The Day Dress: S1885



This Print cotton fabric is absolutely beautiful (purchased at Metro Textiles during PR Weekend NYC).  I bought this fabric specifically for this Simplicity Pattern 1885.  I received the pattern for free during the Simplicity tour (part of PR Weekend NYC).

This is the perfect summer day dress!  I wore it last weekend while I was visiting my mom in Miami --> it was 88 degrees and I was so comfortable. Before, I start the review I want to mention that I didn't have any experience working with collars when I received this pattern.  There was only 1 review on Pattern Review, so there wasn't an abundance of information on what to do.  Also, I lost about 10 inches off of my body from the time I cut this dress (June 2012) and when I finished this dress (December 2012), see I Finished What I Started: Update 1/3/2013

The Day Dress: S1885

Pattern Description:

Simplicity 1885, Misses and Plus Size Sportswear.   Misses' & Plus size pullover dress or tunic, jacket and pants.  I only made the dress.  **I received this pattern for free during the Simplicity tour, PR Weekend NYC.**

Pattern Sizing:

10 - 18. I made the 18. I haven't learned how to do a FBA, so I cut the pattern per my upper chest measurement. I initially cut this pattern out in June - with the intention of wearing it during the summer, but I ran into problems creating the collar and I didn't finish the dress until December.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing it?

Yes, except my collar doesn't lay flat....

And, no I'm not sure what I didn't do right. 

And, yes - I wore it anyway! 

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes and no.  The instructions for the dress were very easy and simple to follow.  I was so totally confused on the instructions for the collar.  I ended up working on a different project that had a collar and just doing this collar the same way.

 

You can see how the collar isn't laying flat.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

Major Likes:  I received this pattern for free!  The dress is super easy and comfortable to wear.  The cotton fabric folded well (and, didn't need major ironing when I traveled). 

Dislike: Collar instructions. 

Fabric Used:
Black, White & Green printed cotton fabric purchased at Metro Textiles during PR Weekend NYC.  It was $6 per yard and I bought 2 yards.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:When I started this project, I was closer to a size 18.  When I finished this project, I was closer to a size 14.  I'm not comfortable making a lot of alterations - so, I took up about 6 inches in the collar.  I did this by adding 4 additional gathers around the neckline before I attached the collar.  The dress is still a little big (baggier than I normally wear my clothes), but it doesn't look bad.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I don't plan on using this pattern again - although, I haven't gotten rid of it.  I walked away from this project about 3 times because of issues with assembling the collar.  Perhaps when I have more experience sewing, it won't pose the same problem.




Needles Up,

Always Audrey

Needles Up, Always Audrey

2013 Goals & 2012 Reviewed

2013 Goals (listed in no particular order):

1. Learn how to Make a FBA (Full Bust Adjustment)
2. Purchase a Dress Form
3. Make 18 - 24 Wearable Garments (about 2 per month)
4. Since, my size has changed - find a new TNT (Tried N True) pattern for skirts & pants
5. Make a LBD (Little Black Dress)
6. Learn how to insert a zipper
7. Make a shirt

Highlights of 2012 Completed Garments - Sew ReInvented Audrey

My goal was to make at least 12 wearable garments during 2012.... And, here are my totals:

Total Completed Projects - 12 (well, really 11 - see the biggest success & failure of 2012)
Total Projects-in-Progress - 2 (Vogue 1250 & New Look 6757) *I'll have to post about my V1250 disaster.

Projects by type (only completed projects):
Jacket - 1
Dress - 3
Skirt - 5
Pants - 3

Projects by Pattern Company (all projects attempted):
Vogue - 10
Butterick - 2
Simplicity - 1
New Look - 1
Mimi G's Pencil Skirt Tutorial - 1

Fabric on Hand 12/31/2011 - 7 yards
Fabric Purchased in 2012 - 39.5 yards (**Black Friday purchases not included - that fabric was for 2013)
Fabric Used in 2012 - 28.5 yards
Fabric on Hand 12/31/2012 - 18 yards (okay, can you tell that I work in Accounting - OMG!)

