Bring on the Sirens

Did you see part 1 of the Siren Sundress post?  Where I worked and worked on fitting the bodice?  Well that's because we were taking a cruise that year and I needed a new dress for the fancy dinner nights. 

I bought a beautiful silver metallic linen from Stone Mountain & Daughter to make the dress.  The fabric washed up beautifully and sewed like a dream, but it's a bit itchy to wear - I think it's the metallic thread running through the fabric. 

While I like this dress and it's still in my closet and I've even worn it since to other fancy events, I will say it's not my favorite and I don't think it's the most flattering thing I own.  There.  I think the problem is while the fit on the bust is good, it's really hard to tie the neck straps and have everything lay nicely.  Also - the center front seam creates an unattractive bulge in the front of the skirt.  That can be eliminated - but what to do about tying the darn thing? 

So, all in all, I think I'm done with this pattern. I can't remember if I cut the pattern or not - but if not, anyone interested in having the pattern?  Just comment with a way for me to reach you and I'll mail it to you. 

Siren Sundress - Part 1

This past was started as draft back in 2016 - oops.

Earlier this year, I won a pattern give-away from Stonemountain & Daughter.  It was during Indy Pattern Month and I won a pattern of my choosing from Decades of Style.  I chose to get the Siren Sundress pattern.

I received a direct message from Decades of Style that said the key to this dress fitting well is all in the bodice.  The message also said that if you have the fabric to make the ties wider - by an inch at least.

This dress is a double wrap.  The front is just a mock wrap - although it overlaps - as if it wrapped.  The real wrap happens in the back.  So - what I did was trace the bodice pieces and cut it out in lining fabric.  The first go round the bodice gaped at the front and the armhole and the back had all kinds of issues - it gaped and was too long.

So - I sliced and overlapped the front in 3 places and took out about 2" of length.  I also narrowed the bodice a bit at the shoulder.  I thought I took photos of that step, but clearly did not.  However, thanks to google photos I do have photos from a 3 year old project.  

For the back - I did the same - sliced and overlapped.  And this is why you trace a pattern.  Had I cut into them I would never know what the original pieces were meant to look like.  

In this photo you can see that the pieces are just too tall for my short back - see how the piece is folding up on itself?  I sent these photos to my sewing friends before moving on.  Keep in mind - I'm still using the lining fabric at this stage.  

Second back muslin.  It's getting better.  If I remember right I went straight to my full on muslin dress at this point.  I thought I had photos of me wearing it - but I could not find them in the google photos vault, so I'll show you on a hanger and then tell you that the dress is in the giveaway box.  And that I'm a tiny bit sad that this fabric is no longer available for my use.