Simplicity 8246: the return!

 Over the Bank Holiday weekend I finally got round to finishing my second attempt at Simplicity 8246, a reprinted 1960s pattern. And this time I'm happy enough with it to wear it to work!

It's not perfect, but looking at it and what I've done, I've made a big leap forward since making my first version. (Post here.) I made that one in the correct bust size, but there was far too much fabric above the armholes and across the front of the neck. For this version I cut a smaller size and did a full bust adjustment (FBA) – if you're not a dressmaker, that basically means hacking apart the pattern and spreading it to add extra fullness lower down. When I'd got it all together I decided the shoulders were still too wide, and unpicked the arm facings to trim them back, then restitched.

So, what bits aren't spot on? There's still a little extra fabric above the bust, but going down another size would've meant an even bigger FBA, which would have been tricky. Even with the adjustment I did make, I could possibly have done with an extra half-inch in the actual bust. There's the teeniest irregularity below where I put the zip in. However, those are nitpicky things, and when I buy stuff from the high street I get the 'extra fabric' problem even worst with high-necked tops, and high street tops also have gaping armholes. Can you see my bra? No, you cannot. That alone makes this a success!

I'm not going to make another one of these straight away as my next make will be a Colette Sorbetto in rocket-print Liberty Tana Lawn. But now I've got the pattern pretty much the way I want it, I will make others, and I'm seriously considering having a go at the shift dress version – as I'm cylindrical I don't have to worry about bringing the FBA in again at the waist, I can just attach the top to a larger bottom. Looks like there are advantages to being apple-shaped after all...

Other lessons learned: if taking photos in the living room in the morning, face the window otherwise all the light hits your back, and turn the light off as the filigree lampshade makes really weird light patterns on your face.

Comments

  1. Wow that's so amazing that you made that - I have absolutely no talent when it comes to things like this and am always in awe that people are actually more functioning than me haha. Also the light isn't shining too weird a pattern on your face haha!

    Amy x Wandering Everywhere

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    1. I'm pretty bad at it right now, but with practice I'll get there - that's all it takes, mostly, practice :-)

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  2. I found your blog via Vintage Gal. Your blog inspires me to learn to sew something other than an apron or a placemat.

    I guess I need to learn to get out of my comfort zone when it comes to sewing.

    Thank you for inspiring me.

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    1. I did find it hard at first - unlike knitting, which I can rip back if anything goes wrong, with sewing once fabric's cut it's cut, and I was worried that learning would involve a lot of expensive, unsatisfactory makes. But actually it does seem to fall into place pretty quickly, so go for it!

      Cate is so massively talented, she really inspires me. But I think I'd need to sew for a decade before I could tackle anything like she makes. Simple 60s styles are about my level.

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  3. Good to read you're making progress with the sewing. I have yet to come to grips with my Mum's machine ... Taking photos inside is always tricky! xxx

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    1. I need to buck up my photography again; it's been rubbish lately.

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  4. Well done, that's a great top and perfect under (or out of) your jacket!
    I haven't made anything in ages, the repair pile took priority this week as we've only got a day when we're back before our next fair. I'm desperate for some creative mini making/sewing time. xxx

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    1. There's something so relaxing about sewing time, isn't there? I think it's the fact you have to be completely in the moment; nothing can be hurried or done out of order, and there's no way to multitask. (I knit watching telly.)

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  5. Thank you for saying you're cylindrical... I definitely have something similar going on (always had a waist/hip ratio of about 1, both when I was a 90# teenager and now as a 150# almost-40'er) and am trying to wrap my head around FBA now that the weight adds up to a DD/DDD cup. I feel a little less alone now! :-D

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