My Entry in the County Fair

This year, I entered something in the county fair.
Not the Puyallup Fair - if you are from around here, but the Monroe Fair.

I entered the shawl I knit for that sweet bride back in May.
I borrowed the shawl from her to enter it.

and I won!  Not one - but 3 ribbons!
I was thrilled to death - first place, crafter's choice and Grand Champion! 
(the ribbons have been crammed in a bag - really, what am I going to do with them?)

Grand Champion!  It doesn't get any better than this.
I don't need to ever enter another item in the Fair.
Did as good as I could on my first try.

NL6095 Take 2

I've asked for some fitting sessions with Judy Barlup for my birthday.  Maybe I'll get them.  If not - I plan to use my 'monthly mad money' to take some classes with Judy.  In the meantime, this weekend - I retraced the front and back of the dress.  I took a 1/4" tuck above the bust, a 1/2 tuck above the waist and a 1" tuck below the waist - that's all I did.  Taking that last tuck below the waist, smoothed out the drastic hip curve some. 

from the bust up, the fit is good.  However,
the bust darts are too high and need to be lowered by about 3/4"

from the side - the side seam pulls to the back.
and now I have those lovely diagonal lines over the butt, again.

the back is just all over too tight and the shape on the hips is still wrong.
That being said, I can move and sit comfortably in this.

Still need to take a swayback wedge out of the back and curve the back seam more.

Arg - this is hard to do by yourself.  I really need to teach JB to help with fitting. 

The Ugly Truth

NL 6095 front holding the hips out.
Drag lines from the bust to the waist.

from the side, you can see what a mess the back is.
Partly because my arm is raised.  Definitely too much fabric at the sides,
but what are those lines over my butt?  And do you see the lines going diagonally over the thighs?
 

back wrinkled mess.  Looks too tight at the bra band - but doesn't feel that way.
Sway back adjustment?  Too much length in the back?

back closer

bust, neckline and shoulders are all actually good.  The dart could be slightly longer,
but there is no pulling across the bust.
Again - I'm seeing diagonal drag lines from the side to the center front.

I had just undone the zip to pull the dress off.
JB told me to stop!  Put your arms back up.
This really shows how exaggerated the hips are.

Good idea of how Elisalex might look on me?