Sunday, July 13, 2008

And another Patrones

Pattern Description: Racer-back style top with v-neck, pockets.

Pattern Sizing: Patrones 40-48. I made a 42.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? No, except for the racer-backstyling and the bodice. I left off the pockets (which I liked), and turned the top into a dress.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I don't read Spanish, so I don't know, although they looked pretty brief. It's a simple enough pattern that I didn't need them.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I originally traced this pattern because I liked it as a top, and because I have a racer-back bra that gets very little use. It turned into a dress when I found out I have an occasion next Saturday - office party on my boss' boat down in Maryland - where I need a sundress. This meant I needed a sundress that would be comfortable for a 2 hour car ride, so that left out some of my more fitted dresses. I decided to give this one a try as a dress, and I like the result. When I cleaned out my closet this year I got rid of most of my older, shlumpier sundresses (you know, the kind that are comfortable and airy but look like crap), and this has the comfort of one of those without the shlumpiness (shlumpyness?). Whatever, it's comfy and the straps stay put.

Fabric Used: White, pink and orange cotton lycra cafe print from Emmaonesock (at least 2 years old), pink and black cotton broadcloth from deep stash.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: Well, I changed the top to a dress, for starters. The bottom part of the top is supposed to be cut on the bias, which makes sense in their recommended cotton voile, but (a) I didn't have enough fabric for that, and (b) it was a directional print that would just look silly going diagonally. I left off the really cute gathered pockets because I thought it was just too much for the dress, and I put in side pockets.
I really, really wanted to use that EOS cafe print for the entire dress, but the reason I haven't used it in all its stashdom is because I really don't like pink near my face - my skin tone is just wrong for that kind of hot pink. So I scrounged through the stash and came up with some solid black cotton. I decided that the black needed some color relief, and I had some hot pink cotton left from an old project and I put together the bodice muslin out of the pink. It fit well enough, so I cut out a black bodice and ended up sewing the two together, so that I had a pink-lined black bodice with topstitching. I also stitched the darts in pink thread just to bring the whole thing together.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I might make it again as a top - after all, that was my original intention, and that way I could use the pockets - but not another dress. As a dress, I think it's a little too recognizable to make more than once.

Conclusion: Spreading the gospel of Patrones far and wide, this is another cute, relatively quick project that didn't need any Spanish on my part for it to turn out okay.

6 comments:

laura said...

I love summer dresses and I'm really lucky because my office is very casual and I can wear them to work too. Being near or on the water is so relaxing and fun. You're going to have such a good time on your boss's boat and won't you look spiffy!

Tany said...

Outstanding! I love everything about this dress! Again, fabulous job!

Kat said...

Gosh I LOVE it!!! What a pretty summer dress!

Cennetta said...

Cute dress. Perfect for boating. Girl, you are cranking out like hotcakes off the griddle. lol

BCN - UNIQUE designer patterns said...

Karen.- I note that you are a big fan patterns. These dresses are very beautiful, and you looks fantastic, really. congratulations. Greetings from Barcelona, Paco

Rose said...

You made another Patrones pattern that I love. Wow! You do sew quality garments rapidly!! Where do you buy the Patrones magazine? I've done an internet search - only thing I could find was a very expensive 12 issue subscription.
Rose