The Sewing Place
The Emporia => In the wardrobe => Topic started by: Vezelay on March 09, 2020, 15:28:34 PM
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I don't wear dresses but decided to make one anyway for a family wedding in York In ten days time
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It's McCalls 6886 (https://sewing.patternreview.com/Patterns/63492) which I've made variations of a few times and is dead quick and easy. Its a 12 top half then a 10 from armpits down. Looking at this picture, next time I'll make a straight 10 and just lower the armscye a bit. But this one will do.
The fabric is very busy so right out of my comfort zone but hey it's a wedding. And I will make a smart top out of it afterwards.
The neckline, hem and sleeves are just tacked so those are what I'd like your views on please.
Does the hem look about the right length? I'd have to wear it with tights this time of year and I'll look for a slightly smarter pair of bunion-comfortable shoes (not heels though).
Ditto the sleeves? I know 3/4 looks nice but they always feel odd on me. And it's March!
What about the neckline? Thats my main quandary. It could go lower but should I? At the moment it's the higher one turned over twice (5/8" as intended). If I went lower I'd do a band or binding.
This is one with the lower neckline which I'd raise a bit.
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Thanks folks.
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It looks lovely, I think you've got the neck, long sleeves and hem length just right. :) And I don't think the fabric is at all busy, as there's so much background colour there.
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What a lovely dress @Vezelay . Like Bodgie says I wouldn't change anything. Looks great on you. :D
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@Vezelay I think your dress is lovely. Its such a nice fresh fabric. I know you say its out of your comfort zone but I think it looks fab.
I think you could go a tad shorter in the hem length but before you commit I would try sitting down in the dress to check you are not showing too much leg (unless you want to, of course ;))
The neckline looks fine to me.
As for the arms you are right to think its still only March but most of the wedding venues in York are well heated but some of the churches are not so cosy!
I bet you get so many compliments you decide to keep it as a dress. We all need one smart dress in our lives.
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Hi Vezelay, like the dress as it is, the length is good, the shoulders and armholes look good, and as for the sleeve length I will say go for whatever you are most comfortable with. The neckline is fine, but what I will say if you are going to alter this after the wedding, make the neckline how you are going to feel most comfortable in.
By the way I love the fabric.
Here we are racing towards the middle of March and some days are just lovely, sunny and bright and a bit warmer then crash back to the dreary grey and like today it is cold and trying to rain. So bearing all of this in mind, I am going to say finish the dress for the wedding, and also have something else you can wrap around yourself to give you that added bit of warmth as some wedding venues can be a bit big and chilly. You do not want to make the dress too tight that you will be uncomfortable with, you need to be comfortable both standing and sitting and of cpurse enjoy the lovely Wedding Breakfast - go and enjoy yourself, and you never know you might just decide to leave the dress as it is -always nice to have something in the wardrobe for any occasion.
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Looks perfect to me. :D
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Love the fabric. The colour suits you. The shoulders fit nicely. I think the neckline is fine, unless you would be more comfortable with it lower. Will you want to wear a necklace with it? If so, I would do the neckline to suit where the necklace will sit. I think the length is good. If you are happier with long sleeves, then that's what they should be. Will you be wearing a jacket with it? In which case, plain blue.
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I like it as it is, but if you lower the neck slightly, it would be a bit dressier, although I would not do that without a jacket on top. It is, as you say, March!
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Honest opinion it looks lovely to me.
If you hadn't mentioned the neckline I wouldn't have said there was anything wrong with it but now I have scrutinized it I think it could go marginally lower
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Looks great and I wouldn't change anything on it.
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Yes, it looks good on you. Sleeve and hem length look right and if you are comfortable with the neckline that's fine too. For this time of year I wouldn't make it any lower.
I know you think the fabric is busy, but from what I can see in the photo it's only two colours; that's fairly restrained. I think it will look lovely with a splash of red somewhere perhaps a necklace or scarf. Also it's a wedding so please wear a hat.
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It looks great as it is, maybe 3/4 length sleeves if you wear a jacket. The fabric is lovely.
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I think it looks perfect as it is. But! for a dressy dress I would show a little more flesh somewhere, probably at the neckline then you could wear a nice necklace with it.
But, if you are happy with it as it is leave it as it is.
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You look wonderful, that dress is perfect
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I like your dress and don't think the fabric is 'busy'. On the contrary, the white print on the blue background looks calm and elegant.
Everyone has their own idea about the ideal dress length and neckline depth, you can decide what you are comfortable with. There's nothing worse than spending the whole day pulling at your dress because you feel it's a bit too short or being uncomfortable with showing more than you want to at the neckline. Just be sure that any necklace you want to wear sits well with the neckline.
I have that McCall's pattern too and it's a favourite, very versatile.
Wear your dress with pride!
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I think that sleeves are fine and can be whatever length you're comfortable with. I do think the hem needs to be raised to fall just on or slightly above the knee. Lovely fabric.
