I am a cashmerette tester - and for the most part I love it! Any time I'm unhappy with the finished garment - well it's always my own fault. No matter how many times I take my measurements and if I'm standing up or sitting down - I almost always come out with a garment that's too big the first go round.
Take - my tester version of the Rivermont for example. Too big - but it's super comfortable and snuggly warm and I wear it all winter!
This is my second version of the rivermont. I wanted to try again and make a dress that was more my size! The fabric is from Girl Charlee from 6 or more years ago! I made a dress for my 50th birthday from the same fabric and couldn't part with the remaining fabric.
For this Rivermont - I used a pretty ITY left over from making a concord for the pockets and I used the same ITY to bind the neckline and sleeve hems - pulling it all together. Actually - I think I inserted it like flat piping (and I did a pretty crap-tastic job of it!) but you can't tell from a galloping horse, so . . . .
It's amazing what actually making something up in your size will do for you! I feel amazing when I wear this dress. Also, having a photographer who makes you laugh, helps a lot!
Pretty sure I'm losing my balance here! Other than using contrasting fabric for the pockets - no other changes were made to the pattern. At some point, I'm going to make up the Rivermont top too.
The center back has a seam, but I made no attempts to match this fabric anywhere! There are so many great places to take photos around Carriage Corner! Thanks Carolyn :D
Thinking about making up Rivermont? Remember that dress will look better and you will feel better if you have some negative ease in the finished garment! While this particular dress feels to 'fancy' to just throw on and wear while I'm making breakfast, I will add some more of these comfortable, easy to wear, easy to dress up or down Rivermonts to my closet - I'd like to say I'll a few in solid colors - but I know that won't happen - bring on the loud prints!
Have you made a garment that you only sorta like the first go round but adore it the second time you made it? Share them with me in the comments!
And I made a super cute and fun dress out of the leftovers of that very fabric which you gifted me! I really like that dress on you; it makes you look very shapely ;-) I didn't try to pattern match, either, but the fabric is so busy that I don't think it matters.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there are lots of garments that I didn't love the first time, made some tweaks and then they were wonderful, but my brain is too busy right now for me to remember specifics. Almost always, it's because I make the first one too big. I'm right there with you on that one! And who says you need solids, especially in a dress? You look fantastic in prints!
I love that dress. It is very becoming.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even realize that this was a Rivermont! It looks so much better on you than on me! I loved this dress. You should definitely make more.
ReplyDeleteGaylen - you look stunning in this dress, well done.
ReplyDeleteMichelle in Wellington, NZ (yes, I'm still here)