A Little Brown Dress
Well, it's done. Finally. After about five hours of work. I apologize for the headless shots. I'm in a phase where I'm really disliking my hair. It had to be chopped off postpartum due to my hair loss and I'm still a tad bitter about it. But we're really not looking at my head here anyway, right? Let's focus on the dress. How do you like it with those dark brown tights and ballet flats? Kind of fitting I should be dressed in shades of brown for the Chocolate Festival Saturday night.
I'll admit, I'm not a good one with patterns. This was particularly challenging due to the neckband and sleeves. If you notice on the pattern I was going for the ties on the ends of the sleeves, but even after three tries I couldn't get them to fit up my arm after sewn. Did anyone else have this problem? I just cut them off and did my own thing. It works.
I successfully finished my first invisible zipper. Can't really see it there, can you? That would be a good thing. It called for a 20" zipper, but all I could find was a 16" zipper so I improvised a bit. The original length of the dress was about six inches longer when I started but I ended up making it shorter. I may take in the sides too for a more fitted look.
The back of the neckband ended up being slip stitched because I had no idea how else to finish it. It took me a good hour, but it's done and I think it will hold up better now.
I definitely think I will use this pattern again. Perhaps a shirt with the same style neckband. I think I need to shift away from solid linens to a subtle print. Just to mix things up a bit.
Have a wonderful weekend! See you back here on Monday.
It is great Erin.The pendant is perfect.
you really should have added this pic though as I think it is fantastic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/biggoofydog/2248986637/
there you go,i did it for you:0)
Have a fantastic time,I am very jealous,being a chocolate addict and all!LOL
Take care x
Posted by: natasha s | February 08, 2008 at 07:12 AM
It`s beautiful! Will you make one for me please!? The gorgeous necklace complements the brown really well! Enjoy the festival!
Posted by: Becca | February 08, 2008 at 07:28 AM
good for you erin, it's beautiful and looks sooo good on you! i have that pattern as well... sitting and waiting for me. i love the shirt, so many folks out here have made the shirt and seem to never stop at making just one. i bet you'll make quite a few for summer in maine tops. have a wonderful chocolate filled weekend.
i also have an email response coming to you, i'm sorry for being so late and lame. hopefully over the weekend i can catch up a bit! take care sewing mama!
Posted by: heather | February 08, 2008 at 08:10 AM
So subtle and stylish. Perfect!
Posted by: Alicia A. | February 08, 2008 at 09:22 AM
Hi Erin - the dress looks great! You did a great job - I can sew for my kids; but, sewing for me, that's another story! Have a great time at the Chocolate Festival!
Posted by: Kim F. | February 08, 2008 at 10:09 AM
it's beautiful!!! i like that it is shorter. you are too young to have something too long.
Posted by: Bobbi | February 08, 2008 at 10:49 AM
I'm delurking to say that I love the dress, it's beautiful and all that brown IS perfect for the chocolate festival.
I love your blog, it makes me want to move our family to Maine!!
Posted by: Kate | February 08, 2008 at 10:55 AM
It looks beautiful, enjoy the chocolate.
Posted by: Stacey | February 08, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Wowie. . .I'm so impressed that you muscled through a pattern that looks so complicated to me! I really struggle with patterns too and find that they really turn me off from sewing. The last two times I've tried to make something from a pattern, it's ended up in a heap. .. all shoved into a drawer because I can't stand to look at it even ONE MORE TIME!
Someday, I'll have the patience to do it properly, but for now, I'll look at your dress and be in awe! Have fun at your festival!
Posted by: Carrie | February 08, 2008 at 11:35 AM
it turned out great! i think you did an amazing job. enjoy wearing it to the chocolate festival.
Posted by: kirsten | February 08, 2008 at 12:07 PM
I love that style! The length is very flattering and stylish on you! As a non sewer (a wannabe) I am very impressed with your ability to keep on going!!! My only suggestion would be tights with a slight pattern to them not fishnet but ones with a subtle cutout or lines to add a little more detail but classy detail for such a nice event. Enjoy your night!!!
Posted by: Sheila | February 08, 2008 at 12:45 PM
It's adorable and looks great on you! A chocolate festival! There is one I read about in a town here in Texas this weekend also and I wanted to go but then realized that it was too far away! oh well! Have a wonderful time! Kelly
Posted by: Kelly | February 08, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Gorgeous dress! You are so talented. I love how well you can alter a design and pattern to fit your own ideas. It's beautiful!
Chocolatey good!
Posted by: Kim | February 08, 2008 at 02:38 PM
i think it is
adorable
and such a great color!
Posted by: gkgirl | February 08, 2008 at 03:44 PM
yay!! the little chocolate dress looks wonderful!! fantastic job!! have a lovely time at your chocolate festival & weekend!!
Posted by: sallyd | February 08, 2008 at 08:29 PM
Great job Erin - it was definitely worth all the work!
Posted by: lina | February 08, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Very nice job. I have had the same problem on this pattern with the arms and I think I've read it's a pretty common problem. Very cute dress, and I love the total look.
Posted by: Kelly | February 08, 2008 at 09:01 PM
You could also try adding the darts from the dress pattern to give it more shape (although I know that pattern has already given you a lot of nightmares). Good job with the invisible zipper! They give me headaches every single time even though I've now successfull inserted them several times. Yuck.
OK, I'm off for some boring shopping now. Have fun at the festival!
Posted by: Grace | February 09, 2008 at 01:32 PM
The dress is lovely and mostly I am just in awe that you sewed something that you can actually wear in public! I haven't done that since home ec class, and I no longer fit into the dress I made there... Thanks for being great sewing inspiration, and enjoy the festival! (Drool, drool, drool!)
Posted by: Caren | February 09, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Hi Erin. I made this pattern just a few weeks ago and here is what I found about the sleeves. I made the sleeve view with the ties just as you did. When I tried on the sleeves as I was constructing them I thought they would be too tight and uncomfortable, but when they were sewn up into a shirt (I made the shirt) something about the completed neckline drew them up into a very comfortable position on my arm and I haven't had a bit of trouble wearing them.
I love how your dress turned out--the plain sleeves totally work and the neckline is beautiful, for all your hard work. Glad you had a fun evening and your bag sold well.
Oh, about the post-partem hair loss. Me too!! So much. The first time after baby number 1 then again just now after baby number 4 (it wasn't so bad after babies 2 and 3). So I feel your pain!
Posted by: Mary Beth | February 11, 2008 at 08:46 AM