Love this pattern. I bought it last night and redrafted it this morning and made a muslin. Somewhere you mentioned that these patterns are large. Remembering this, I did some measuring. I ended up taking 2 inches out of the front bodice. I just folded over the edge 1 inch. The neckline was gigantic. That way I can wear a bra with it. I also took out the shaping in the back, cutting on the fold, and added darts to the back neckline. Darts on the back neckline help the neckline lay flat and not gape open. I have narrow sloping shoulders. So thanks for the tips. I enjoy your blog.
Ok, today was the first day back with students. I teach 8th grade math. I wore the dress –hence the reason for the 15 hour sewing session. The 15 hours included redrafting the pattern and making a muslin, a 4 hour process. Plus, I did some hand sewing on it. Remember, I adjusted the bodice to be appropriate for work, and I dropped the waist a bit. The dress was very comfortable to work in. It is very easy to move around in. And one student said, “Hey, Mrs. H. that dress is really workin’ it for you. Love the color and your cardigan looks great. You are just all put together. ” I made the dress out of a Michael Miller 100 percent cotton, and lined it with 100 percent cotton lawn. I used 3 yards of each, because I like a long skirt about 3 inches above my ankles allows for good movement. It takes a lot of fabric because I am 5’10” tall, and I like to fully line my dresses. I like working with natural fabrics, because they are easy to work with, do not pill, lint brushes off, and look nice when ironed. This dress looks best with a fitted bodice, and I mean snug. Mine was so snug that I feared ripping flesh when zipping, but after working in it all day I gained about 2 inches in easy. Thus, the nature of cotton, it ‘gives’. I am happy with all of my adjustments to the pattern. My only issue is the neckline. I am happy with the shape of it, but it still has some floppiness to it. This is not so noticeable looking at it straight on as looking down at the neckline. I would like it to lay flat. For this dress, because it is done, I am going to try a trick I read about. You take a thread and run it between your fashion fabric and lining along the bodice creating tension, but not really gathering it. The thread should be hidden. It is supposed to work. As I have never done it before, all I can do is cross my fingers. I will work on getting a picture.
Ooh, 8th grade math, you are brave! I taught 8th grade for a year and figured out it was NOT the right grade level for me!
I love your thread tension idea! That’s so clever, I never would’ve thought of it. What I did about the neckline was gather the “cap sleeves” and pull them to the side, thus creating a neckline that looks a little bit more square than scoop. I got the idea from Oonaballoona, but she didn’t really specify how to do it so I sorta made it up.
CUP AND PENNY 
Wow! Well done, it looks fabulous. You look like a model!
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Oh, thanks, Amanda! I didn’t see this comment until just now!
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Love this pattern. I bought it last night and redrafted it this morning and made a muslin. Somewhere you mentioned that these patterns are large. Remembering this, I did some measuring. I ended up taking 2 inches out of the front bodice. I just folded over the edge 1 inch. The neckline was gigantic. That way I can wear a bra with it. I also took out the shaping in the back, cutting on the fold, and added darts to the back neckline. Darts on the back neckline help the neckline lay flat and not gape open. I have narrow sloping shoulders. So thanks for the tips. I enjoy your blog.
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Wow, Donna, thanks so much, this information is awesome!
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I finished the dress at 1 am this morning. And, I am in love with it. I would not have found this pattern if it wasn’t for you. So thanks again.
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Yay, so glad I could help! Wow, you finished it fast! I wanna see pictures!
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Ok, today was the first day back with students. I teach 8th grade math. I wore the dress –hence the reason for the 15 hour sewing session. The 15 hours included redrafting the pattern and making a muslin, a 4 hour process. Plus, I did some hand sewing on it. Remember, I adjusted the bodice to be appropriate for work, and I dropped the waist a bit. The dress was very comfortable to work in. It is very easy to move around in. And one student said, “Hey, Mrs. H. that dress is really workin’ it for you. Love the color and your cardigan looks great. You are just all put together. ” I made the dress out of a Michael Miller 100 percent cotton, and lined it with 100 percent cotton lawn. I used 3 yards of each, because I like a long skirt about 3 inches above my ankles allows for good movement. It takes a lot of fabric because I am 5’10” tall, and I like to fully line my dresses. I like working with natural fabrics, because they are easy to work with, do not pill, lint brushes off, and look nice when ironed. This dress looks best with a fitted bodice, and I mean snug. Mine was so snug that I feared ripping flesh when zipping, but after working in it all day I gained about 2 inches in easy. Thus, the nature of cotton, it ‘gives’. I am happy with all of my adjustments to the pattern. My only issue is the neckline. I am happy with the shape of it, but it still has some floppiness to it. This is not so noticeable looking at it straight on as looking down at the neckline. I would like it to lay flat. For this dress, because it is done, I am going to try a trick I read about. You take a thread and run it between your fashion fabric and lining along the bodice creating tension, but not really gathering it. The thread should be hidden. It is supposed to work. As I have never done it before, all I can do is cross my fingers. I will work on getting a picture.
I already plan to make another one in cotton.
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Ooh, 8th grade math, you are brave! I taught 8th grade for a year and figured out it was NOT the right grade level for me!
I love your thread tension idea! That’s so clever, I never would’ve thought of it. What I did about the neckline was gather the “cap sleeves” and pull them to the side, thus creating a neckline that looks a little bit more square than scoop. I got the idea from Oonaballoona, but she didn’t really specify how to do it so I sorta made it up.
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