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Happy Friday! Hope you are all looking forward to a sewtastic weekend! My MIL is up from Kent for the weekend and she always takes the kids out for long day trips so Yip Yip I get a lot of sewing time :-).
But before all that I present to you New Look 6803. For the first time in quite a while, I have tried a pattern that just did not work. I bought this pattern during the New Look 6803 half price sale in January. I was attracted to the pleated neckilne on view B. Its a cute looking dress.
I cut the smallest size on the pattern and used some drapey polyester to make a muslin. The fabric came from from a closing down sale at £1/m so I will be using it for muslins a lot. The colour is not inspirational but it will be useful.
Cutting out and sewing up were very easy. However……The dress did not look at all how I pictured it would on me.
In hindsight the pleats at the neckline created a maternity like feel and look. Its OK but I have been pregnant a LOT over the last 5 years and I am over that look! No matter which way I tried to pin it just wasn’t working for me without putting in darts etc. I might as well use a pattern that has more shaping in it. I like to have some shaping around the bust at least. I think its a good pattern – I saw on Pattern Review some versions that looked great but its not for me.
Verdict: I will not be making this again. I am going to try , view C the kaftan top. It might work better.
Thought I’d share this conversation with my photographer.
Me: Can you take a couple of pictures please?
Mr SNS : Sure I ‘ll grab my phone while you change.
Me: I am dressed.
Mr. SNS : <raises an eyebrow> Thats for your blog?
Me: Yes. Dont you like it?
Mr SNS: <scans dress head to toe> It makes you look like…..<tilts head to the left>…. a sack of potatoes?….
Me: Just take the F*$King pictures.
Happy sewing everyone! Off to make some spring summer pyjamas for my boys. Thats 3 pairs of pyjama bottoms and 2 tops 😉
Hila
Links
New Look 6803 Sewing Pattern Minerva link
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Tee
April 10, 2015 8:51 pmI think your photographer is on to something. If you used a more substantial fabric, I bet it would look nicer. Looks like the used a cotton sateen.
Hila
April 11, 2015 1:24 pmMmm that something to think about, thanks! The fabric I used here is very drapey.
navybluethreads
April 10, 2015 8:58 pmAt least he takes the pictures, I’ve totally given up. My son or daughter take all of mine now. Sometimes it just doesn’t work, although tbh I don’t think it looks too bad on you… The whole point of Muslims I guess though?
Hila
April 11, 2015 1:23 pmYour kids a re good photographers then! Your pictures look good – the one time I got my son to take pictures they were not at all useable lols.
navybluethreads
April 11, 2015 4:58 pmWell, let’s just say they’ve made a lot of progress… 😉
kathryn
April 10, 2015 9:10 pmHaha my husband never wants to take photos either! I quite like the neck pleats but think they’d look more flattering on a fitted top than on this dress. Enjoy your sewing time this weekend!
Hila
April 11, 2015 1:21 pmHi Kathryn! Thanks for stopping by! The pleats are quite a feature and I love them – it does look nice when I pin out all the excess fabric.
Chris @ makeandwear
April 10, 2015 9:28 pmI kinda like it! I see what you mean about all the extra fabric -I think it’d look better with a belt (maybe from the same fabric, with some contrast stitching to cheer it up?)
Hila
April 11, 2015 1:17 pmWhat a wonderful idea Chris! I have some leftover fabric so I could definitely try the belt. I have nothing to loose and everything to gain if it works. 😉
Beth
April 10, 2015 9:55 pmLOL at ‘Mr SNS’… Poor you! You know he did have a point though… However I quite like the pleating around the neckline! But if you’re not comfortable in it, take it as a learning curve and move on 😀
Hila
April 11, 2015 1:16 pmThanks Beth! Even if he tried he is the worst liar in the world anyway 😉 I loved the pleating as well which is why I got the pattern. Ah well sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.
chuichoy
April 10, 2015 10:08 pmOh no! I think it looks comfortable and elegant from the pleats. Maybe as someone above mentioned, add a belt?
