For Pattern Geeks and Rogue Quilters: Megan’s Mod Dress

Yesterday, I took some time off from working on electronic patterns (serious computer fatigue!) to make a pattern for Megan’s dress.  Not surprisingly, I couldn’t locate either my already-adjusted fitted bodice with midriff or my dress block.  That would have been too easy.  I did find a sleeveless bodice that fit well, so from there I chopped up the pattern for a bodice/midriff combination.

Once I had a final pattern that fit, I marked the contrast bands.  The front midriff section had the most bands, so I started there by dividing the CF of the front midriff into five even sections.  From there I used the photo as a guide to drawing the seam lines, and I labeled each section with the color it should be and a number to make sure I didn’t get lost.

I laid little bits of polytrace over the top and traced the shape of each individual piece, then added 1/4″ seam allowances to the insets.   I decided to approach them as a quilter, not a dressmaker.

I don’t understand why it looks puckered in the photo and flat on my work table.  The raspberry is a little heavier and much darker than the other fabrics so I interfaced the white and pink with a lightweight woven fusible.

The back is my favorite.  You can’t see the back of her dress on the show, so I opted for a v-back and changed the color placement slightly.  On Megan’s dress, the raspberry color is closest to the neck.  This makes sense.  Necks make white necklines look filthy.  However- I want my V to touch the raspberry in the back midriff section so I switched the colors.  I’m tempted to bind or pipe the neckline, but that would take it further from Megan and that’s not what I’m doing with this dress.

Again, it looks puckered here but not on my table.  I haven’t pressed the pink-raspberry seam open yet, I just pressed the seam flat.  That should make the difference.   It was very pleasing to put the insets together.  Once I started, I didn’t want to stop- I wanted to keep sewing and sewing so I could watch this dress finally come together!

Now I just need to assemble the dress and lining, nothing terribly difficult.  The tricky hard parts are over.  Will it look like Megan’s dress?  Will it be wearable in public?  Will I like it?

It might be too early to tell.