Total Spending (Fabric, Books/Magazines, Notions, Patterns & new Sewing Machine): $493.35 ($41.11 per month)

2012's Biggest Success & Failure - Butterick 5672 (Gray dress in collage at top)
This is my biggest success because it was the first project that I worked on this year.  Of course, in my typical style - hence, it is also my biggest failure - I totally jumped in before I even knew what I was doing.  Needless to say, I started this dress with the wrong fabric, the wrong sewing machine needle, the wrong thread (you mean, there's a difference between cotton & polyester)....With all of that - I did somehow manage to finish the dress.  Oh, yeah - I forgot to mention - it's way, way too short.  That didn't stop me from wearing it 3 times (ha-ha!  I made it, I love it), but it's troubled.

2012's Most Used Pattern Vogue 8541 (Jacket, Skirt & Pants)
Of the 10 times I used a Vogue Pattern in 2012 - 8 of those times it was Vogue 8541 (1 Jacket, 4 Skirts, 3 Pants).  There's no greater feeling than knowing when you pick up a pattern that 1) it will fit and 2) it will go together easily because you've done it so many times before.  I didn't really branch out to try my pattern different ways, mostly I just used different colors or fabrics and I was very satisfied with the outcome each time.

2012's UFO - Butterick 5664 (Pink Dress, no pictures)
There's only 1 project that I consider an UFO for 2012 - Butterick 5664.  It's a See & Sew Pattern for a dress.  I was attempting to make it in a Pink Polyester Crepe.  9 Pattern Pieces (for fashion fabric and lining) - this was my 2nd project of 2012, my 3rd sewing project.  Total Fail.  I did use some of the fabric to make my pink skirt (V8541), and to cover the boxes that hold my notions & patterns in my sewing studio.

2012's Most Complicated Vogue 8541 Jacket & Vogue 8541 Tweed Skirt
Jacket - This was just the most complex project that I worked on this year, but it was a jacket.
Skirt - This was complicated because I didn't  know that I needed to plan first (you need to interface tweed edges so that they don't fray).  I knew I wanted a Tweed skirt.  I could see me wearing a Tweed skirt in my mind.  My real life skirt and the image in my mind match up perfectlu, but, the fabric started fraying even when I only looked at it.

2012's Most Worn Vogue 8541 Pants (Black Polyester Crepe)
I wore these pants into the ground!  To work, to Church, hanging out with friends, running errands, everywhere.  If they were lined pants, I would even wear them now.  As it is, I'll have to wait until it starts to warm up.

2012's Biggest Surprise Purple Scarf
I learned how to crochet and I made a scarf!

2012's Completed Projects

Black Skirt - Polyester Crepe - V8541

  Pink Skirt - Polyester Crepe - V8541

Purple Skirt  - Polyester Crepe -V8541

Black Pants - Polyester Crepe - V8541

Red Pants - Cotton Blend - V8541

Black & Purple Dress - Black & Purple Polyester Crepe - V8786

Mimi G's Pencil Skirt (from her online tutorial) - Print Rayon Challis

Pink Pants - Polyester Suiting - V8541

 Purple Jacket - Polyester Crepe - V8541

Skirt - Black Multi-Colored Tweed - V8541

Purple Scarf - Crocheted - Lion Brand: Learn to Crochet Kit (no picture)

 Multi-Print Dress - Cotton Print - S1885 (finished 12/30 - review hasn't been completed yet - no picture)

 

  Looking forward to making more happy noises in the sewing studio in 2013 and beyond!

Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Finishing What I Started - Updated

All updates are in italics..... Now, that I finished the jacket - that was the most difficult project on the list - I feel like I'm making progress.   I would like to have the majority of this done before New Years. I want to start the year with a fresh project - My Yellow Dress. Or, a winter jacket.  Or, a Pink & White Jacket - just like I originally planned, way back when... 

