Sunday, July 28, 2013

Big floral print

I know, this is unheard of!  A second post so soon?  And about a sewing project?  All I can say is that Vogue 1250 continues to dole out the instant gratification.

I've complained before about cheap-n-cheerful rayon/lycra knit prints, but continue to get sucked into buying them if the price point and print are cheerful enough.  So I found this one at my Fabricland recently.  I am a total sucker for shades of blue-grey, teal and orange.

Feet shown for scale
If you recall from my discussion of Vogue 1250 when it first came out, two years ago (I made it twice), this dress has only three pattern pieces, and one of them is a tiny strip to face the back neck.  With a print this big, I had a choice:

Put big orange flowers right in the centre of my chest and on my skirt below crotch level (shown at left).

Or have a mainly blue-grey front, with big orange flowers at the side and back.  My very sensible choice to avoid big orange splotches on my front meant I got them on my behind!

The front, on the other hand, is very subdued except for the flower which ended up right at my belly button level!

I like it anyway.

And it goes with my recently completed Featherweight cardigan.

In making this dress, I cursed and swore at my coverstitch machine (which I haven't used enough to get very comfortable with) until discovering what most of you already know - it does so much better if you stick the hem down with Steam-a-seam.  I wonder if I can buy shares in the company that makes it?

Before cutting into my fabric today, I had it in mind to alter the dress so that the cowl was less indecently low.  However, in comparing the pattern to my second version of V1250, I realized that the problem is just that the dress has stretched tremendously in its two years of life.  At right I've lined up the back piece at the shoulder.  The pink line is where the seam should be.  The black line is where the seam on my older dress has sagged to.  I thought that knit was a little better quality, but no.  Sigh.

This knit dress is destined to be fast fashion in every sense of the word.

17 comments:

  1. Love this! It's stylish and the print is perfect in this dress.

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  2. I like your fabric placement! And of course I love the fact that you've once again used the powerhouse Vogue 1250 pattern. Isn't it the pattern that just keeps on giving. Great dress!

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  3. The print looks fabulous with this dress pattern!
    I just bought a coverstitch machine (finally! I've wanted one for *ages* and always talked myself out of it) so I'm going to have to track down where my steam a seam is- I know I have some somewhere, I use it for holding the patches in place on my husband's uniform when I have to sew new ones on.

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  4. Great pattern + great print = great dress!
    I have been longing for a coverstitch machine so I could finally be free of steam a seam! You mean I'd still need to use it?

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  5. Oh goodness, I still haven't make that dress up! This is another lovely version. Great fabric.

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  6. Adorable dress -- and I love your sandals, more please:)

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  7. Lovely dress. Your pattern placement is fine. Enjoy wearing it.

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  8. I really like this dress and your fabric.

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  9. Beautiful dress! I like how subdued the colors are in the front, and then the explosion of orange on the back. It's cool.

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  10. You have inspired me! I went out and bought Vogue 1250 after your last dress post. I think it's a sin that EVERY coverstitch machine owner's manual does not tell you about steam a seam right up front! Also, I think it's cute how that flower landed on your belly button. My little sister has a daisy tattoo right above her belly button, exactly where that flower landed on your dress -- but you can take the dress off whenever you want to, and Janice's daisy will be there forever!

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  11. I like the fabric, too, and I'm a sucker for watching you make cool stuff!

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  12. I have the same coverstitch machine you have. I've had it for about 4 years, and I was excited when you got one so you could tell me how to use it! I know from reading your blog that your journey with this machine hasn't been perfect. Mine certainly hasn't been either.

    I don't use steam a seam. I use silk thread and baste before I sew. I most things I'm coverstitching, I don't want any added bulk or stiffness. The silk thread removes easily even if you sew over it.

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  13. Steam A Seam is an absolute essential! So many who teach sewing with knits use it: Linda Lee, Linda Maynard, the Tiltons. It's now just another notion to use. Sure makes things easier.

    I have been coverstitching for years and just unearthed my seam guide that attaches to the serger. That definitely helps with accuracy too.

    Would a hand wash and a trip through the dryer tighten up the length of the knit dress a bit?

    Great save on the fabric's motif distribution.

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  14. I like your fabric and the placement. Great pattern! I think I've made it 4 times (once floor-length) and I find myself thinking of it every time I look at a nice print knit.

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  15. The thought you put into fabric print placement has paid off -- the dress is lovely! I am afraid of big prints, although I've bought a few. And I have that pattern... I'd better get using it soon! Thanks for sharing yet another successful sewing project!

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  16. That is a BIG print! I like how you placed the fabric.. Beautiful summer dress!

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