Slowly, slowly my Washi dress is coming together. Sticking the pattern print out together and tracing pieces in various sizes sure have taken up time, but a lot of pre-sewing has also been going into this project - to get the most out of it in the end, but also to challenge myself along the way. A proper fitted bodice and elastic shirring are two things totally new to me.
Making a muslin for a dress with a fitted bodice is a must. I took my upper body measurements about a hundred times, but facts are facts, I'm wide across the shoulders and above average in the bust, and narrow in the waist and hips. Still I couldn't quite believe that I was looking like an XL in this pattern. In Australian sizes I am usually an M - eek! I was stubborn (and vain!) and made a muslin in size L, nope, tight across the shoulders and the bodice didn't even come down below my bust. I relented and made a size XL which was better but the bust darts were sitting well above my boobs and I still had waistline issues. After having a late night Google study session on other people's experiences with making the Washi dress and a crash course in full bust adjustments I ended up simply dropping the apex of the bust darts an inch and adding 5.5cm to the length of the front and back bodice pieces - voila, perfect fit!
I had three metres of a light and crisp pale yellow cotton with small blue flowers printed on it ready to go.
I pinned and cut carefully.
Every day I am doing a few more steps in the process, just where time allows me to squeeze in a few minutes with my sewing machine.
I have waist pleats
and elastic shirring at the back (yay!).
I'm nearly there, today I conquered the neckline and the facings but have the sleeves, sides and hemming to go. Hopefully I'll be able to wear it for a little photo shoot this coming weekend.
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