Kwik Sew: 3675 (Dresses) - Type:Dresses
Review submitted in Ugly Fabric Contest  | | Viewed 418 times
| 1 more reviews | Review rated Helpful by 2 people Very Helpful by 7 people | | Reviewed by: | Time4me | 
 | About Time4me | | BC CANADA | | Member since: 1/22/08 | | Reviews written: 10 | | Sewing skills:Beginner | | Favored by: 1 people | | patterns reviewed: 9 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 6/22/09 0:56 AM | | Project Photo: |  | | Pattern Photo: | 
Kwik Sew Pattern InfoMore Info provided by Time4me | | Pattern Rating: | Easy & Great for Beginners | | See other patterns in this category: Dresses | Available for sale on PR: $11.49 (See envelope)  | | | | Fabric: | Lawn [See other projects in this fabric] | | Related Links | Click on  to add a link |
| Pattern Description: Pull-over dresses have V-neckline, short raglan sleeves and empire waist. Neckline, sleeves and waist are gathered with elastic in casings. View A dress is made from three contrast fabrics and has wide ruffle on bottom edge.
Pattern Sizing: Misses' Dresses Sizes: XS-S-M-L-XL I made a L as per measurements but I am sure this pattern is forgiving due to all the elastic.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, except I made some modifications
Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like it, I like it alot!
Fabric Used: FABRICS: Designed for lightweight woven and knit fabrics.
Suggested Fabrics: Gauze, lawn, single knit, matte jersey, crepe, georgette, batiste, rayon & blends, silk, silk-like fabrics.
This is my entry for the ugly fabric contest. Here is the fabric. I actually loved this fabric from the moment I saw it. It wasn't until I was excitedly showing it around that I realized most people do not share my love. In fact as I was wearing the finished dress around the house yesterday my 6yo daughter kept saying, "Mom, that's not the nicest dress I've seen. I SURE think you are going to win that contest!" I actually love the fabric and will wear the dress often this summer. I tend to have a soft place in my heart for the down trodden and rejected so I think that this fabric has found that place. I wonder if that is why it was 70% off?!?
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: After my green knit muslin, I decided I needed to do three things; make the v-neck a little higher on my chest, lengthen the front bodice because this version was made with a woven and increase the elastic in the sleeves.
This is all really new to me so I just guessed on the how to raise the v and graded the pattern to an XL under the bust. I had to mess around with the elastic casing (as in add a different fabric, see below ) so I am not sure if it ended up being the increase I wanted. I increased the elastic on the sleeves by about 2.5". I have pretty muscular arms and I am overweight so I needed the extra room.
In the contest discussion thread on page 14, Izzie so generously posted a photo of a very similar dress from #122 of the February BWOF. The BWOF dress had contrasting fabric on the waist and sleeve casings. I liked this idea but did not want to attempt it since I am new to sewing.
The other subtle piece of advice I rejected was to use Bemberg lining instead of the cotton liner I wanted for the skirt part. The lining was my own addition to the pattern because my fabric was a bit sheer. I don't like anything sticking to my butt after I have been sitting in the hot sun and I thought that I wanted cotton all the way. Well, I was wrong. As lightweight as the cotton liner was, it make the dress stick out 'a la preggers'. Not such a nice look for me.
So, here is the first version of my dress made entirely from my ugly fabric and lined with cotton.
Front
Top with raised neckline. Here the neckline looks raised but you can see in my final dress it seems to have disappeared.
Side view. Now actually in this side view I look quite slim if I do say so myself. It was the way I had to stand to take the photo. I promise, it was much worse!
I spent the next two nights of ripping out serger and sewing machine seams and two days searching for matching brown woven fabric.
I found this awful ugly brown poly/cotton blend burn out fabric. I just hate it. This is ugly fabric to me. It feels awful, it sews horrible and it seems like it will pill by just looking at it. (Obviously that made it perfect for the dress.) I cut out an elastic casing for the waist and a border for the bottom of my dress. I totally guessed on how to put the dress back together without having to cut new bodice and bottom pieces. I think that is where I lost some of my fabric that I had added to the bodice. I think over all the dress looks better with the contrasting bands.
Front of finished dress.
Back of finished dress.
Also I lined it with Bemberg lining, making sure to stop short of the bottom band so that it retained it's see through nature. This liner ended up being way more comfortable than I thought and I should have just used it in the first place.
