Friday, February 25, 2011

The Crepe Sew-Along!

Hey everyone!

The blogosphere has been blooming sew-alongs lately! After the Lady Grey, I decided to enroll to the Crepe sew-along that Gertie has developed for a few reasons. First, I learned SO much following the coat instructions. Second, Gertie has a gift for teaching! It is so relaxing to read or watch her. She is so passionate about sewing, and so sweet too! Third, I really liked the Crepe pattern. Last year, I have been falling in love with Colette Patterns.



Now, you tell me that I am doing the Crepe, I tell you that I need fabric! I wanted something cute and a little bit springy. I wanted a nice grey-ish cotton that had a pattern on it. And I wanted to use a pink contrasting belt. I completely fell in love with this silk cotton! I have also purchased pink plain cotton and lining, just in case. However, I ended up using woolen left over from a previous skirt, and it worked great!


I have even found a nice close up from the shop website:

I love those little apples, because  you can only seem them from upclose!


Now, the whole muslin process started before Christmas! I needed a break from the vintage-coat-lining-project. I tried on the top. On the flickr page, almost everyone mentioned that the pattern felt quite large, but then again, I wanted to upgrade it the way I was supposed to. I have used a 20 from shoulders to bust, and a 22 for the waist, hoping it would be enough for the hips and especially tummy. Here is the result:

1) It really is too big around the shoulders, and at the sides.


2) Same thing. I am an apple shape, and in order to show a waist, I need garments to mark the narrowed bit of my bust: right under the bosom!

3) Once again, the back is too big, and I am sure that I have pinned the pieces far enough.


At that point, I decided to just downgrade everything one size. And it seemed to help a lot. For the context, you can see the top of my polka dots bloomers! Doesn't it look better?

1) Hello asymmetry! My bad... I was wearing a bad bra, that is in the trash since then! I am very happy with it. The shoulders look good, the sides too, the bust cups too.

2)Same thing for the sides! You can actually see that I am no potato bag (even if my lovely step-mother-to-be begs to differ). The cleavage is not gaping either Yeay!

3) I really like the back! It completely transforms my waist!


Between that point and the rest, a few long weeks passed. Christmas, New Year, Three Kings Day... But I managed to fit the time for it right when I was packing boxes! The Crepe was my only fun break. Mister was working like mad for his phD, and I became an expert in the art of card boxes! And tadaaaaa!

I rally like the result! The shape of the dress is pretty flattering. It just shouts for pink high heel shoes! Or dark grey, I am not difficult! I love the pockets and the back wrap. So comfy! Here come the pictures! For the little story, we shot the photos when it was around 0 Celsius! You can see my arms getting freshly pink!








And yes, I made an effort with my hair!

MMMMMMMhhhh! Warmth!



So, what do you think?
Did you participate to the sew along as well?

7 comments:

  1. This is wonderful! I want that dress!!! :) And I wish I was as confident as you are... I always feel so shy (especially when someone takes a photo of me).

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  2. I too am an apple shape, and have had so much trouble finding flattering patterns, and figuring out how to alter them to be accentuate my assets. Your version of the Crepe dress is absolutely gorgeous! The shape and color combination are so flattering on you. Bravo!

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  3. your crepe is lovely, and perhaps step-mom-in-law-to-be needs to put a potato sack over her head?

    i do have one other suggestion from the peanut gallery-- i really think an inch up on the hem would show off your gams more! i'm short too, and i find that if the hem hits too low below the knee, i lose height. anyhoo. it's adorable, and you are SO good at muslins and fit, you might inspire me to do things right the next time i pick up a pattern!

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  4. so adorable! the sizing down really accentuated your curves in a good way! I love pink and grey together!

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  5. It is so lovely! and i love the material you chose.

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  6. this dress is really nice, I will try to find the pattern and make one for me too!

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  7. I like your dress. You have a good eye for color and the dress is totally becoming on you!

    We should go shopping together!

    -L

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