Monday, July 7, 2008

Fit Tweaks



Here's the complete muslin. I know it's not flattering on Zillie. But this is icky poly knit, with a slight sheen, some horizontal striping, and without any contrast to break up the solid blue. The fabric I have in mind for the real dress will look so much better than this stuff. Trust me.

So getting past the fabric, the final tweaks to this pattern are:

1. A slight FBA. I've changed my mind on this and have decided that I could use about 1/2" more length in the upper bodice, as well as moving the dart point out as I mentioned yesterday.

2. Scooping out the back neckline.

3. Moving the shoulder seam backward a smidge, less than 3/8". I'm one of the few women who sits at a computer a lot but does not have forward shoulders. I credit my mother, who always nagged me to stand up straight when I was a kid. I have great posture now. LOL!

4. Raising the neckline another 3/4" - 1". I'll cut it at 1" higher and then evaluate. I'm already thinking a vee neckline would be nice for the next version, but I'll stay true to the pattern for the first go.

5. Cutting off at least 5" from the pattern length. This muslin is 4" shorter than the actual pattern because this is all the length I had in this fugly knit. And still, it's nearly to my ankles. (I'm about 5'5".)

And that's it. The skirt is cut from the size 18 pieces, but the front was already widened the same 1/2" as the FBA before I cut these pieces. Other than that, no alterations and it fits great.

Oh wait. I did widen the sleeve pattern before cutting the muslin yesterday, which is a typical alteration for me. But I did nothing to the armhole or shoulder length, and both are great on me. I like high armholes and these are high, but not too high or too tight.

The alterations are done and next will be the real stuff. Cutting the fabric to use the print as I want will take twice as long as the actual sewing. Hopefully, I'll squeeze in some time tomorrow to start cutting.

9 comments:

  1. The muslin is looking very promising. I can feel myself weakening. I don't need more patterns! I don't! I don't even wear dresses. :)

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  2. the infamous HP dress?
    can't wait to see the real version, the muslin is shaping up great

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  3. I am so loving this dress!!! I have it on my list for the fall. It's looking wonderful!

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  4. Your comment on the shoulders made me sit up straight! I'm so excited to see this come together. One of my all time fav patterns.

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  5. Why do I feel a need to go look at hot patterns after reading this. I am even liking the trial run on the dress form. mssewcrazy

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  6. It is definitely going to look great on you I have this and have yet to make it. I am not plus sized, but on the upper edge of regular and you are the first really curvy woman to make this, so I am pleased to see how well this works for a fuller figure. Looking forward to the final version.

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  7. Looking good! I'm probably the only person who kind of liked the "ugly" muslin fabric. In the picture, the texture looked kinda nice. Kudos to your mother for getting the sit-up-straight nagging to work. Most mothers aren't that successful.

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  8. Nice dress Debbie. It looks real great and I know it will fit you very well.

    Thanks for all the help you have provided me the last couple of months. I have finished my blouse. If you want to see it, it can be viewed at www.charlenesa.blogspot.com

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Thank you for each and every comment. I appreciate them all, but I have to be honest and let you know that I'm usually bad about answering questions. I hope you understand that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.

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