Dress update

 Finally I'm getting somewhere with my dress! I've had quite a lot of reading to do for uni, but I decided to just squeeze in some sewing time or it would never happen.

I usually have a really hard time buying clothes (especially dresses) since according to the size charts my bust is two to three sizes larger than my waist, and let's not even talk about my hips. For this reason I was pleasantly surprised when I looked at Gertie's sizing chart and found that I was pretty darn close to being a perfect size 8!

However, most sewing patterns (and ready to wear clothes) are made with a B-cupped lady in mind, something I am not, so I toyed with the idea of doing a full bust adjustment (FBA in sewing circles). Gertie suggests that full busted ladies measure above the bust instead of around it, in order to find the size that will fit their shoulders best, and adjust from there.

I did this, ended up with a size 6 and then proceeded to try and get my head around the mechanics of a full bust adjustment. Eventually I came to the sad conclusion that I'm just not clever enough (to be honest, I decided that a pattern with a single waist dart was probably a better starting point for my first one, but it's a very long story that involves a lot of frustration and I'd rather not go into it right now).

I scrapped my horribly cut up and taped together pattern pieces and started over, cutting a size 8 all the way. Finally I can justify saving that old sheet with a big rip down the middle! I sewed my muslin together, tried it on (with some difficulty I must confess, I should have been clever and left a side seam open instead of the back seam but nevermind) and it fit really well! I would post a picture but a: my home is a mess and not very photogenic and b: I don't feel we know each other well enough for you to see me half naked just yet.

As I've said before, the fabric I'm using for the actual dress is an old children's duvet cover. Someone has already used half of one piece for another project at some time so I was a little bit worried about fitting my pattern pieces (I must have enough fabric for the skirt!) but luckily both bodice pieces fit on the smaller of the fabric pieces. In the picture I haven't ironed the fabric yet, but that's finished now and I'm just about to cut out the pieces!

Sewing plans, part 2

Okay, things have been a bit hectic (as things are) but I think I'm finally getting used to being back at uni. Studying literature is great fun and for various reasons the group I'm in is very small. Five people to be precise, which means the atmosphere is very informal, in a good way. I'm slowly getting started on my term paper (I have a topic, yay!) and because of what I'm studying I get to read a lot. Life is good.

Well, back to what this blog is supposedly about: my creative projects. Remember how I talked about Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing? Well, I finally have it, and it's totally fab. I was in love with it before it even arrived, but now I own an actual copy and just want to lie on my bed and look in it all day long (in fact, frequently I do).

The book is filled to the brim with useful techniques (and gorgeous illustrations) and also comes with ten (10!) different patterns. Each pattern also comes with instructions for at least one variation and I want to make them all.

I figured I must celebrate by making something from the book, and since I have a dress project on the go I decided to make the dress using one of the patterns in the book.

Gertie's Seersucker Sundress seems like just what I was going for. It's a variation on the dress with the delicious name The Sultry Sheath and features a gathered skirt instead of a pencil skirt. I love the self-covered belt, but I'm not sure I'll have enough fabric for it, and I'm still not sure if I want to keep the sweetheart neckline or change it, maybe to a rounded one? We'll see.

I ordered some lining fabric a couple of days ago (after much angsting in the online fabric jungle) and once it arrives I'll get started on the dress!

What's going on?

I'm finally back at uni, which means that I once again have a regular income, yay!

Today I'm celebrating with a gym membership (unless I chicken out when I'm standing in line to get it) and a trip to the Asian shop in town (I'm really into Japanese food at the moment so I'm hoping to pick up some kitchen must-haves when I'm there). I'm also taking Mr. Boyfriend out for a lunch date after today's lecture, there's a nice salad place in town that I think we might go to.

I need to get some lining fabric for the dress I'm planning, so I haven't started on that yet. Maybe it's for the best as I've got a nice little treat arriving in the mail any day now: Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing by fab sewing blogger Gertie. Going by the teaser pictures she's posted on her blog the book is going to be great and maybe I'll decide that I want to use one of her patterns instead of the one I've had my eye on.

Right. I need to go and have a shower and prepare for today's lecture (we're discussing Jane Eyre ♥), sorry for the lack of pictures in this post, I promise to get better at life.