Merry, Merry, Pick A Cherry

I found this great cherry-print fabric at the Mill End Store a few weeks ago and knew right away that it would made a perfect summer shirt dress.

To be honest, I'm not really sure what to say about this dress.  Because I haven't made many button-down shirts or anything with princess seams in years upon years, I followed the instructions to the letter.  At least, I think I did.  For the most part, I found them quite good, but then this is pretty basic construction.  I used my new serger  to finish the facings (and attach the skirt) rather than folding them under, but I think that's the only thing I did differently. 

I would have liked a little more guidance on the collar band because I didn't realize it would need as much easing as it did, and my easing needs work.  I'm sure there are a couple of places where the fabric got caught, but since it's under the collar, I'm not worrying about it too much. 

 It looks all sad and shapeless on the hanger.

I shortened the skirt by six inches and took a half inch off the bottom of the collar as well.  If you look at the product shot, the collar really does look like something that Tony Manero would have worn to win a dance competition at 2001 Odyssey (that's my roundabout way of saying that the collar looks like it came straight out of 1977).  And I love the buttons.  I had to go to three different fabric stores to get enough (the pattern calls for 11).  The remind me of cherry candy, and when the light hits them correctly, they sparkle.

Please ignore the unsnipped threads.

I think the dress is cute.  That's not damning with faint praise because I loves me a shirt dress, and I'll wear this often once the weather gets going.  But it's not perfect stylewise.  I think I would like something with a fuller skirt and maybe not with buttons all the way down.  I'm going to take a look at some vintage patterns.  That being said, I may make another view of this dress:  the one with the round neck and cap sleeves.

I'm thrilled that my little, red Mary-Janes go with this so well.  I got these shoes for $12.99 at Payless Shoe Source about three years ago, and they are the best shoes ever.  I've tried to replace them with something "better" and haven't been able to find anything I like half as much.

I'm not sure what I'm working on next.  I'm currently doing pattern alterations for several things including a vintage skirt pattern and two blouses.  I also need to look through my dress patterns because I've recently picked up some really pretty floral lawn.  But since the serger is all set up with white thread, I might do a couple of cotton jersey tops.  And then I have to hit the Simplicity sale at Joann's.  I have some lightweight denim, and it's calling for this pattern.

Have You Recently Had a Close Encounter?

Well, I have, and I'm very satisfied with the result.  LOOK!!!  I finished something!  And it fits, and I'll actually wear it!  Actually, I already have.

 This is New Look 6808, and I think it's very cute.  Please don't try to disabuse me of this notion.  This is the first of the four patterns that I learned how to fit in the Fit For Real People class I just finished.  Over the past several months, I have completed multiple skirts and a blouse that did not fit at all, and even though I have had a copy of the book Fit For Real People, I couldn't make the transition from reading the words on the page and seeing the pictures to actually cutting into a pattern.  Luckily, I live in Portland, Oregon and was able to take the four-week version of the course from one of the book's authors, Marta Alto.

I made adjustments for a full bust, a high, round back and a slightly forward right shoulder.  My biggest complaints about the way patterns were fitting me were that they were too large over the decolletage area and too big under the bust and through the back.  Starting with a smaller size and making the above adjustments did the trick for all of these issues.

See how nice this fits from the back?  (Please excuse the saggy backside.  These jeans are actually really cute, but I had taken off my heels, so they weren't hanging correctly.)

The pattern itself is a great basic with several neckline and sleeve variations.  I will definitely be making up the other views.  As others who have made this version of the pattern have mentioned, the instructions to attach the collar are not great (at one point, you're stitching through the facing, two layers of interfacing, the neckline and two layers of collar), but I did follow them as I don't have the experience where I know a better way.  Also, the facing keeps wanting to pop to the outside despite understitching, topstitching and tacking at the side seams.  I will probably blind stitch it to the body of the blouse all the way around.  I would also recommend tacking down the knot for the bow as it keeps pulling the facing up as well.  The last change that I made was to use an invisible 12-inch zipper.  I checked out a few ready-to-wear blouses with side zips, and none of them zipped open all the way to the hem, and it's unnecessary to put the blouse on comfortably.

Anyway, despite the above, I love this little top, and I'll get a lot of wear out of it in the coming months.