Summer of Dresses - Simplicity 2444

7.01.2013

I hope everyone is still enjoying themselves on the route for the "Summer Dress Parade". If you're running low on libations be sure to alert my Hugh Jackman robot and he will see that you get something refreshing. A bucket shower a la "Australia" perhaps.  (Honestly the only good thing about that movie and I watched the whole damn thing)
Today is a special theme day - Dresses with matching cakes.  I know it's gonna be one of your favorites.
The next dress in our parade is a lovey rose ensemble with matching pink rose cake.  (Tutorial for this icing technique here) You'll have to believe me that the cake is chocolate inside because our photographer had one too many drinks and missed getting that shot.  I'd fire her if she wasn't myself.  She/I did get a couple of full length shots so you can see my cute new and crazy uncomfortable shoes. I will sacrifice the balls of my feet for fashion

Pattern
Simplicity 2444 which seems to be popping up all over the internets now that I've noticed it.  Personally I feel like Simplicity did themselves no favors with their choice of sample garments for the envelope.  Both of these dresses make me throw up in my mouth a little.  Where as every version I've seen on blogs has been Amazing. Obviously Simplicity just needs to hire me to make up there sample garments because my fabric stash rocks.

Fabrics used
Stretch cotton sateen from Gertie's etsy shop.  It was a roll end that I greedily snatched up before she posted about the shop update.  Emmaonesock.com has honed my lurking skills well. I'm a sucker for bold flora prints and this one has roses as big as my head!  How could I say no?
Previous to this month I would have said that my stash busting was going well and not too many new items had been added to the stash.  Then Gertie decided to open a fabric store and I got a bad case of "All The Fabric," get into my card you giant rose prints! She's been stocking excellent stuff so you should check it out.  Just don't snap up the last of something I want cause then I might have to cut you a little.  *Swings icing covered cake knife menacingly*

Pattern changes/alterations 
This pattern only needed a little tinkering on the bodice and I was able to get away with only one muslin. Score.  I did find it odd that the shoulders were much wider on this dress than on any of the other Project Runway design I've made. You'd think they all come from the same block, maybe the pattern drafting fairies were a bit drunk that night. Anywho, here's a snappy list of the changes made.

1. Forward shoulder adjustment of a 1/2" on both the bodice and the sleeve.
2. Took in shoulder 1/2".
3. Reduced sleeve cap height 1/4".
4. Increased back dart intake by 1/4".
5. Shaved a 1/2" off the back skirt side seam due to the increased dart intake.

Confessions/Advice
1. I have some gaping at the neckline with was something that didn't seem to happen in the muslin.  It could be the fault of the stretch in the cotton or something that just wouldn't show up until you have a zipper in.   I'm debating about fiddling with the shoulder seams/armholes to reduce the problem.

2.  I always seem to have too much width in the back once putting in a zipper so the seam allowance in that around is 1".

3.  I found both the directions and the line drawings to be no help in figuring out how the center pleat is configured. They led me to believe that both pleats should be brought into the CF seam, but then the skirt was too big for the bodice.  The notches helped me puzzle out that the pleats criss-cross/stack over top the seam. That is what notches are supposed to do so they get their own piece of cake.

Husband Comment
"Did you make more cake? Awesome!  Oh that dress is nice too." I imagine his POV shot was something like this. Maybe the opening to "Living in Stereo" was playing in the background.

My Final Thoughts
A couple years ago I would have thought this dress/fabric was way too girlie for me.  Now I'm like, "Big fluffy dress weeeeeeee!!!! I wanna wear it every day!" And eat cake every day, but that's kind of a given.  "Oh cake, you are such a tease." Nom, Nom, Nom.

31 comments:

  1. You look great in this dress - I love this patter... and cake... tempting ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, it really is a lovely pattern and I have Margo to thank for bringing it to my attention.

      Delete
  2. You are too cute, Heather!! I'm loving all these pics abd the alterations, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lelia! I want to show you all my pics. *wink, wink*

      Delete
  3. Every woman needs at least one overly-girly dress! Love the big bold print! Great dress!

    And dang it, now I want cake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Brooke! I think you're right about all of us needing at least one girly dress. I want cake too cause it's all gone.

