Monday, May 26, 2008

New Look 6779 - Finished

First a picture so you can see me wearing it:


Now let the complaining begin! ROTFLOL! First to all my plus size sistahs...don't be fooled this ain't no plus size pattern! I would say that this is probably a RTW size 16!!!! So it took a lot to make it fit my bodacious body.

Second ~ never look at a skinny woman wearing a simple dress and think that you are going to fit your rotund body into the same pattern without a lot of effort!!!!

Okay with that off my chest, let me tell you how I spent my day...coughing, swearing and making it work!

Pattern: New Look 6779:

You know I never realized that there is no pattern description on the back of the pattern envelope...how chinzy is that?! I started with View D's neckline, used the pattern piece for the longer dress body and added my own sleeve version.

Fabric:
Cotton/lycra sateen blend from Nancy's Notions & a white sueded linen/cotton blend from Metro Textiles; leftover white cotton batiste also purchased from Metro Textiles.

Notions:
22" zipper

Construction Details:
Folks I made a new dress. When I say that the pattern was inspiration ~ believe me it was inspiration only!!

I cut the dress out using the largest size but I altered the back pattern piece first by adding 1.5 inches to the back skirt and back yoke pieces and not cutting them on the center fold. I wanted a center back seam to add a zipper to the dress. The front skirt piece was altered by using the pivot and slide method, adding an additional 2" at the waist and hips - which btw could have been more!

You saw the picture I took earlier of the yoke/bodice and the dress bottom. Well at that point the zipper was already in the dress, so I wasn't taking that puppy out! Instead to fix the issue with the yoke, I removed the 5/8" seam allowance, then sewed a new shoulder seam using a 7/8" seam and the yoke seamline hit me in a much better place.


Since I opted to self-line the yoke instead of using the facings that were provided, I did the same thing to these pattern pieces. Then I used the facing pattern piece for guidance marking the neckline to achieve the v in the yoke neckline. The lining was sewn in, understitched and clipped (carefully!), then I hand stitched it to the dress body.


After all of this, the back neckline still gaped! So I added two 3 inch darts to the back neckline so that it would lay flat.



Sleeves:
I added a short sleeve with a band instead of the cap sleeve or the 3/4" sleeve pictured on the envelope. Of course, the sleeve pattern flat measured 15-16 inches. So I had to alter the sleeve pattern by first cutting off the sleeve at the double line that you use to alter the pattern for length. Then I sliced the pattern 1/2" from the cap to the hem of the sleeve, adding 2.5 inches to the sleeve pattern.

To add the band I cut a 5" length of the dress fabric and sewed it to the sleeve hem. Folded 5/8" down on the unfinished edge and pressed. Then folded the band in half and pressed again. The sleeve was serge finished and then sewn together. Finally the sleeve band was machine stitched to finish it off!


Dress body - there is the minimumest seam allowance possible in this dress. And I sewed it twice to make sure that the thread doesn't give way at an inopportune time...I could have added a little more to the abdomen area of the dress...but since it is a special time of the month for me, I am believing that later on it will fit better! *LOL* I can always hope, right?! There is a 1/2" machine stitched hem.

You can see more pics and poses in my Flickr Album - Dresses 2008. I won't wear this dress this week - not because I don't like it but because it's "Black Week" at work!!! We have important meetings with outside visitors so it's ultra-professional, ultra-conservative this week. I have officially declared next week, "Color Week" and will wear the dress then.

In closing, this, this is why I use TNT patterns! *LOL* I probably could have gotten the same results, quicker if I had just altered and used my TNT dress pattern! Even though I ended up with a pretty and wearable dress, I'm not sure I would make this pattern again!

45 comments:

  1. Now that I've seen your beating of the pattern into submission, I might venture there. Your version is lovely and looks great! It is very flattering.

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  2. I think it looks great! Good job on winning! g

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  3. All the time you spent working on the pattern paid off! You look GREAT. Love the colors and the way you color blocked the sleeves & yoke. Just bad luck that this is not Color clothing week at work!

    Lisa

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  4. Looks great! And I love your fabric. I'm so glad this didn't end up a wadder.

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  5. You look great in that dress! I have no alteration experience whatsoever, and your description to me sounds like it was a LOT of work,so,no, I wouldn't venture there at all, LOL! I am intrigued, what does TNT patterns mean? Is that another line of patterns? I'd like to try something different besides the big 4 companies. Except I'm a plus sized and it's difficult to find.

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  6. The dress came out fabulous! and like the detail on the sleeve. I also experienced some gaping at the neckline, but didn't know I could put darts there and just redid the shoulder seams to rid the gaping.

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  7. Carolyn,
    I love how the dress turned out! The fabric is beautiful!

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  8. Looks great. Beautiful color! sorry you had such a bad time with it.

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  9. Well, you sure went through a lot of work to finish the dress, but it's beautiful and it looks great on you! Way to go!

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  10. Carolyn, since finding and reading your blog these past few months I have been inspired to sew more, and work towards a better fit on those patterns I do sew.

    The dress looks wonderful on you, and I appreciate all the work you went through to get it that way.

