By George, I think she’s got it! OR “Why we all need PatternReview!”

I am actually getting somewhere on these bridesmaid dresses.  They are all somewhat alike.  Alike in that they all have empire bodices, and the same “skirt”.  The fabric for all is an eggplant  hued georgette purchased  at Mood (NYC) with LindsayT‘s advice,  with lining from Jomar (Philly) with Karen’s okay, and a really cute netting with black flocked dots purchased in Toronto with bride to be  Erica.   I’ve always maintained that it takes a community to dress a bride!
  
While the dresses are similar in the fabric used, each bodice however, is different, as is how I am incorporating the netting.  I based all the bodices on a simple princess line bodice.  You know – back, side fronts and a middle front.  Don’t ask me what pattern I used- it kind of evolved.  Each dress had a base in that bodice, and then the differences evolve from there.

I have had quite a few “AHAAAA..” moments designing and sewing these dresses.  I will try to spend the next few posts walking you through my thought process on each of them.

First off – Katelyn’s dress…

Kate’s dress sounded simple,   Simple in concept, but I couldn’t get my head around the pattern drafting.  Quite basically we were looking for a twisted, empire bodice with a gathered skirt.  Kinda like this.
  or this..
Okay, she was looking for a simple, twist bodice.  I was looking for perfection.  What should not have been difficult turned out to be quite a search. 

Enter this pattern.  Butterick 4918.  Looks perfect. I checked PatternReview.  Got good reviews.  Purchase pattern.  It all sounds ominously easy, doesn’t it? !!
Time for a mockup. Sadly it wasn’t all it was all made out to be.  The gathering was not enough.  It looked contrived and cheap.  Is it only me, or do you too sometimes think that patterns look spectacular in diagrams, but then in real life leave much to be desired?  Or is it just that I get ideas in my head and nothing else will suffice? 

Back to PatternReview.  Do a search on “twist” “twist top” “wrap” “ruched wrap” and every variation I can think of on the boards.  The world famous 04/05 twist top is there. But, it is not what I am looking for. 

Try to drape it on my own.  Start with rectangle and twist.  That is the right idea, but looks really  amateurish. I just know there is  a “right” way, somewhere.  It is niggling there inside my head, but won’t translate to my fingers.

Look into draping classes in London , Ontario.  Nope.  You can learn to sew a basic skirt, make a pillowcase or thread your serger, but no draping classes.

Back to PatternReview.  Do another search.  Starting to get anxiety attack.  Grab a glass of wine.  Search for “twist” again, but this time search in “patterns”. 

HHmmmm.  There I found a review by MelissaB for a twist top dress in 05/05.  I read the review- it sounds promising.  OMG how do I find this issue- or see what the pattern pieces look like.  I PM Melissa – all the while thinking “why in the world would she care about silly old me, or even remember a review she did two years ago.  Surely she has a life“! 

I start making supper when I have a “Eureka!!” moment.  I started my BWOF subscription in 2005, and I remembered that it was the month after that 04/05 twist top issue.  That meant that I HAD that BWOF issue in my house!  Frantically emailed Melissa back – she had very kindly offered to email me a picture of the pattern pieces. Apparently being a nice person is part of her life! I dig up the issue and trace.  Now  while the pattern was not EXACTLY what I want, the concept is there.  I don’t think I could have thunk it up on my own though.  Burn supper, while altering the pattern piece.  Here is the altered pattern…

Less than 24 hours later, I have a bodice.  I traced the pattern, hacked it apart, added depth and width, cooked and served a lunch for 80 people (okay, so I had some help with that!), watched The Ghost Whisperer and sewed. 

All that is left of the bodice now is for Miss Kate to try it on and approve.  Well, not ALL that is left to do.  The CF needs to be altered to a sweetheart neckline, and the bottom needs some work, but the bones are definitely there.  I even brought the camera to church to show her how it is progressing- Sacreligious I know – even Kate gave me a weird look!  

The inner flannel corset where the boning chanels are and where the waist stay will be attached is finished.  I’ll show you the rest when I get the skirt attached! 

Today’s Postscript…

Get a load of this sign I saw on the back of a truck at a stop light.  Well, I thought it was funny!