Are you all tired of seeing this part of my house yet? I’ve been looking for a tripod at yard sales this summer, but so far no luck… I’d rather have someplace else to take photos than the least attractive part of the house!
I made a muslin of Vogue 1137, and the fit is much better than I expected.
I made a few alterations before cutting the muslin. I blended out 2 sizes in the waist, which is normal for me in these vintage patterns. I also shortened the skirt by 6 inches – 3 from the skirt, and 3 from the side vents.
I wasn’t sure about the vents, and I’m still not… I’m pretty sure the skirt would be more flattering to me if it were a bit tapered towards the knees, but this is easier to walk in. It isn’t hemmed, so it will be a little shorter, about mid-knee. It was super long originally, and I can’t imagine that being flattering!
Back view. I probably could do an alteration to the shoulders – there’s too much fabric in the middle, which I have fixed before with the upright posture alteration. I’m not sure if I will or not, since it may make it more fitted than I would like. I may also give just a smidge more room in the waist – the belt will make it fitted, and it will be more comfortable to sit in. I’m reluctant though because I think the waist looks great, so I’m not sure. I was considering altering the neckline to make it deeper (it will be deeper than it looks here… I did not pin back the seam allowances.) However, I think I like the vintage look of the higher v-neck, so I’m going to leave it.
Hmm… now to plan the final alterations. I bought a covered belt kit off Etsy, so I’m going to make a self-fabric belt. I’m looking forward to that! I’m going to line with bemberg rayon, and I’ve decide I need to underline in organza as well – I want more body than the fabric has on its own. I hope to get the fabric cut and start underlining by Friday, but we are going out of town to a wedding this weekend, so I’m not sure how much sewing time I will have! I’m waiting on the belt kit, and Joann didn’t have the Bemberg lining I wanted (apparently they only carry three colors now, sigh…) so I have ordered it instead… hopefully it will be here soon!
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
Wow, I didn’t know Jo-Ann sold Bemberg lining, does it still go by that name?
And there was me admiring your house for the lovely colour on the wall and your gorgeous flooring and all the wood. I was getting quite jealous in fact! And then you say it’s the least attractive part of your house? I’m sure your house is really nice, what you let us see definitely is!
The dress is going to be lovely. I do like the higher neckline as well.
You’re really talented. For how long have you been sewing now? All self-taught? I’m good at knitting but sewing is still a mystery to me.
Not tired of it, no, it’s a lovely coloured wall!
Not at all tired of seeing the inside of your house. You have such lovely painted walls!
Your finished garments are so gorgeous that it’s easy to forget how much effort and time you put into fitting. So I’m glad you blog about your fitting process — to remind me that it’s not all magic, and because I learn a lot! BTW, I worked on tissue fitting my Rooibos today!
Thank you so much for your blog!
I really enjoy reading your blog – it is so inspirational to the point that I am now officially in the “seriously thinking about” stage of learning to sew. I especially appreciate that you make a muslin trial of patterns and I am wondering what you do with the muslins after a project.
Oh, I hope you learn to sew – I am loving it! I usually throw away a muslin after a project, which is why I buy cheap muslin with a coupon for $1 a yard. I like to mark all over it so that I remember what to do on the final project! It might be a little wasteful, but I figure it’s far less waste than the number of projects I would give up on without any alterations!
Reading about your adventures in sewing is really making me think seriously about learning to sew (and seeing your beautiful finished garments isn’t making holding out any easier). I am a late adopter… I used to be the knitting hold out in the family and I guess that I have been a sewing hold out too.
As a kid I loved that my Mom made me unique clothes and it was a bonus that my Barbie (I know… I know… I was young… what can I say) usually had an outfit that matched the clothes my Mom made me.
I also have very vivid childhood memories of my Mom and my sister sewing together. My Mom was more of a creative sort (she’d like to sit in church behind the seamstress who would do things like make dresses with zippers sewn into dresses that looked like “S” curves) while my sister was creative but also very into technique. Whenever my sister would visit I remember the guest room being re-purposed with the bed being moved into the hall and being replaced with two sewing machines. There was this one “incident” when they were making men’s sport jackets. All I will say is that the plaid in jacket my sister made all lined up and she was pretty animated about my Mom’s plaid not lining up (I was definitely in my sister’s camp on this one).
At the end of the day they had a lot of fun together and they usually saw things eye to eye. We had an aunt who could line up polka dots and they were very taken with her work. I have a feeling that I am just a sewing machine away from a whole new addiction.
Not only is that dress oh so cute, you take really good pics of you in the dress. lol I have personal-pic envy.
I just found your blog via Sewaholic and am quite excited to be able to add another sewing blog that has georgous projects and lovely photography to my daily reads!
I am enjoying your blog. Our tastes are very similar! S.
Wow. What an amazing fit. Classy, sexy, vintage-y (duh, given the origin of the pattern). You’re really good at this sewing thing.
That dress is going to be so gorgeous, and I can’t wait to see how you make the belt!
I have to ask if you did exercises for your great posture as part of your musical training, or if you come by it naturally? I am trying to sit/stand up straighter myself these days. It’s healthier and your clothes do look so much better.
I am so impressed by your casual backward shot. I would probably have gotten a picture of the ceiling!