Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Next Up, a Holiday Dress!

I fed Skippy my Eviler Twin some Godiva Chocolate and she has retreated back into her cave. But before rolling the boulder across the cave entrance, she turned and hissed, "I'll be back to keep the world safe from idiots who are so clearly educated beyond their intelligence!" Okay Skip, buh bye! Or should I say, a bientot!

The world is in balance again, even if the moon is full. To celebrate, I started on my holiday dress! And this is it. McCalls 5269:


Look at the model in the picture. Now look at me. Notice a few things.
1 - She is coquettish. I am fabulous.
2 - She has bird-arms. I have Schwarzzeneggar arms.
3 - She's all of 19. I'm celebrating the (mumble mumble) anniversary of my 29th birthday shortly.
Changes must be made.

Change one: I'm ditching the cap sleeves and putting long, sleek sleeves on instead. I have morphed the armhole and grabbed the plain long sleeve from this Vogue Pattern:

I almost made this pattern instead, but my fabric really is spectacular. I didn't want to have to cut across it with a waistline seam. The McCalls pattern has a similar neckline and shoulder treatment (a flange sort of thing), and adjusting it to a long sleeve was pretty simple.

Change two: It will be shorter than the photographed version, but will have no ruffle or (god help us) pouf at the hem.

Change three: I'm going to make it from an amazing fabric (hint, it's pictured here on the site) that will be an homage to Laura Bennett of Project Runway. I have stretch silk charmeuse to underline the main fabric. And the hemline will be To Die For!

The muslin is cut and half way sewn. I should have the fitting shell tomorrow or Friday. Hopefully I'll finish the dress by mid-next week. Stay tuned.

Happy Sewing!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

We can't wait to see it! Keep us posted it, darling, and we'll send the link to Laura : - )

Anonymous said...

No, dahling. Your arms are fine. Photos make fools of us all. I believe that if I saw you in person, your arms would be firm, in exercise shape, and womanly.

Forget those birdleg arms that the Hollywood types aspire to.

Your other pattern changes sound Fahbulous!!

Anonymous said...

Damn you for making me want things I don't nearly have time to sew! Can't wait to see it! For now I'll have to live vicariously through your party frocks.

Marcia Bromberg said...

If I wanted to devote the next three days going through the archives, searching for the "HINT
Maybe I could find it. I guess
I'll have to wait to see the
glorious fabric. Unless you
could narrow down the hint.?????

Marcia ( devoted reader and admirer.)

Alisa_Benay said...

No puff at the hem! Are you crazy?!! Oh, wait...sorry, I got lost in 1983 there for a minute.

Now I'm going to have to run out and get this pattern and then go find somewhere to wear it! Can't wait to see your dress, it sounds good enough to eat!

Lorna said...

IF not a puff, then maybe a "fleurshon"?! LOL! Don't throw anything, Ann, please! I have a similar pattern to yours only it has a princess line to it and already has the long sleeves. IT is a Neue Mode pattern. Not sure if it is still in print, though. It is one of the options for the hubby's grad in the spring.

rosephreak said...

Ha! I think I found the fabric on her site. (Hint: October and Laura Bennett)

Ann, am I right?

Your dress will be fabulous no matter what fabric you use, I am sure!

Claire

Gorgeous Things said...

Nice job Claire! It's the black net in the Mental Health Day post. I can't wait!