Shitted Feet Dress

I decided to make another dress a few weeks ago, and to try a new pattern. I'd bought New Look 6910 a few months ago. This was my first time making a dress with princess seams instead of darts. I have to admit tht it was much, much easier to fit than a darted bodice.

I used some stiff kind of lineny-cottony stuff that I found in an op shop for a couple of dollars. It's quite sheer, so I lined the whole thing with an old fitted sheet. I posted a progress shot on Facebook and a friend commented, "I love dresses made out of shitted feets!" I laughed for about two days straight and ever since then I've referred to it as the Shitted Feet Dress.

It cost me a lot more than it should have to make because I burned the first invisible zipper....by burned, I mean I pressed it with the iron too hot and melted some of the teeth. That damn zipper cost me $4.95! So I was very careful with the next one. 

Pattern used: New Look 6910

Fabrics and notions 

Lineny stuff

Part of a fitted sheet

Invisible zipper (x2)

Pattern alterations or any design changes

Shaved a bit off the bust curve of the princess seams

Tapered the waist to size 10, which I won't do next time as it is a wee bit big

Lined the skirt

Used an invisible zipper instead of a normal one

Did you use any new skills?  

Princess seams

 

Problems?

Although it was easy fitting the bodice to my front, when I basted in the zipper I discovered I needed to add almost a whole inch to the seam allowance as it was too big. Easily fixed.

The neckline gapes a bit...a lot....I need to remember that this happens on all my dresses and to adjust accordingly. I have a very small chest, as in the part between my bust and collarbone (and my actual bust too, of course).

Derpy derp derp!

 

Oh! And I made the stoopid mistake of not checking that the sewn-in belt matched up at the back before I sewed in the second zipper. Whoops! Another easy fix.

Cost
Pattern: $6

Fabric: I think it was $2. I used pretty much the whole cut.

Lining: Nothing

Zippers: $9.90

Thread: Stash

Total: $17.90

Wearability factor

Good wearability factor. I wore it today to my father-in-law's 80th birthday party, and to a drinks night last week. It goes really well with a nice cardi that someone made for me a while ago.

Conclusion

A very nice, easy pattern that I will definitely be sewing again.

I forgot to mention that the skirt has pleats, which looks really nice.

Sub-$5 outfit!

I finished a new dress a while ago but haven't taken any good photos of it yet, so here are my two latest creations.

On my last trip to Spotlight they had a special on Kwik Sew patterns- they were only $6 each, so I grabbed this sweet little blouse pattern. I was very impressed by the fact that View B only requires 1 metre of fabric. Now I can use up some small cuts of fabric that I seem to have accumulated.

 

It was super easy and came together really well. I graded the waist and hips up to a 10 and kept it as 8 everywhere else.  

I always like to make wearable muslins because I hate wasting time and effort to be left with something unwearable. So I used this sheet that I found in an op shop earlier this year. And you know what? I  ACTUALLY THOUGHT ABOUT PATTERN PLACEMENT. First time ever. I'm rather pleased with the result.

 

Pattern used: Kwik Sew 3668

Fabrics and notions 

An old sheet

6 blue buttons from my stash

Yellow bias tape (for armhole facings)

Thread

Interfacing

Pattern alterations or any design changes

I used store bought bias tape instead of  making my own. As if I was gonna sit there cutting out more fabric and ironing in the creases! Pshaw!!!

Graded the waist and hips to a larger size

Did you use any new skills?  

Pattern placement!

 

Problems?

It only has 6 buttons, and I think it needs 7 or 8. It gapes a bit, and I'm not exactly over-furnished in the bust department. Next time I will leave out the interfacing in the button placket as I think it makes it too stiff and gapey.

 
Cost
Pattern: $6

Fabric: Sheet was $3.95; I used about 1/8 of it. So 50 cents. 
Buttons: From a box that I got for $2. Maybe 2 cents per button.
Thread: Stash
Total: $6.62

Wearability factor

Good! I'm wearing it today with my new skirt. I will make the next one in a bright fabric. Something not from an op shop.

I just love the little collar- it's so cute!

 

Here's the second half of the outfit!

I just decided on the spur of the moment on Monday that I desperately needed a black skirt. I have heaps of black skirts, but they are all very 'worky'. I needed something to wear with  my casual tops. I went to Fabric Frenzy and they had suiting on sale for $4.95/m so I grabbed 4 metres. It's great stuff- very good quality with a lovely drape.

I had this pattern in my stash for a while but hadn't used it.

 

Pattern used: New Look 6872

Fabrics and notions 

Black suiting

Interfacing

Snaps

Pattern alterations or any design changes

The pattern has a side zipper, but I prefer them at the back, so I cut two backs instead of one. I also made the waistband slightly longer so I could have it cross over at the back and fasten with buttons instead of hook and eye.

Did you use any new skills?  

No.

 

Problems?

When I cut out the waistband I thought it was miles too small....but it ended up fitting perfectly! 

I used plastic snaps instead of buttons and the placement is kinda dodgy but I can live with it.

 
Cost
Pattern: $6

Fabric: About $4 worth

Fabric, thread, interfacing, snaps from my stash

$10

Wearability factor

Great! I love it. It swishes really nicely and will look great both at work and running around with the kids.

I will definitely make this again. It only took me about 3 hours from cutting to wearing.