McCalls 5972, and my first FBA

First off, when I saw this I thought it was adorable! I love the ruffles and of course a sheath dress is a classic. But seriously, ...I have fitting issues, ... and this is a fitted dress! I really wanted this dress for a holiday party, but I have never done a bust adjustment, ...which is really needed. Well, I purchased this pattern when it was on sale, and traced the front and back bodice pieces to practice on. I also found my only and favorite book on fitting, Fit for Real People, by Palmer Pletsch.
I followed the instructions and they were really good, but I know I need more work on this. I made several muslins for 5972, and my dart placement is still questionable, lol.

It's not complete, I still need to finish the arm holes and hemming. I'll consider this a wearable muslin, lol. Eeeew, I could just scream, the chiffon, the chiffon well it wasn't very hard to work with as I thought. A little starch and she was easy to cut and sew, however, once again I did this......

Yep, I burned a hole, right in the front..............uh, huh, yes i did. I've lost several cool points for that, lol. And, and... my darts are too, I dont know..lol.

 Basically, I'm unsure on HOW to correctly place them after the adjustment. The fit is okay, but them darts are pointing to high upwards, or something, lol.

I love the dress, the instructions overall were very easy to follow. So I will muster up the courage to try this again, the party isnt until November so I do have a lil time.

I just need to go to FBA school, before I conquer another fitted bodice that's not a knit!

Seeya!

Hold up! I've got a parting shot for ya, see if you can figure out what happened here, lol....

Yes, it is what you think, like I said .....muslin!

B.W.O.F. 7/09 - 117

Up until now, I've never sewn anything from BWOF, I've actually been quite intimidated by the whole tracing aspect, and sewing without actual construction pictures, lol. Well, the July issue I must say was really my style'. I heard soo many reviews on PR, about the 2/09 issue, (which I am still hunting for, btw) I was sure I missed the better issues. Then, my mag arrived and I almost couldn't decide what I wanted to try first, so I kept it simple for my first try!

I picked this top, since it was one dot and considered pretty easy, and believe me it was! I decided to use one of the vibrant border fabrics from High Fashion Fabrics, it's very light-wt and cool. The instructions originally called for 10 rows of shirring, but I seriously needed like 15 more, in a addition to that! The top perimeter band, i decided to use a rolled hem, in a contrasting black instead of hemming. It seems to pop against the red. I also hemmed the bottom using a rolled hem to match the top.

I added about 4 extra inches to the length to show off the print. It's originally tunic length, but i rock this as a dress with leggings of course! Instead of using the zig-zag stitch across the elastic, i used the elastic thread in my bobbin for shirring which worked out better imo!

Overall, I really like this simple but cute top, It's been worn several times this summer, lol.
I've got even more, pieces out of this issue that i will be reviewing coming up soon.
Seeya!

Fabric Store Visit (catch-upz)

It's been a while so I'm catching up, lol! Okay, months ago I visited one of my favorite fabric stores here in Houston, "High Fashion Fabrics" I scored some really nice pieces! Which btw, I've already managed to sew up.

The one on the left is a navy knit, The red which I love is dotted, with a great border, you'll see
what I've done with that coming up!

Great cotton prints which I love.

This knit fabric feels so fab, and the colors are tdf!

I can never get enuff cotton sateen fabrics and these have stretch! I've sewn
these up already as well.

Okay what ya think, I got more ......seeya!