Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Bombshell Dresses ahoy!

Guess who is taking on Gertie's online Bombshell Dress class...?
Me!
Woo Hoo!


Now back to that full bust adjustment... ugh the perils of having large bosoms...


Sunday, July 10, 2011

Finished Project: Unfocused Night Dress...Finally...

Hi all. 
 Isn't it about time that I posted some photos of a finished project?
I recently finished this little Mccalls number and thought I'd better share.
You can check out the toile in my previous post. 
I Made the finished version from a lovely Japanese Cotton called 'Unfocused Night' from Tessuti Fabrics & some black gabardine from the stash. (It is much blacker that the photos show, thanks Mr.Flash). 
Please excuse the hair and face. We just got home from a weekend away and I am looking a little flat after sitting in the car and recovering from a few days of nothing but eating, drinking & exploring. 

Thanks again to Mr.Flash for showing up all of the wrinkles!
It all came together without any major blips and was reasonably quick....
I think I got most of the bodice done in an afternoon, interlining,boning, lining & all.
I used the pretty cotton for most of the bodice and the gaberdine for the under layer of the bust and for the skirt also. Gaberdine has such a nice drape!
I traded the skirt from the pattern for a self drafted full circle skirt. Nothing beats a swishy circle right?


As I mentioned in my last post, one of the reasons I purchased this pattern was that it came in different cup sizes. These things are important for a full busted lass like me. 
It goes up to a D cup size but that seemed ample enough (I am an E cup normally). 
The D cup fits perfectly! Hows these crazy pattern sizes... sheesh.

Trusty bow belt, you are the greatest!
I did however have to take a LARGE (and I mean huge!) amount off the back pieces. I seem to have that problem with most patterns. I must have a small back or something...
The front fits and side seams are where they should be, but the back has at least 2 - 3 inches too much.
Does anybody else have this problem?


I shaved a chunk from both sides of the middle of the  back bodice pieces and it worked out fine. 
It is perfectly snug now.
The other alteration made was to the bust darts.
They came out pointy.... and I mean Madonna Pointy!
I re-sewed them with a much curvier shape and they came back from the 80's. 
Phew...


This was my first time using boning - Easy Peasy as it turns out!
And again, finished with a handpicked vintage metal zipper.

I would love to make another version of this in brighter colours and with a different skirt.
The possibilities!
The insides too you ask? 
It is lined with a soft purpleish cotton. Comfy!
I managed to get some dodgy iphone photos for your enjoyment...

                             

Thats all folks! Thanks for looking :-)
Let me know what you think.
Hope your all swell...

(Thanks to my lovely gent for the pictures. You are the best ox)