The Marilyn finish!

I finished the Sew Serendipity Marilyn dress!  I am super happy that I was able to do this dress.  It is classic and I learned so much in the process I know my next garment venture will be even more successful.

In the instructions it recommends that you do a muslin fitting first.  I second that 100%.  When I made the first trial run it was okay.  It was good to get used to the terms and how things were going to look. The size I cut was really not the best for me. I also needed to add a little in the bodice and the waistband  since I am small and long in my torso, the bodice was hitting me a bit short.  Sara and I had a google hangout with all kinds of bodice maneuvering and a little measuring to figure out what needed to be done.  Kay recommends looking online for adjustments for alterations for this area if you are large or small busted or a book called Fit for Real People.  I needed an inch here and and inch there.

and this was my second muslin fitting. The bodice is much better in this one.

So I took the plunge and started on the "real" dress!!!!  I used Pellon Shape Flex for all the interfacing.  I think I need to start buying that stuff by the bolt!  SO many uses...so awesome!  I also used my trusty Aurifil thread in a stunning black 50wt.  I was thinking of trying the 40wt but I did not want my stitches to show so 50 was meant to be!

Instead of gathering the skirt, I went with box pleats. I looked at youtube videos and found this one that is super easy to follow by evangesews.com.  I started from the center and the pleats are 2in apart.  Not perfect but this was my first time ever doing these pleats.  I am very pleased with the outcome.

Here is the back view and my EPIC FAIL on the invisible zipper!  I did not sew close enough to the teeth but at that point I was not ripping it all out to do over.  My next dress I will hopefully do a better job. I also have NO IDEA what I am looking at in the tree.

The one thing I really wish I would have done is to add POCKETS!!!  Donna Reed would have had pockets!   If I can make this dress anyone can!  I am really loving it...

especially since it goes with my red shoes!!!!

Linked up on

Finish It Up Friday

Revisiting garment sewing with Sew Serendipity

I am determined to be able to sew garments.  I do not know the secret lingo of the seamstresses, I do not have all the right tools ( at least that is what I tell myself) and I REALLY REALLY hate to measure myself especially when I end up being two different sizes on the pattern packet!  

Then I saw Kay Whitt's pattern The Marilyn Dress! I fell in LOVE!   It had a waist, which I need since I am a complete pear shape. More exciting for me, it looked like something I could sew.  I have met Kay, she is lovely and such a firecracker!  I asked her all about the pattern when I saw her in Portland.  Was is easy?  Like easier than a Very Easy Vogue easy?  She assured me that I could do this dress with no problems.  I brought the pattern home and it sat waiting patiently for me to muster up enough courage to open it up, got cold feet and called Sara she reassured me that I could do this...

Last night I took the plunge...

Even though I have not straightened from the whirlwind of Polaroid blocks

I have not even swept up my "quilter's confetti"

But this dress HAD to be made...so by midday I was to this point

By late afternoon I made it to this point without one adult word ( patting myself on the back). I also  learned about understitching.

I am hoping I can have it completed tomorrow without my little guy as my zipper in the back ( see the cute toes behind me).  I think I need to take the skirt off and cut another longer one just because I do not care for my knees showing.  I am so happy I tried this one. It is building my confidence in garment sewing!!!! WOOT WOOT!  Hopefully more photos tomorrow but not of my sewing room ;o)

Despite all odds...

I finished the skirt!!!!!  I did the godets, the invisible zipper and something about yokes but there were no eggs involved. Sewing terminology is a foreign language to me and I am sure it will be for quite some time. This was not difficult to make once I translated it into my sewing language which is, take part A place it on Part B and Sew!  My sister, who has been sewing for years told me to not ever buy Simplicity patterns. She told me this after the skirt was done so it was a little too late.  I used Alexander Henry Kilo, I really love this fabric!!! Katy said ( before it was finished) that it looked like and apron and the in house engineer said " Well, that is bright!"  Thanks for your support people...

The front

The back

Me falling off the shoes that are WAYYYYYY too high for me.

Pellon sent me this really cool interfacing to try and I have to say, it is AMAZING! Easy to work with and has a very nice feel to it. It gives just the right amount of support to the fabric without being too stiff. Great job Pellon!!!!! Two thumbs UP!

And I  just discovered that Alexander Henry is making cotton lawn...EEeeeeeep! I want my next skirt to be made with this one! Looks like it is going to be a skirt filled summer!!!!