* Pink Pants from V8541 - finish the hem on 1 pant leg. (Really, all that's keeping these pants from being done is one pant leg?) Completed 12 / 1 / 12 - I still need to take pictures.... And, I have put them on at least 3 different times to show friends. LOL!  12/26/12 - Here's a picture from a hanger.

* Purple Jacket V8541 - finish the sleeves and the hem. 12/17: Still in progress - I hemmed the sleeves per the pattern directions and they are too long. Ha-ha! Oh, yeah! This is my first jacket / shirt project. On the sleeve hem, I used one of the decorative stitches on my sewing machine (thanks, PR all the chatter about the Brother PE500 giveaway, had me thinking about embroidery). The sleeves are lined up, basted and pined - ready for the next step. 12/19 - WOW! This jacket is taking a lot of time.... I spent 1 1/2 hours this morning. I sewed the sleeves in (okay, so you can see a little bit of the ease stitching, ha-ha!) and it's near perfect. I did the pressing prep work for the hem.... Just the collar and finishing the hem needed. OMG! 12/23/12 Since, I had to work on Saturday - this afternoon was my only chance to get busy finishing this jacket - and, I did just that. IT IS FINISHED. I'm so excited - I hope the weather holds up, so I can show it off, I mean wear it to work tomorrow. See Purple Passion - My First Jacket

 

* Tweed Skirt V8541 - finish the hem on the tweed and the lining. 12/17: Laid out on the cutting board with everything needed to complete this project.  12/24: Back to this project.... I tried it on and I've decided the right length for the hem.  I've found a part of the bottom in the back that needs a strip of interfacing added to it before I can hem the fashion fabric.  Trying to decide if I should use the hem tape...  I've re-organized the list for completion.  12/25: Added interfacing.  No Hem tape.  Finished Hem.... IT IS FINISHED.

V8541 - Tweed - Skirt Front

    

V8541 - Tweed - Skirt Back

* S1885 Dress - After the fiasco with the collar, I never picked this dress back up. I need to re-visit and see what needs to be done to complete it. 12/17: I also placed this project on the cutting table. I looked at it - I also need to finish the hem. I need to rip out the current collar - re-cut it and start fresh. Now, that I've finished the collar on the jacket - I see where I went wrong.  12/24: I ripped out the entire collar.  I will re-cut the pieces and interfacing and start fresh.  I went through the instruction sheet - and, I found the problem (**confusing instructions**).  12/25/12: Decided to use the pieces that I had and an add on piece that was missing.  This is a sweatshirt alternative for the weekends.... The top of this dress is too big anyway - so, I took in about 4 inches in the collar by adding additional gathers in the front, sleeve cap, and back.  I'm still having a hard time with the Simplicity instructions, so I may just do it the Vogue 8541 way - putting the interfacing on top, so that it will lay down. 

* Print Dress from V1250 - make a decision on the hem, and move it from the UFO stack to the closet. 12/17: This project is laying on the cutting table. I will likely finish this one last - I'm not going to be able to wear it for awhile.

* Pink & White Skirt V8541- re-cut missing piece and finish the skirt. 12/17: I took the fabric out and it's on the cutting table. I'll be able to cut the missing piece - one evening this week after work.

* Pink Jumpsuit NL6757 - I'm not going to be able to wear it, but I will be giving it to my mom. I meant to get her to try it on when she was here in November, but it completely slipped my mind. I still need to complete the finishing steps on the halter top, insert the zipper, and finish the hem. I won't be able to finish these things until she visits in January.

 
Needles Up,
Always Audrey

Simplicity 1885

Now, I'm starting up on my next project Simplicity 1885 (pink floral dress on the right side).  The pattern pieces are very wrinkled, so I'll need to iron the pieces and do the cutting before Saturday.  That way, I can focus on the business of getting the dress together.  There's a "1 Pattern, Many Looks" Contest currently running on PR - I'm thinking that if this dress turns out right then, I'll make a second dress in this fabric.

Needles Up,
Always Audrey