    I can't tell you how much I appreciate all you do on your blog to help me and others keep up our enthusiasm to finish a project even when it looks like a wadder.

    In a couple of weeks I'm going to have my 9 year old DGD for a few days and she's so excited to learn to sew. Thanks to your enthusiasm for sewing, I am also enthusiastic about it again.

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  11. Carolyn,that is a lovely dress, great details make it sing on you! I love the comment above about beating the pattern into submission. To persevere after such a disappointment is a fab trait to have!

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  12. Carolyn,that dress is gorgeous.I'm glad you showed the added darts in back.I often have problems with that area myself.I'm glad to see a solution to that problem.

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  13. A lot of work, but well worth it!

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  14. But Miss C - for all your 'complaining', you look GORGEOUS in this dress.

    Seriously. The color block, the print, the fit - you got it all right.

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  15. Okay, this line cracked me up (probably because I can sooooo relate to it right now):

    I could have added a little more to the abdomen area of the dress...but since it is a special time of the month for me, I am believing that later on it will fit better! *LOL* I can always hope, right?!

    I wasn't sure about this pattern, but you made it work!

    Julie

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  16. Great result, pity you had such a hard time with the pattern.

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  17. this came out great, maybe they should have put darts on the pattern itself seeing that sheila also had problems fitting the back, well, this is the pattern I will not be messing with.
    You look fabulous!

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  18. Gee! I got tired reading about the challenges this dress gave you. But the results are fantastic. It looks great on you.

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  19. Great, love the fabrics and it looks like it fits you well. Enjoy wearing it...next week...lol

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  20. The results are awesome though and you've let us know the patterns limitations. You're a pioneer!

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  21. Your dress is adorable, Carolyn, and you really made it work. You look fabulous.

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  22. Whew. That *was* a lot of work to make it work. It did turn out beautifully and I know you'll enjoy wearing it next week!

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  23. Beautiful dress, I love the mix of fabrics!

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  24. This dress looks awesome on you!! I know I should heed your troubles and stay away from it, but now I'm sorely tempted, since it is so flattering on you. Be still my beating muslin heart.

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  25. Very nice. I must admit that I had my doubts about the prints on the fabric yesterday, but now those doubts have been blown away.
    It looks very very nice and you did beat the cxxp out of it...yes!

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  26. Wow, Carolyn! The dress looks great!

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  27. I know it was worth all the effort. It came out fabulous and fit you perfect.

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  28. I think BEACH! when I see this dress. Perfect for summer, right?

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  29. Carolyn, your new dress is fabulous! I hear you on using TNT patterns; this project seems to have taken entirely too much time and effort for a supposedly *easy* dress. You made it work for you though, and that's serious inspiration to other sewers.

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  30. Carolyn, that looks fantastic on you. It's a beautiful and very flattering dress. I like to see you (or anyone) step out of your comfort zone, esp when the results are so outstanding.

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  31. It is all been said, but I have to tell! As you told on your bloghead looking good is no matter of a small size, but of a perfect sewn garment, that fits well and you look absolutly perfect in your dress. I like the fabric as well, a very stylish outfit.
    If only your company would know, what effects could been made with that smile and a perfect and coulered dress!
    Claudia

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  32. Carolyn, the neckline is very flattering on you. The back neck darts are like those Shannon likes on her vintage patterns. Congrats on a great project. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION !
    Marguerite

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  33. Beutiful job!!! As I said on the SG site, I did not doubt you for a minute, but I cannot believe you made it work in a day. Whew!! Go have a glass of wine and relax. You've earned it.

    6 more days to the JCC. Are you ready? Silly question as I'm sure you are. ;o)

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  34. Your are true sewing-soldier!! Beautiful dress def worth your effort.


    Angie R.

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  35. Carolyn - All of your work was definitely worth it. The dress is fantastic! You look lovely in it!

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  36. Love the dress. Did you use an invisible zipper?

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  37. Oh Carolyn, I just knew you'd make this one work and you did! You made an outstanding job and came up with a beautiful and original dress! I love the fabric, the colorway and the stylenines and you look great with this dress on! What more could one wish from a dress?

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  38. Congrats on making this work! It is a lovely dress!

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  39. I am late to the party! Great dress. I love the fabric, it is so fresh looking with its blue color. You tamed that beast of a pattern. Congratulations on another TNT. After all that work, you have to make it again in something for fall. I do that just to feel like all that time spent was doubly worth it. Is "doubly" a word? Well, you know what I mean!

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  40. I like it and the blue is a very becoming color on you. I wanted to mention that I've noticed those tiny darts are very common in vintage patterns and I think they give a "finished" look to the garment.

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  41. That dress looks fabulous and I love that blue color. I am in awe of your pattern skills!

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  42. That dress is very, very flattering on you. Great job!

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  43. I have this same pattern and need some tips. I am making dress C and I am ready to rip all of my hair out. I have never made a dress with Contrast and wow I never knew it was a pain in the rear. Could you spare any tips for me.

    YOUR DRESS LOOKS AMAZING!! I AM glad you won the battle making this dress.

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