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Friday, 26 February 2010

Vogue 1123 - So near and yet so far


I'm back but I think I left my sewing mojo in Australia.

Have you ever had a gut feeling that something was not going to work, but you blundered on anyway because it seemed like too much work to stop and go back. This dress I am working on is a classic case in point.

It is a sleeveless lined sheath dress and I know that there is a better way to assemble this type of dress than in Vogue's instructions. However I couldn't remember the details and I knew if I switched on the computer 2 hours would disappear and no sewing would happen so I ploughed on with the stupid instructions. Argh I am so annoyed with myself. Now I am spending far more time handstitching the lining to the armscye, unpicking it, redoing it ad nauseum and it still looks hand made on the inside and not in a couture way.

A mess at the inside shoulder seam

I know it has been said many times before but why do the big 4 pattern companies stick with these old methods when the RTW method looks better and must be easier.

Note to self; don't do this again, here are some great tutorials on a far better finish for this type of dress. If anyone has any other favourites please post them in the comments.


Anyway I am nearly there so going for the blundering on approach. I need a break from the dress but here is where I am right now, still one side of lining to attach to armscye and a hem - not much at all I know but I am sick of the sight of it!

Not sure what I am smiling about.
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24 comments:

  1. Trudy26 February 2010 at 15:24

    I am so sorry. I know how frustrating that must be. Well, if it's any consolation, you look great in the photo.

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  2. Sew-4-Fun26 February 2010 at 15:28

    Silly instructions! The dress is beautiful though.

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  3. Barbara26 February 2010 at 15:49

    Although you don't like the inside construction there is no need to be sad. It looks really fabulous on you!

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  4. Karin26 February 2010 at 17:15

    What a pain :(
    But what a result! You look fantastic in the dress, the colour, style, fit... everything is perfect.

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  5. Sue26 February 2010 at 17:15

    Hope yuo had a great holiday! The dress was worth the angst - it looks great!

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  6. Gail26 February 2010 at 17:17

    A little mistake on the inside will never be seen. Your dress looks fabulous.

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  7. Anonymous26 February 2010 at 18:41

    If that's mess, it's a stunning mess!

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  8. Lori26 February 2010 at 20:22

    Sorry it has been such a pain but the dress is worth it, you look wonderful in this sheath dress.

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  9. Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic)26 February 2010 at 22:28

    Ummm you're smiling because you look really good in that dress! And thanks for highlighting my method...gosh that post is almost 3years old!

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  10. Eugenia26 February 2010 at 22:39

    Beautiful dress - it's going to be well worth the trouble! I LOVE that wonderful shade of blue.

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  11. Audrey27 February 2010 at 01:26

    Great looking dress! Yeah, sometimes you need to follow your instincts and use other methods than those shown in the pattern instructions.

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  12. Dei27 February 2010 at 02:04

    You're smiling 'cause it's a killer dress. Girlfriend, you look good!

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  13. Angela27 February 2010 at 02:23

    Oh, I know how that feels. Sorry about that... I've stopped working on a jacket for my mom because I didn't go with my gut instincts... and now I'm mad at it. So it's in time out. :)

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  14. Meg27 February 2010 at 03:02

    It does look fabulous on you, like all your dresses do, but I hear you about wanting to call it quits on a sewing project. May do that with a dress I'm making for my daughter.

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  15. Amanda S.27 February 2010 at 05:45

    Sorry it's giving you so much grief but you sure can rock that shade of blue! The dress looks gorgeous! I'm of the mindset that you only read the instructions if you can't figure it out in your head. Those lined sheath dress instructions from the big 4 are DUMB!

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  16. JoanneM27 February 2010 at 06:53

    Love the dress and I will consult your lining sources as I have a few sheath dress projects in the wings.

    I have a few projects that have ended in the naughty corner recently only I haven't the courage to post them, as I am still licking my wounds....

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  17. Gretchen the Household Deity27 February 2010 at 12:30

    Ugh, it is so stupid that they cling to these old ways of hand-sewing. The other way is so much easier!

    The dress is looking fab so far!

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  18. Reethi27 February 2010 at 23:20

    Nobody will ever see the inside, and the dress looks great! (Although, from an entirely lazy standpoint, all machine sewing is a LOT better than hand sewing, of course.)

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  19. Anonymous28 February 2010 at 22:10

    You look HOT in that dress girlfriend!

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  20. Vicki1 March 2010 at 18:13

    You look pretty hot in that dress! Silly Vogue - maybe they are just too lazy to update instructions.

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  21. Summerset2 March 2010 at 06:53

    Ugh! I hope you get it done right, because that is one gorgeous dress!

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  22. amber3 March 2010 at 03:26

    Stupid instructions! However, that dress really does look lovely on you and I hope you come to at least like it once you're all done with it. Such a beautiful color and style on you. :)

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  23. Nishant3 March 2010 at 21:27

    you look really good in that dress!
    party video

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  24. raven10 March 2010 at 02:48

    i wish all my mistakes/sewing mishaps turned out that great. stun-ning! ;)

    xo
    raven

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