A pattern review - Vogue 1285

I made this dress right before I went to PR New York.

Pattern Description:

(From the pattern envelope): Lined, mock wrap dress has collar, close-fitting bodice with bands, hook and eye, fitted skirt, overlay with mock band, belt loops, sleeveband and invisible left side zipper. Darts are stitched on the right side of fabric. Lining forms attached slip with shoulder and lingerie straps.

Pattern Sizing:

8-24

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

Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I like the unique design features like the collar and the darts stitched on the outside. What I didn't like was some of the construction details. Following the instructions, this is what I came up for the collar and bands.

This is a hot mess! WTH. I almost chucked the entire project but after sleeping on it, I decided to fold a small tuck all away around to cover up the mess.

Fabric Used:

I'm not sure what to call the fabric I used. It looks like a ribbed ponte'. It could also be the reason my collar band looked such a mess!

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

As usual I made an FBA and a wide back adjustment. I also lengthed the bodice 1" and the skirt 2" as well as added width to the waist. To reduce the bodice to fit the skirt, I added an extra waist dart but didn't sew it on the outside.

After the wide back adjustment I took in a dart at the shoulder, sewing it on the outside but eliminated the skirt dart.

I eliminated the side zipper, the lining and the hook and eye. I added thread loops for the chain belt I purchased to wear specifically with tis dress.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I think I'd like to make it again in black.

Conclusion:

I really like this dress. Put it on your list.

McCalls Maxi #2

I LOVE THIS DRESS. One thing I will add about the dress is that it is generously sized. I'd venture to say that you could go down one or two sizes. This fabric was purchased in Brooklyn, New York at Virgo fabrics. It wasn't on the list of places to visit during the Pattern Review weekend,  but that store is it is a diamond in the rough.

My only issue with the fabric was the quarter of a yard of fabric that I lost from it being cut off grain!

BTW, why is it that my husband can never get my shoes when he's taking photos. It's not rocket science!

Notice how I got his shoes in the photo? Wait a minute...those are my shoes he's wearing! LOL! He's going to kill me for posting these photos of him. He's on his way out to mow the yard and just stuck his feet in my shoes to take the photos,

Do I look stupid?

I must look stupid. Here's why. On April 24th, I took my Bernina 43D serger in to have a tune-up. There was absolutely nothing wrong with. I've had it for a number of years and figured I'd better have it tuned-up before I "needed" to. I called a local sewing machine dealer, not Bernina, and asked if he services Bernina machines. He told me he services "all" machines. The tune-up is $79.95.

On April 27th, I picked up my machines. I took my backup machine to have it tuned-up as well. This past Monday, June 4th, I finally sewed with the serger and it sewed beautifully. I was making the McCalls maxi dress and decided to assemble it entirely with the serger. That meant I had to add the left needle. For the most part I use the Bernina as a 3-thread machine and when I took it in for the tune-up it was threaded as such. As I normally would, I inserted the left needle and thread and assumed it would be business as usual. Boy was I wrong! When I pressed the foot pedal the machine sewed a few stitches and then started making the most horrible noises. Not only was the machine binding up it was obvious something was terribly wrong. After a few more attempts, I gave up. I removed the left needle and thread and this time when I tried to sew it still made the horrible noises. I took the machine back and was relieved to find out work was guaranteed for 3 months.

Wednesday, June 6th, I received a phone message saying the repairman had tried for three hours to repair the machine but was unable to repair it and would refund my money. WTF? The machine was fine until I took it in for the "tune-up." Do I look stupid? He tore up my machine and I'm supposed to be happy that he was willing to refund me $79.95? GTFOH!

Today when I went in to talk to the repairman,with my husband in tow of course, he wasn't in but I took the liberty of trying my machine. Just like he said...it didn't work at all. The clerk asked me what I expected him to do. Without hesitation I told her I think they should send the machine to an authorized Bernina dealer to be repaired at their expense.

When we returned later to talk to the repairman, the husband is still in tow,  he did indeed write a refund check. I refused it but he insisted. He said the machine wasn't really 100% when I took it in. The hell it wasn't! I quickly corrected him. He said he'd send it out for repair at his expense. You bet your sweet ass you will. What's even more comical is that in the memo on the check he wrote refund for serger repair. Repair? I won't be cashing that check until after I get my machine back and repaired! Nope, I'm not stupid at all. Luckily I have another serger.

McCalls 6559

I too am on the McCalls 6559 bandwagon. I call it the McCalls Mission Maxi. With only two pattern pieces, it's too easy! I made a  small FBA and raised the neckline 1". I also raised the armhole 3/4" because I felt it was much too low. It's a little shorter than I'd like but I didn't want to lengthen the pattern because I didn't know how much it would "drop" from the weight of the fabric.  All in all, I still love it. I wore this yesterday and got dozens of compliments.

The fabric is either from Fabric Mart or Fabric.com and I'm sure I only paid $1.99 a yard for it. There will certainly be more of these in my wardrobe this summer.