Project 12 – July: Eyelet Shirtwaist

Wow!  It’s done.  I really did it!  I’m definitely having one of those, “I’m so glad I stuck through with this” moments.  There were definitely a couple of times when I wanted to throw in the towel and call this quits.

My mother in law was good enough to come down for a long weekend and guide me through the dressmaking process.  She helped with the fabric choice , giving advice about what would work, but allowing me to take it in whatever direction I wanted to go with it.  I decided on a black eyelet lined with black batiste.  Then, she gave tips for adjusting the bodice, held my hand while I laid out the pattern pieces because I was a bit short on fabric. But most importantly, she took care of the kids while I cut and sewed like a crazy women for 4 days.  I am really blessed by that woman, and I know how lucky I am to be able to say that.  By the time, she left I had the dress and the lining assembled.  It then took me another month to put them together, finish the arm holes, add button holes and buttons, and hem the skirt.

Fun and Exciting Things about this project

• Fitting, adjusting the pattern, rinse, repeat. I graded the bodice pieces 18 to a 20 and the waist pieces a 20 to a 22.  After putting it together, the bodice was too big under my arms and I had to take it in to a 16. Then we took it in a bit more at the waist after assembling the dress, because it was still very roomy.
• Matching “plaids”.  I bet you didn’t know an eyelet is kinda like a plaid.  It has a horizontal and vertical pattern.  So I took the time to line it up nicely on the bodice. Loads o’ fun.
• The fact that it is a dress.  It is SO hard for me to find a dress that I like how it fits.  My extreme triangular measurements explain it.
• This skirt is SO TWIRLY!!!!!!!!! I am having a blast dancing around with my kids while wearing it.  I can hardly wait to hit the dance floor at a wedding in a couple of weeks.

Tips for those who would like to use Vogue 8577.

• DO IT!  Do not be intimidated by cutting out 46 pieces of fabric and sewing them all together. Yes, it is a lot of work, but it was so worth it!
• Yes, you do need to interface the pocket lining.  I was worried that the pockets would be too poofy if I did, but I think it would have helped with the drape of the skirt.

• If you are adding length to the skirt, be sure you have enough fabric.  I barely squeezed out all the pattern pieces with what I bought.
• It was marked “easy” but it sure wasn’t “FAST and easy”.  I am very glad I took the time to make it.

And now if you would excuse me, I have a wedding to attend. 🙂