Monday 29 August 2016

The 'All's well that ends well dress' (Cynthia Rowley for Simlicity 2406)


  Mr Sewingsu loves a good boot sale and a few weekends ago he came back with a whole stack of uncut patterns. A few were the wrong size, a few I just didn't like, but quite a few were worth keeping hold of and this one in-particular caught my eye.

  I decided I would make one last summer pattern using some lovely viscose I bought from an Etsy seller. I decided to embrace the cut out shoulder trend and make view B. I do love the back slit but this is not a look that I could carry off so I intended to put a zipper in. I could see from the finished measurements that there was quite a bit of ease but I thought that as it was supposed to be loose and billowy I would go with the suggested sizing. I made a size 20 at the bust grading out to a 22 at the waist thinking that it would be better to make it too big and then take it in if necessary. Unfortunately I didn't take into account that the process of making the dress made this impossible. You can't try the dress on until the sleeves are inserted which is nearly the last step by which time all the facings are attached and the sleeves fully lined! When I did try it on it was way way to big, I abandoned the zip idea and crossed over the back opening to create a smaller neckline, using two cute buttons to hide my hand stitching. I am actually quite pleased with the result:


The instructions for inserting the pockets are crazy so I just did it my own way. I had read online that the sleeves were a bit tricky but I just took it slowly and it wasn't as bad as I had expected.


I rather like how the sleeves turned out.


After wearing it for a few hours my front hem is much higher than the back - either I needed to have adjusted the back above the belt to the same degree as the front when I put it on or it is my bust and tummy that is using extra fabric - not sure how to stop that??


Dodgy back/butt shot!!!!


It has an obi style belt/sash which you can't really see well in the photos but is lovely and I really like this touch.

  All in all I am rather pleased with this dress. I am planing a couple of winter versions (view c) in a dark floral viscose and perhaps another in a black pointe. When making this again I will go down a size or two, and cut the back on the fold.



 Thanks for stopping by!

                        Su xx







6 comments:

  1. Su,you're on a roll this summer. I love this, particularly how you crossed the back with buttons. Pretty fabric too.

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  2. Su,you're on a roll this summer. I love this, particularly how you crossed the back with buttons. Pretty fabric too.

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    1. Thanks Louise! I enjoyed making it and like how it turned out in the end!!

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  3. A lovely summer dress and the shoulder detail makes it interesting.

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    1. Thank you!It is a lovely pattern with lots of options!

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  4. That is really flattering - good on you for having a go at the sleeves. Jo x

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