Knit dress done

[elizabeth_mn]

Considering how many years this languished in the project bin, it's amazing how quick it went together once I finally, you know, worked on it.

Yeah, my photos are blurry, but it's the best I could do.  Sigh.

  

So, changes:

The bodice front in the pattern had a wacky cowl-drape which I liked, but once I cut the piece and secured the drape, I tried it on my front and the '"empire" waist was somewhere above my nipples.  It was at this point I put the whole thing away for a while.

I ended up cutting a new front from a basic T-shirt pattern.  I cut the empire waist seam on a curve so it would be lower at CF than at the side seams in order to evenly cover all the acreage I have up top.  When the dress is on, the seam looks straight.

I lowered the neckline after finishing it the first time.  I was a little wary about trimming my rib knit body with a rib knit (self-fabric) piece, but it went on very smoothly.  I cut the neckline trim to 2/3 the length of the garment's neckline.

I sewed the sleeve seam and bodice and waistband side seams as one seam so I could more easily and precisely whittle the waist, which took a few passes.  It's so nice that the serger just chops off the part you no longer need!

After I took in the bodice, the skirt was too wide to fit, so I gathered it in by stretching the waistband to fit and then stabilizing that seam with clear elastic once it had snapped back.  I borrowed that technique from a thrifted dress I have.

Serged the sleeve and skirt hems and then sewed them in place with a narrow zig-zag.  I've used a 3-step zig-zag for this in the past, but the narrow just worked better this time.

I think I'm getting better at sewing knits!  I can't wait until spring comes so I can wear this!  I do need a new/better pattern (or a few) for the next knit dress I have fabric for.  Maybe pattern shopping next week.