes the pattern cost well worth it.
I couldn’t have done it without my beloved DK Book of Sewing. It’s dry – oh so dry – but it has photos for every technique it describes, so you’re not left wondering what on earth the text might mean. The pattern says that the sleeves are ‘attached like a normal shirt sleeve’ so I flipped open my book to ‘attaching a shirt sleeve’ and had illustrated steps to follow.
The Fit for Real People book also arrived. The authors designed patterns for Vogue and McCalls, and make it sound perfectly normal that you’d mess about with the pattern: in fact it’s more than normal, it’s almost required. All of the adjustments have really good illustrations so I think I could stick my neck out and recommend it.
Oh and there’s one more thing I couldn’t have made the dress without…
In my defense it’s an ex-demonstrator model from SMD (still available at time of typing) and as such had almost 20% off. I was assured it had been checked over by the engineer, and it came with all the normal freebies, so I just went for it. Since it’s already seen action in neatening seams and finishing edges I can report that it works perfectly. Adventures in knit can continue.
14 comments ↓
Jo, the dress is completely fantastic and it looks wonderful on you.
I am delighted by the fact that you get the urge to throttle people for snorting in the wrong way too though – I thought that was just me. My sister & I have both confessed to having to stop ourselves from leaping upon our mother when she puts her lip against a teacup in a certain way while drinking from it…ahhh! There’s a joy in finding that one isn’t alone in being utterly unreasonable. x
Wow, that dress looks amazing! I love the shape of the sleeves. Hope you feel better soon.
I love the dress! The fit looks perfect and it’s a lovely style with the ties and the sleeve shape. Hope you are enjoying your new overlocker *tries to hide jealousy*.
You are not alone in wanting to throttle your husband – I become particularly violent when mine grinds his teeth in his sleep!
Hope you both feel better soon! x
You have done a fantastic job!!!
Hubba Hubba Jo!
I have to say you look pretty damn hot in your new dress. I’m thinking you could tie a scarlet sash around the waist and pop some matching coloured chopstick in your hair a la Lucy Lui and no one would mess with you – ever!
Well done, you really really getting good at making your own threads. The new overlocker is a necessity (and that’s that).
X
The dress looks beautiful – I am scared of knits.
oooh! Congratulations! Isn’t it just typical that the week after I ordered mine, they go on sale .. humph! I hope you have lots of fun with her. Did you get the DVD or the video?
The dress is FAB too. I think I might have to investigate that pattern.
Hope you feel better soon.
x
love your dress…you look amazing in it.
Hope you are feeling better and have no throttled husband to show us!
xx
As all the others said before me, the dress looks really great. (I also like Lisa’s idea…) And you got an overlocker! Wow.
Wow…what a lovely dress and a perfect fit too. I heard that the DK sewing book is suppose to be good (recommended by Helen), but I’m on a craft book, fabric and yarn ban at the moment. Once I start, I don’t stop….you see.
Hee! Hee! I feel like throttling my Hubby when he drag his feet while walking at snail pace (I walk quite fast). So you are definately not alone.
Nice overlocker too.
Mary
Well, I’ll have to thank Helen for telling me what the machine was. So, now I have to ask, what is it for? I want to gush too. =)
The dress looks wonderful on you! Congrats.
WOW! fab dress – looks amazing on you – I especially love those sleeves. It’s gorgeous! Am dead impressed now
Beautiful dress!
good site gmacwe
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