Fortnightly Stitches; Chapter One

In which Gypsy goes to work

I haven't forgotten my jar pledge... oh no. Karen gave me a real fright pulling out three names earlier this month, but I have stuck to my 'garment a fortnight' goal. YAY ME! Maybe I ought to not get so cocky though, this was the first fortnights project and I'm only posting in MID FEBRUARY.

But LOOK!

A chevron! Two chevrons! Pleats! A fishtail! Co-ordinating fabrics!

Oh, I am so pleased with this dress. I took a long, easy day of sewing to construct it, and pressed constantly. I think I did a rather good job, if I may say so. This is my third use of the pattern, New Look 6912, and all of these dresses are for work. It is, with the exception of the one-shoulder bodice, a very good office wear pattern.

I was reasonably fresh with the pattern as I had just replaced the bodice on my white and brown version, as seen in my first week of Dressember, on Monday 3rd. The bodice is a funny thing, and taught me to make notes on my patterns to keep lessons in mind for the future.

The first time when making my brown and white version 2 years ago, I noticed that the neckline was very high (as evidenced in this garment) and so I lowered it, perhaps just a bit too much. Then, when I replaced the original, now off-white bodice just recently, I kind of lowered it, but only to the bodice, and forgot to lengthen the yoke as well. Ooops. This time, I left it as is, and I quite like it on this version. It's good to keep the dresses a little different, no?

The fabric was all from my stash, I had just forgotten about them - The skirt fabric is a suiting of mysterious parentage, bought from Global Fabrics on sale for $8 a metre, if memory serves me right. The bodice fabric is a very crisp cotton, completely unsuited to what I originally had in mind, and so it was left alone until a new use came along. I had 2 metres and this bodice used less than I anticipated, what with it being cut on the bias and all. Both fabrics were super easy to deal with, and thankfully only the bodice will need loads of pressing.

The project came together very easily, and I guess-graded from a 10 in the bust to a 14 in the hips to get the right fit straight away.  Seeing as this was my third time lucky I decided to have a play with the skirt - so, I cut the midriff pieces on the bias and made a chevron, alongside painstaking stripe matching.

And then, rather than a kick pleat, I cut out that portion and left it open. The fishtail is a semi-circle, the rounded edge finished with bias binding, and each half of the radius stitched down one of the skirt back pieces. I really like the effect... see? I can swish my tail!

Taken by Mel at the January bloggers meet  - thanks Mel!

I must say, this is a very dramatic work dress. But it is, in my mind, very chic, and demands attention, which will be good for meetings with my annoying organising committees.

Have you ever sewn a New Look 'Design your Look' pattern? Or are you a bit more adventurous and just frankenpattern projects without regard to such silly things as the brand of pattern?