Dear all
I have been working diligently last month (August) on this Butterick 5521, I would say this pattern is not an easy one as it contains many pattern pieces which requires one to match seams and lines perfectly. I think I accomplished the technical aspect of the dress quite well, but the my wrong choice of fabrics and colour combination resulted in a hideous dress and my husband told me to 'throw it out already!'.
(Sorry, I couldn't bother to brush out the cotton lint from the skirt!)
I used a sturdy suiting grade GREY viscose, a leftover sheer YELLOW fabric for the flange which I thought interfacing would be able to toughen it up and a very thin drapey BLUE fabric for the sides. I had an inkling before I started sewing that the different weight of the 3 materials wouldn't make the dress hold up well but I didn't listen to the hunch and soldiered on anyway, bad decision! The yellow flange thus had a rippling effect to it and perhaps I think I have cut it on the wrong grain as well due to lack of fabric. The blue on the sides are left to be desired as it looks stretched and distorted due to its pure sheerness despite being a fully lined dress.
What possessed me to mix these colours together really puzzles me as it makes me feel like I should command a Star Trek ship once I put on this dress! Oh yes, I googled 'Colours that complement grey' and the colours yellow and blue popped up but perhaps subtler shades of these colours wouldn't be so bad against the grey. I thought colour blocking dress would be interesting but........
This is the Butterick 5521 pattern and design lines for your reference:
I do not think I'll be making another version of this one real soon after this disaster but it was a lesson well learnt, never try to combine fabrics of different weightage together on one dress AND adhere to cutting fabrics on the right grain!
I leave you all with Amanda's Fabulous Mixed Materials version, you have to check it out!
The dress looks very cool and VERY COMPLICATED to make. However, I think that all these line on the bodice give a great effect.
ReplyDeleteDear Julia,
DeleteThank you for the words of encouragement I feel better from your words, ha!
Trust me this dress looks more awful in person.
Bummer! Because I seriously love this pattern. Sometimes you've just gotta trust your gut-instinct - I've had the same trouble with different weighted fabrics in the past as well, and it's awfully frustrating! At least you know if you ever get invited to a theme party - you'll have your costume sorted already :D I think in different fabrics this dress could be quite incredible!
ReplyDeleteActually the dress is pretty amazing, okay maybe not these colors haha but the lines of the dress are very sleek. I hope at some point you revisit the pattern because I think you would really make it work and the style suits you! So, not such a disaster!
ReplyDeleteThe dress and the colours look fab. You have made it look much cooler than the envelope image.
ReplyDeleteFor me that a very great pattern to work with. I dont think your version look that bad. It's very innovative & creative actually hehe... and being experimental in sewing is part of the learning process. I hope you will make another dress from this great pattern. Im excited to see more :)
ReplyDeleteOnce more, the envelope doesn't make you half as interested as the wonderful make you see on a blog. This is lovely- I am so impressed with your color blocking and detail!
ReplyDeletehttp://amandasadventuresinsewing.blogspot.com/search/label/leather.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this pattern at the bottom on the above site. Beautiful.
Yes that was the same link I provided in my blog post. Amanda's version is fantastic!
DeleteThis is a truly interesting dress! Much more so than the picture on the pattern. I wouldn't call it a disaster - the color blocking makes it look very cool.
ReplyDeleteYour dress is so awesome it reminds me of my favorite brand cue in Australia all the dresses are so unique and colorful. You did an amazing job I'm glad you created it as I would never have looked at the pattern which I will have to buy now! Well done you look stunning as always as well!!
ReplyDeleteYou are a fashion commander in this sleek looking dress! Your work is impressive. :-)
ReplyDelete