      Delete
  4. I need to have another go at this pattern, because your's is great!
    Like Brooke, I now want cake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Laura, have another go at the pattern. The skirt isn't as fluffy as you might think, probably cause of the pleats.

      Delete
  5. I L-O-V-E this dress! Beautiful!!I am also passionate about this pattern...and I agree that the dresses on the envelope are ICK! BTW..when I make this pattern, I ommit the front seam and cut it on the fold(removing the seam allowance) I bring the pleats into the CF and then it seems to fit the bodice fine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Margo! You're the reason I decided to try this pattern cause I loved all of your Me-Made-May versions.

      Delete
  6. Yummy! Both the cke and the dress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I wish the cake had lasted longer but then I might not fit into my dress. :)

      Delete
  7. Can you hear me squealing from Upper Bucks???? I love the print - awesome gigantic roses, I love the dress - girly is a good thing, I love the cake -you made and frosted that?!! I just got my first order from Gertie's shop the other day (Hot Pink Rose stretch twill) and I agree her fabric is gorgeous (and she hand writes thank you and a little heart on her invoice). I can't wait to see what's next in the parade!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Shar, I think that I do hear you, Squeeeeee!!!!! I've been eying that Hot Pink Rose stretch twill too. So pretty. I'm sure you'll make something stunning with it.

      Delete
  8. You look pretty fabulous. So does that cake! I love that you are making matching cakes to your dresses.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! When two hobbies collide we get dress matching cakes!

      Delete
  9. i love the dress (and the cake)! it's really flattering how the neckline frames your collarbone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sweary, I thought that the neckline might need to be cut down but no, it looks great as drafted. How about that.

      Delete
  10. Caaaaaaaaake! I love that it matches your outfit!

    And I've noticed that with the Project Runway patterns--the fabric choices on the envelope tend to not appeal to me, but I've generally been happy with the finished products, and I do think they're among the more interesting of the Big 4 patterns.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Becky. I agree about the Project Runway line being pretty interesting as far as Big 4 goes. I probably sew from that line the most.

      Delete
  11. Hear, hear! I mocked this pattern every time I saw the envelope and then a bunch of rad version popped up on the internet and now I am hooked (to the extent I accidentally purchased it twice). I say with your rad florals you need to be making their samples!
    This is a ridiculously cute make!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Amanda, :) It's like Simplicity was trying to make unattractive dresses. All they had to do was get an bold print and make the simple version up. We all would have been drooling! Good thing there's the internet to right these wrongs.

      Delete
  12. Your dress is just beautiful! I have heard good things about the Simplicity Project Runway patterns, I have a few but have not sewn any of them up yet GREAT fabric, as well. How do you like sewing with the stretch woven? Do you like it better than a cotton woven without stretch? And, how was the cake? Looks fabulous!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Catja. I usually find a stretch woven to behave very similar to a regular woven. Though I did notice that I got a lot of accidental puckers when setting my sleeves. Maybe the fabric was stretching a bit on the feed dogs and then fold over an getting stitched. It snapped back into shape when I unpicked the area so it was more of an annoyance than fabric crisis. The cake is my yummy chocolate stand by as long as I don't want to make too many layers. It's delicious but delicate. Brought it to my nieces B-day party and it was almost gone by the end. :)

      Delete
  13. love it! i have this pattern and fabric ready to go but crappy weather has dampened bmy enthusiasm for dresses. supposed to be better next week so maybe i'll get onto it then. fabric has big blue tulips so not expecting matching cake!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohhh big blue tulips, that sounds divine! I feel like this pattern mocked up pretty fast so maybe you can get one done in time for some good weather.

      Delete
  14. Awesome dress. Awesome cake. That icing is amaze-ing!! I'm feeling like this dress matching to cake theme is a winner. And how fabulous are Gertie's fabrics? I'm eyeing off a certain double sided voile as I type...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Gerties fabrics are the bomb. God help me because I can't seem to stop ordering.

      Delete
  15. Your version of that dress is spectacular! The matching cake is amazing too :) I also made that dress and had the same problem with the neckline. Next time, I think I'll add a bit of stabilizer there and see what happens.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Awesome hun looking forward to your posts :) Red Carpet Dresses 2013

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love the LunaDress for new season.

    ReplyDelete

Proudly designed by Mlekoshi pixel perfect web designs