Before the Reveal

Before showing you the dresses I finished at retreat 2012, I thought I'd finally show you the dress that I mostly made at retreat 2011.  Most of the completed garments from 2011 have been made and worn and gifted already.  But this red version of Vogue 1250 sat on the cutting table from October through August - when I finally asked a friend to mark the hem for me.  Yes - it waited a year for a hem.

I was finally inspired to get it hemmed to wear to a friend's wedding over Labor Day weekend.

I would have to say it's a bit more close fitting than I'm comfortable wearing, but I felt okay until I saw the photos.  I'm working on getting JB to take more photos - he shoots digital for goodness sake - it's not like we're burning film to take more than 3 pictures.  But whatevs.

 I'm glad this dress is hemmed and living in the closet now.  I'm guessing it will get a little vacation trip and taken out to dinner and show for the upcoming birthday vacation. 

Too Much For Work?

This is actually my first version of Vogue 1250.  It's a lovely heathered brown that I picked up at Hancocks Fabrics.  It has a ton of extra fabric across the back width - you notice I haven't show you a photo of my backside in this dress.

Because I have seen so many of you belt this dress, I decided to try that to help suck in some of the excess fabric across the back.

I actually started out the door this morning without the cardigan.  Which, if I had known I was going to end up wearing a cardigan all day I would have grabbed blue since I wore blue pumps and blue earings and there is a little bit of blue in the cream belt I added.

Let me ask the garment people - see all the wrinkles above the belt and how much drape there is in the top?  Did I add too much with my full bust adjustment?  From the waist down the fit is perfect - seriously.  It skims my lumps, bumps and curves and while this fabric is a bit too revealing - well I didn't mind too much.  But both versions I have made so far (and yes, I think there will be more) have tons of fabric in the top and I'm wondering if I should readjust the top to take some of the extra I added out.  I added an 1" full bust adjustment.


As for the post title - when I first put this dress on, I thought it was just too much for work but I ended up wearing it to work anyway.

Combining 2 Things I Love

Dresses and Dogs

This is my second version of Vogue 1250.

It feels almost "too sexy to wear to work"

but wear it to work I did.

and I was comfortable all day and only a little self conscious.

the dogs are Beau and Lucy.

I was holding a squeaker that Lucy liberated

and teasing her with it.

You can't see it - but the back has a bit too much extra fabric.

I think I've figure out how to eliminate that - with the next version.

I spent about 2.5 hours last Friday altering the pattern.

I used Debbie's technique for a full bust adjustment and added another 3" to the skirt.

I used The Sewing Lawyer's info to add to the cowl

and now I'm busy looking for more knits to make into this dress.