I'm sure you'll all agree with me that spending a quarter of your feel time searching the internet for new sewing patterns is perfectly normal. Just something we seamstress's do to relax and is in no way tied to us being pattern addicts. Thrill of the hunt? Nonsense! I just need to use up all that fabric I have in the bedroom. Anyway, now that we've got that out of the way let me tell you my tale of the pattern that almost got away.
One day I was checking my ebay saved search results for Hollywood patterns. (A perfectly normal thing to do and not something an addict might set up to get their daily hit of vintage.) I was delighted to see a new to me design in Hollywood 1411.
Did some pattern drafter of long ago design this exactly for me? They combined all of my favorite things, shirt dresses, scalloped necklines, and pockets. Oh My! This pattern had to BE MINE! So I bid on that puppy and happily planned what fabrics and buttons to use.
Then something happened....I just don't remember what. Near the end of auction I should have been monitoring the bids like
an addict a serious seamstress making sure to close the deal. Guess I had to parent or maybe sleep? Curse you real life for interfering with my sewing acquisitions! Anyway someone else won the pattern with a modest bid and I was
weeping into my pillow kind of bummed.
A month later I was still
simmering with suppressed anger sad about loosing out on this pattern and decided to do a pattern number search for it on both Ebay and Etsy. Because I'm not in anyway an addict, I just had the fabric ready to go! Sadly, but not unexpectedly the searches did not return any results for my lost lovely. With a heavy sigh I thought, "Well might as well browse Etsy while I'm here. I'll just put in a general Hollywood patterns search." And yes my friends while I just browsing pages on Etsy this pattern appeared like a mirage in the desert. I blinked in disbelief for about 10 seconds and then pounced on that pattern like a lion upon a gazelle. Sure that sounds like the phrasing of a pattern addict but.....I'm fine, totally fine. I may have huffed the pattern when it arrived in my mailbox but that's not out of the ordinary behavior for anyone. Right.. Right? OK I might have a problem but I can stop when ever I want. (Pay no attention to the open ebay tabs currently on my computer.)
Well my pattern hoarding tendencies paid off in this case because this dress is everything I'd hoped it would be. How could a shirt dress with scallop details and pockets not be?
Pattern
Hollywood 1411
Fabrics used
Dress weight floral cotton from Emmaonesock.com. (Think we have this in stock still)
Pattern changes/alterations
1. Graded up the pattern from a size 34 bust. I was able to do the cheater way of adding more ease to the side seams on most of the pattern pieces. The front skirt was graded in the proper manner because of the scalloped pocket openings.
2. Standard .5" forward shoulder adjustment.
3. Standard dropping of bust dart about 1.5". The waist tucks were also shortened an 1".
4. Had a little extra fabric floating around in the shoulder area so I pinched it out by making a .25" fold in the shoulder.
Confessions/Advice
Advice - I've noticed that a few of my 40's patterns like to do this thing where the belt has either a curved or pointed edge that sticks out. Annoyed by this I finally sewed a little snap to the back side to keep the belt in place.
Confessions - Usually I'm pretty good about remembering to put interfacing on cut on facings. For some reason it slipped my mind until finishing up most of the sewing. I decided to to skip the interfacing all together but it did make sewing buttonholes a complete nightmare.
Otherwise I had one of those really enjoyable sewing experiences that kind of ruin you for other projects. All I can think of is making the bodice with the set in sleeves for Fall. If I had any suitable fabric for it in that stash I'd be sewing that right now.
Husband Comment
"Oooo that neckline is really nice!" - This one met with approval from both male parties in the house
My Final Thoughts
100% sure I'll be sewing this pattern again and not just the alternate view. The neckline depth is perfect, keeping you cool while not flashing too much cleavage. There's plenty of room for a full range of movement with the kimono sleeves and the A-line skirt. This one is already in the section of the closest that gets worn every week. I could definitely do with another!
P.S. - I may enjoy accessorizing but something the weather does not cooperate. Curse you hat snatching wind!