Here is the side view of the finished dress. In this photo it looks like it hangs worse that with the cotton liner but...it does not. I think I need to get a new photographer, my husband is not so keen on it.
Finally I hemmed the dress by serging the bottom edge, folding it up and stitching it in place. Well, I did a horrible job and it looked ugly. Original hem. So, more unpicking of thread and instead I used the rolled hem foot on my sewing machine and came up with this nice rolled hem. I think that looks much better.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? This is the second time I have sewn this dress and most likely won't sew it again. Although my husband is hoping I will sew it in some sort of sheer fabric for our anniversary ;)
Conclusion: Overall this was a very good pattern for me as I am such a beginner. Although it is low cut, there is no gapping and it is the most comfortable dress I have worn in my post baby life. I highly recommend it. I am so much in love with this ugly fabric that I went out and bought more for a skirt. Now... off to find a good pattern.
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<< Previous Review Next Review >> | Reader Comments | | Mary Nanna | 6/22/09 | It looks fabulous - I love the way you've put it together with the boots as well. I think the fabric is very pretty.. but then it's a funny thing isn't it - when you want things to look lovely the camera plays cruel tricks, and then it makes something really awful look great! Murphy must have a law about that somewhere ... anyway, congratulations on what has been quite a journey! | | * * * | | Gelbean | 6/22/09 | That is a great looking dress. The fabric was what caught my eye in the thumbnail. I don't think it's ugly but I happen to like orange and brown. I hope you will wear it often as it is really a great looking dress. | | * * * | | Ronda Rae | 6/22/09 | When I opened the review, I belly laughed because the fabric caught my eye as being pretty! I can see that it might be considered ugly as a flat piece of fabric, but you have done with it is fabulous! | | * * * | | Amanda S. | 6/22/09 | Love the dress. AND the fabric! I would totally wear that. | | * * * | | Joan1954 | 6/22/09 | It's great -- but your friends and family need their eyes adjusted, lol. That fabric is wonderful. (Helpful hint -- don't show your fabric around to people next time! You obviously have great design/color instincts. :b) | | * * * | | AquariJenn | 6/22/09 | Very cute dress! The fabric does not look ugly at all. :) | | * * * | | Leora | 6/22/09 | It is pretty funny that you are trying to make an ugly dress but just can't!!! | | * * * | | Izzie | 6/22/09 | Your dress turned out great! I really like the addition of the band at the hem. | | * * * | | Time4me | 6/22/09 | Thanks so much for all your kind comments. It really helps! You have gone a long way in building my confidence back up. I have 'swam against the current' for all of my life so it is hard to tell when I am really out to lunch or just a little bit different. | | * * * | | moonchild61 | 6/22/09 | I don't know who you're hangin' with; but, I love this fabric and this dress! It's not ugly at all. As Austin Powers would say, "Oh, Groovy Baby"! | | * * * | | Kayseri | 6/22/09 | Err, when I saw the flat fabric I thought 'Yep totally Ugly'. But it improved tremendously when made up and I like your finished dress. I think the contrast waist and hem are great. | | * * * | | kittybishop | 6/23/09 | Great dress, I just love your 'ugly' main fabric, but then I too, have spent most of my life 'swimming against the tide'. And it looks great on you. | | * * * | | barbcl | 6/23/09 | Your dress is snazzy and looks great! Sure is a winner, and isn't that a thrill to any stitcher! | | * * * | | sewfossy | 6/23/09 | Love the use of contrast trims. Makes it very chic! | | * * * | | AnneM | 6/23/09 | I like your work with it. The brown trim adds a lot to the dress, taming the fabric while still leaving it full of life. It's a fun dress. I particularly like the waistband. | | * * * | | Lili123 | 6/23/09 | your dress looks wonderful....it's funny because 2 weeks ago, i bought the same fabric, it was love at first sight. I didn't use it yet but seeing your work is very motivational and inspire me. | | * * * | | Sew tell me | 6/24/09 | Sorry but you can't possibly win this contest because I love, love, love this fabric. Cute dress too I have this pattern. | | * * * | | CarolynGM | 7/7/09 | Very cute dress. Love the contrast band on it. | | * * * | | selvage | 7/10/09 | Very cute dress! | | * * * | | pammieh | 9/17/09 | Sorry I love this fabric (but used to hate it: in Second grade my mother made me wear a similar fabric for a school photo) now I love it:) | | * * * |
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