This dress should actually be called “The Comedy of Errors” dress. The amount of mistakes I made while making it is pretty laughable if I hadn’t been so close to tears! I lost count at the amount of time I recut and redid the collar. I lost count of the amount of times I redid the placket. Had I initially realized the placket was measuring too narrow, all issues could have been averted. Well, not all issues…
I am pretty happy that my improved FBA worked out a treat. There was no excess fabric around the bust, unlike last time.. But, remember all that redoing I had to do? Well, ends up I stretched out the top right side of my fabric. An error I hadn’t realized until I put the dress on. If I knew of it in advance I would have opted to change the dress into a V-necked one. Oh well. I cannot bear to bring a seam ripper to my dress again. Not again. So I am left with a wonky collar that looks awkward snapped into place. Because the mandarin collar doesn’t suit me after all, wearing it open works for me. The mistake is hardly noticeable to me.
You might confuse that face below for smugness. But oh no! It’s one of a survivor. After all the sewing issues, I didn’t toss the dress into a fire, as much as I thought I’d like to. I kept at it. Even when I almost destroyed the fabric! What? Yes! More bad luck! When I finished sewing the dress and I decided to press it. I used some ironing spray and saw blotches spring up. The spray worked earlier so I was a bit confused. I’m guessing my iron had gunked up and I was basically ironing the gunk on. Oy.
I calmly washed the blotches in some baby shampoo and hoped for the best. The section is a bit discolored but you can barely tell. Overall, I’m happy that I finished the dress. The fabric has a wonderful drape that makes wearing it comfortable and fun. Now I want to make silk everything! But before I get ahead of myself I have to sew the remaining two Alders as soon as possible.
Before my brain turns to mush again.
Pincushion Treats 
Way to persevere! It looks beautiful.
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Thank you! How are you? Are still making those lovely purses?
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doing really good, thanks for asking. I suppose I should blog a bag one of these days… I’ve been spending all my time with leather and haven’t made clothes for days. Hopefully after Christmas I can take a guilt-free break and sew some clothes for myself 😀
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Oh i’d love to see your leatherwork. I’ve bought some and im too scared to cut into it. I need inspiration!
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Sometimes when 1 thing goes bad, everything goes bad! But your dress looks great!
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That is so true! Thank you!
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I honestly cannot find the bit that has been washed, so no fear of that being noticeable to anyone else. Likewise the collar. All in all it sounds like this dress is a phoenix, and a good looking one to boot. Well done you for persevering! Rachel ☺
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Thank you! Sometimes I’m like a dog with a bone. I can’t let things go 🙂 Works out sometimes. Hope you are well, Rachel!
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Melissa you deserve something a little more stiff than that coffee after all that! I’m so amazed you didn’t chuck it all in, but you have such a beautiful dress to come out of it 🙂
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If I run into a sewing wall like that one I will definitely add some Bailey’s into my coffee. I will need it. That dress was a test of the nerves.
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Beautiful dress! Kudos to you for persevering after all that — I very likely would have chocked the whole thing. Or put it on indefinite sabbatical 😊 It must feel so great to finally wear that gorgeous silk!
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Thank you! I really considered it putting it in the bin. At the very least putting it away where I wouldn’t see it in the sewing room. But I became obsessed with finishing it. Good thing. It’s totally imperfect but I love it.
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Isn’t it strange how some projects are so smooth and others are disastrous? I’m sorry you had such a challenge but the outcome is a really fun dress. The fabric, style and black buttons are perfect and it looks to me like you can make this a summery or winter dress. Um, I also notice a lovely lemon tree behind you…perhaps a lemony treat is in order?!
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Thank you! I think it will be fun to wear whenever, wherever. A lemony treat sounds perfect right about now. A lemon custard, maybe…Hmmm 🙂
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This dress is so worth all the effort just to save that gorgeous fabric! It looks wonderful on you and so well sewn. I love the snaps too! I’ve just finished an Alder as well and had real problems with the placket, I’m not sure sure what went wrong but it was made all the more complicated by the fact that I was trying to match a plaid across the front! I think mine was turning out too skinny too, what did you do to make yours work?
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This is going to sound silly but…I followed the directions. I liked the placket of another pattern and was doing it that way rather than how Jen says to do it. Silly, I know, but that’s what I did. I finally did what I was told to do.
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Oh! I also made sure the plackets measured an inch after they were done.
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It looks great from here – gorgeous colours that really suit you 🙂
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Thank you. I’m very glad the bits that are a bit awkward are hard to see unless you really inspect the dress. I might skip wearing it to a sewing meetup 🙂 !
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I hate when things like that happen – seems like one mistake always turns into ten for me. Good on you for persevering as it is a very lovely dress and it looks gorgeous on you! I love how you layered it up in the first picture too – great for the cooler temps!
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The snowballing of mistakes SUCKS. But it’s all behind me…until it happens again. Because it will 🙂 Ha!
I’m so happy it works layered up. I much prefer wearing layers. I feel more secure and cozy.
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Me too! Layers equal security! 🙂
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Funny that such an effortless-looking garment wreaked such havoc! It’s awesome 🙂
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It looks effortless? Hallelujah! Thank you!
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It turned out lovely, that fabric is just gorgeous on you!
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Thank you! I am really glad I managed to make it work. It took walking away from it a lot. Something I just have to do these days when I hit the roadblocks.
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Mela, this sounds like a true comedy or errors but what an amazing end result! I kinda want to ninja this away from you- it is so RAD!
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Thank you very much. I was a total spazz when making it but it survived me! Yay!
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It’s so pretty! I love it with the boots, and I love that you’ll still be able to wear it with sandals or clogs in warmer weather!
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Thank you! It really is the perfect California, year-around dress. I’m tempted to wear it with thermal leggings in Seattle’s rainy cold winter.
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I love this! It looks great and you can’t see any of the problems you described! I’m glad you powered through- this really is nice. I bet you’ll be getting covert looks from all the ladies you pass when you’re out and about… they’ll all be wondering where you bought your great dress!
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Thank you. It really feels like the most RTW garment I’ve ever made, in a good. Not the bad construction way. I think this bad boy will survive a few washings!
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I LOVE that fabric! And I totally don’t think people will notice the collar. Really great dress!
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Thank you! If anyone notices they may be looking way too hard 🙂
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Well it ended up lovely so good on you for making it through:)
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Thank you. It’s so nice to have that dress off my sewing table and in the closet.
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That is some seriously cool fabric. You had to perservere! Well done. It looks fantastic with the boots and cardigan, too.
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Thank you! The fabric was an impulse purchase and it ended up being a great one. Phew. But I do wonder if it made for bad sewing juju…ha!
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It turned out great! I love your fabric choice, it is beautiful. Well done!!!!
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I would never had known that you had such sewing challenges with this dress. It looks great and the fabric is fab! Congrats on persevering and finishing it!
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So cute!!!
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Awesome dress! Just saw it again on Idle Fancy. Perfect colours. Great shape.
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Thank you! It’s really really nice to wear. Now all I want are drapey shirt dresses 🙂
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