Friday, July 12, 2013

Lost and Found


While looking through my fabric stash recently, I found a project that I started almost two years ago. I'd given up on it because one side of the front bodice would not fit properly. The other side fitted fine, and I had done a muslin so I couldn't understand why it wouldn't work. I spent weeks pinning, sewing and unpicking. When I finally got the fit looking better I was so sick of the whole thing, I just put it away and forgot about it. Two years later, I've finally finished it.   


It didn't take long. All I needed to do was attach the skirt to the bodice, put in a zip, do the hem and sew on the buttons. I didn't line it because I'm lazy, and I wear slips all the time. 


The left side bulges where the zip is which really annoys me. I've tried steaming it but that makes no difference. An invisible zip would probably solve the problem, but I hate them with a passion. They break so easily. Maybe I'll take the zip out and put in some snaps instead. 


The button closure makes it look like a space uniform. The pattern is from 1963, so I'm guessing this was meant to be the 'tame' version of the space age fashion trend that was around at the time.

Hat: Op shopped
Belt: Op shopped
Dress: I made it
Shoes: Tony Bianco
  

26 comments:

  1. It's so lovely!! That colour was made for you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh she is so happy to be made up and to be worn......love love the colour.
    Perfect.........
    Love V

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm glad I'm not the only one who leaves craft projects in the corner due to being sick of the sight of them! I'm so glad you finished this one up though - it really is awesome. The colour suits you and I love the buttons.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's fantastic - the colour is glorious and the fabric rocks! Well done for finishing it, too. You look amazing! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful... that colour is amazing on you. I think I see lovely bound button holes too... very nice. This looks the the same wool fabric I made my little jacket that shrank :(.

    ReplyDelete
  6. OH MY GOSH, this is fabulous! Your colours pop so beautifully against each other and it fits you perfectly.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's lovely, perfect fit, great colour and it looks warm - bonus! Loving the beret too xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh woweeee! I love the colour and design on you. Very nice and perfect with the blue accessories. Great outfit.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Boy oh boy do I love that dress on you! The colour is really delicious, and those button holes? I'm envious of how neatly you did them! One of my dresses does the weird side zip thingy. If you figure out a solution--let me know! x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow....I LOVE that colour on you. The dress is divine. I love the button detail & the way it fits you over the hips. And those blue shoes are just gorgeous!!! Xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Definitely your colour and what a lovely dress!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a glorious colour! I can never get side zips to behave either, invisible or not, so I always move he zip to the centre back now

    ReplyDelete
  13. You look great! I've actually throw items away because I get so frustrated with them. It really is annoying when you work on something and you think it fits. Then you make it and it doesn't. But I'm glad you got it finished.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It's a beautiful dress, Brodie, a gorgeous colour, and lovely shape on you. You did well to return to it and finish it. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful dress, I am sure you are delighted your finished it. The button detail is really nice, as you say a bit space age but not too much.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love it! I love that space age stuff. The colour really suits you.

    ReplyDelete
  17. So nicely done. Your choices are perfect here- enviable buttonholes, too!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love your dress. Wow you made it yourself. Awesome.

    xx

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is superb!! Adore it...I would wear it!! Zips bug me too, they do break easily. Snaps sound good. Love the button detail at the top, so gorgeous. Well done you xx

    ReplyDelete
  20. This color is delicious on you! Sometimes all you need is a break from a project and then you have renewed strength to tackle the task. Wonky zipper or not, it looks lovely!
    XXOO

    ReplyDelete
  21. This dress is so perfect.I don´t have anything like it in my wardrobe,ahhhhhhhh
    Love, love, love.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    ReplyDelete
  22. Gorgeous! I love the colour on you. Very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great colour, and love those bound buttonholes!
    I'm very talented at having sewing projects lying around for years.......X

    ReplyDelete
  24. beautiful material, such a gorgeous colour - I'm eying up those shoes too. Definitely a tame space age theme as you say, but it looks fantastic

    ReplyDelete
  25. Lovely colour and suits you so well! I suspect that sewing the zip has either stretched or fed the fabric a bit and that is what makes it bulge. Look closely at the fabric around the zip, does it look like the zip is trying to lift the fabric up or pull it down? Solution would be to unpic the zip from the bottom (leave just the very top on about 3-5 cm distance from the top end) and pin it back so it can fall freely. If you can do this on dressform it would make a big difference. You can also do it while wearing the dress yourself, but you will need help to put the pins. When the dress is on (either you or the dressform), unpicked zip hanging from the side, it allows the fabric and zip fall freely and then they can be pinned in place exactly as they should look on you. Then carefully undress and hand pick the zip on place, and be carefull not to stretch or feed too much of the fabric. You can either leave just the handpicking or secure it with sewing machine.
    Hopefully this will help you fix the zip, it is definitely worth it!

    ReplyDelete