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It fits well, you've done a great job. I'd raise the hem a smidge to sit mid-knee, and I'd lower the neckline to accommodate a chunky necklace. A simple collarless jacket in the blue would be good, with a nipped in waist. But it suits you & if you're comfortable in it then wear it proudly without alteration :)
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I am going to agree with everyone else, that a slightly lower neckline to feature a nice necklace, would be a good option. I would consider a narrow belt to match your shoes, and yes a tiny bit shorter at the hem. But, you need to do what you feel is best for you.
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You look lovely and elegant in it.
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If you were to wear a belt, it would shorten it anyway.
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Thank you dear folks for all the feedback, I'm weighing up all suggestions and may try photoing myself with a slightly higher hemline, also with a belt. I'm debating lowering the neckline a cm or two as well, or reshaping it a bit more boat-like.
Ironically After watching the news tonight our plans may change and we may not go over after all. You can probably guess why - the Coronavirus situation is clearly escalating rapidly and the last thing we want is to be quarantined away from home and in another country. There will be airports, plane journeys and large gatherings and we are both risk averse but keen to see our respective families. We said we'd decide by Thursday.
But I'll finish the dress this week anyway and, if necessary, it can keep for the next "big occasion". :)
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I think your dress is lovely @Vezelay, and it really suits you. It's one of those that you can really dress up or down, so very useful to have in your wardrobe.
Look forward to seeing the finished version.
Jessie
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I like long sleeves and think the hemline is fine, but agree with others on modifying the neckline.
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I tend to make all dressing decisions on a first glance, it usually tells me everything, which sometimes I don't want to know.
Flipping fabulous @Vezelay, in fact second glance I was scanning to see what the pattern was. Yes I did register the higher neck that I would normally not have but didn't put me off or the longer length than I would not have. However, I strongly suspect that you are taller and slimmer than me, but that didn't put me off either. I'd dazzle with my smile.
Another woman would spend a lot of money on that, along with a nice label, which is probably what she was paying for.
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I also think your dress looks lovely @Vezelay but would lower the neckline slightly. It would look really special with a pashmina in pale grey or pale pink, - is that the colour of the flowers?
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Lovely! Perfect!
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Things have moved so fast. Three days ago we told the bride that sadly we couldn't risk the trip. Today we heard the reception has been postponed until it's safe again. The bride's mother (DHs cousin) today flew back from holiday in Spain. She will have to self isolate and miss her daughter's wedding!
My dress is unfinished as we've been preoccupied with a very sick cat whos been in vet hospital all week and not out of the woods yet :(
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@Vezelay that's a shame, what a disappointment for the bride's mum. Sorry to hear about your cat. On the bright side, in isolation you'll have time to tweak the dress :)
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Hoping your cat is soon better. :meow:
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Sad to say our lovely Alfie is no more. Yesterday he was waiting for us to arrive at the Vet's to say goodbye, then went quickly without any vet intervention. He was completely adorable, very affectionate, full of fun and mischief and very fluffy indeed. We are so fortunate to have had his companionship for eight years - he will most definitely be missed. :'(
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Oh @Vezelay I'm so sorry for your loss. It's heartbreaking when they leave us. :'(
RIP Alfie <3
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So sorry @Vezelay .
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So sorry to hear that @Vezelay they leave a big hole when they are gone.
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@Vezelay , what can I say...
It's so heartbreaking when they go.
Jessie
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Oh @Vezelay I'm so sorry to hear your news. I've been through that and it's heartbreaking. :hug:
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@Vezelay so sorry for your loss, at least you got to say goodbye.
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Thanks so much for all your sympathy. Alfie will be immortalised in my TSP avatar :). That (and this) is him in his pretty-boy hay day before he lost one eye in a fight. He loved a good scrap!
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So sorry to hear about poor Alfie @Vezelay :( may he rest in peace.
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That’s heartbreaking, especially that he waited for you to say goodbye. :'( So sorry, @Vezelay
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Oh my goodness, what a beautiful cat. Is your avatar a painting? I never realised.
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@Ploshkin yes, it's a canvas I did in oils four years ago. I'm pleased with it though it doesn't really do him justice. More than one friend enquired if he posed for it :D - it was hard enough persuading him to stay still for the photo!
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Wow @Vezelay you have many talents, what a lovely piece of art to have in Alfie's memory :)
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Oh @Vezelay - I'm so sorry to hear of Alfie's passing. You must miss him so much. It's really, really hard when they leave us. You'll have happy memories of him, but I send big virtual hugs and I feel your pain. <3
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So sorry @Vezelay to hear your handsome Alfie has passed away, our pets are so dear to us.
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@Vezelay, I am so sad to read your news. Alfie was a beauty.
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My sincere sympathy, @Vezelay. Your cat was very beautiful
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So sorry @Vezelay . He was a lovely cat. :hug:
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Sad to say our lovely Alfie is no more. Yesterday he was waiting for us to arrive at the Vet's to say goodbye, then went quickly without any vet intervention. He was completely adorable, very affectionate, full of fun and mischief and very fluffy indeed. We are so fortunate to have had his companionship for eight years - he will most definitely be missed. :'(
I am so sorry! He is adorable!
((((Hugs)))))
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Oh my lovely , I am so sorry to hear about your lovely cat...it is so hard when they die, my heart goes out to you. :hug: :hug: :hug:
Lisa x