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Enough with the art teacher-chic…#2

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Style Arc ‘Winsome’ dress, in poppy-printed viscose, and a bit of grey stretch poplin that’s been in stash for years.

No changes other than shortening by 2″, and not [so far] bothering to make buttonholes or add buttons.  I’m unlikely to ever fasten the neckline, so may not bother at all…edit:  I found it is a bit bra-revealing, so sewed a single cute red button onto the neckline through all layers, just because.  I still don’t want to make buttonholes, so may just add several odd buttons for the fun of it.

This was a pretty straightforward make, and StyleArc instructions are improving, with a lot more diagrams.  They are still pretty minimal though, and the diagrams are not integrated with the numbered instructions…which led me into trouble.  Rushing, as usual, I made and attached the neck ‘tabs’ first, then realised I should have added the facings first.  Not too bad, but the seam allowances are only 1cm, so fraying fabrics can get you into trouble if you have to unpick much.  Fortunately, being straight seams, I hadn’t trimmed them…

Everything else was fine, the pocket construction is unusual but looks good.  I really like the back drawstring detail, but I’m not enamoured of the sleeves, which are droopy and shapeless.  I may try to take them in, I may shorten them. The hem is interesting, all sorts of curves, points and straight bits.

It’s pretty nice, I love the fabric, but somehow it isn’t ringing my bell as much as the V1312…a bit of a sack attack?

What do you think?

This shows the saggy sleeve-itis

19 thoughts on “Enough with the art teacher-chic…#2”

    1. I’m not feeling this one, there’s something not working. The sackiness should be OK with such drapey fabric, but I think it’s those floppy sleeves, and the armholes are really low too- I may attack it with the overlocker- as it is, I’ll never get to wear it!

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  2. I agree. The sleeves are bit “meh”. They look too long and droopy. Maybe you could ruche them with elastic or something. That is a shame as this was my favourite out of your Muggle patterns. I do love your fabric combination though and those shoes are to die for. Xx

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  3. I think the dress looks great (Love the poppy print!) but the floppy sleeves make it look bathrobe-ish, somehow. Do you have enough left of the grey fabric you used for the center panel to make grey sleeves? I think making the sleeves more visually distinct from the side panels would make the whole dress look better.

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  5. Hmm – lovely fabric and FABULOUS shoes – sorry, we were talking about shoes here, weren’t we?? Yes, I think it must be the sleeves as others are saying. If you can fix those I think it will be fine.

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  7. The fabric match is looking great. It’s sad that the pattern is letting you down. I agree with the sleeves and perhaps there’s also to much fabric one the dress side panels. But the red shoes: They are gorgeous. (put on your red shoes and dance ………)

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    1. Lol what is it with red shoes? Everyone loves them! I’ve put the dress back in the sewing room, hoping it won’t end up in the crate of shame. I’m going to try to take it in at the underarm, reduce the sleeve width, and make a turn back facing so I can roll them up….

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  9. Love the front view, not so thrilled with the back and side apron ties effect. Fabric – good combo. Could you try pinning out the back panel a tad to see if it can have the more sylph like hang of the front?

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    1. Thanks! The garden is all the work of my lovely missus- it was just a steep hillside and a gravel bed when we moved in. It’s not at its best right now, but will soon be blooming again, the magnolia is getting ready…

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