Hila
April 11, 2015 1:13 pmThank you! TBH I didn’t think to try a belt – I am not that great with thinking about accessories. Something I need to work on;-)
Stephanie
April 10, 2015 11:48 pmYou’re like me – attracted to looser looks sometimes but with a small frame perhaps look better in more fitted things. I made a vintage sixties dress that had a very similar shape to this (the neckline was also gathered, into a kind of a cowl collar band). I took in the side seams a bit and that helped, and I wear a belt with it and it works. View C is quite pretty. LOL to Mr. SNS. My boyfriend comes out with similar remarks although I must say I prefer the truth to false flattery!
Hila
April 11, 2015 1:12 pmYou are spot on about being attracted to the looser looks but when worn they dont seem to work. I might try taking in the side seams and see if that might help. Truth trumps false flattery all the time 😉
springystitches
April 11, 2015 12:10 amHa! Your conversation with the ‘photographer’ sounds familiar! Shame that this one didn’t work out, but at least you had that fabric to try it out on. Good luck with the kaftan!
Hila
April 11, 2015 1:09 pmThanks! Photographers can be so tempermental ..hehe 😉
Linda of Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!
April 11, 2015 5:04 amI have that pattern too, although I haven’t made it up yet. I was torn between making the pleated version or the other neckline. I think I just might be more confused now!
Hila
April 11, 2015 1:06 pmI think you should try it! There are loads others who have made and looks great on – I think you would look fab in it :-).
susan
April 11, 2015 6:22 amI have had similar conversations with my hubby! ‘It looks like curtains’ is his best phrase! Still bettervto be honest!
Hila
April 11, 2015 1:04 pmIndeed! Honesty is better 🙂 At least I always know whats what!
Tara
April 11, 2015 12:57 pmBut I like it! Might look cute with some ankle booties and accessories!
Hila
April 11, 2015 1:02 pmAccessories sound like a good idea Tara! Styling outfits is one area I need to work on – I dont have very many accessories ;-(
RED
April 11, 2015 2:51 pmMaybe I’ve just been looking at too much Japanese fashion lately, but I think this is actually cute. Slim girls like you can pull off “potato sack chic.” 🙂
Have a fun sewing weekend! I’ll be heading off to my “Sit and Sew” group in a little over an hour. Yay, sewing!
Hila
April 15, 2015 4:23 amThanks! Your comment made me 😃. I love Japanese sesing books too ! Have shortened it by 4″ and taken some excess fabric from side seams. Its looking the bees knees now. Tbh I think I wanted the next project so bad that I didnt see the beauty of this dress.
SewSouthLondon
April 11, 2015 4:34 pmOh. That’s a shame. I thought it had great potential. The neckline is lovely. What about in something a bit more sheer/drapey?
Hila
April 15, 2015 4:19 amThank you! I took some advice to put it away for a couple of days and return to it. I picked it up again this weekend and shortened it by 4″ and its amazing how different it seems now😃.
Thimberlina
April 11, 2015 8:09 pmDon’t think it’s your most flattering set of pix here, but I like the colour and the neckline. How about shortening it and adding some bright red bias binding to the neck line, or some other jazzy-ness?
Hila
April 15, 2015 4:15 amGreat idea! I took off 4 inches at hem and an inch on side seams and its coming along😃. Am calling this my comeback dress after all the love its been getting🌞
fabrickated
April 15, 2015 3:08 pmYour photographer conversation made me laugh, but other than the colour and texture of the fabric this is not a sack dress. It does suit you – it actually emphasises your lovely slim body better than an overfitted or skin tight dress. You don’t look at all pregnant. I am glad you have tried a different lenght as it is honestly a good look for you – in my opinion.
Hila
April 15, 2015 3:31 pmThanks Kate! I am just so awed by all the wonderful advice from the sewing community😃. Its coming along nicely and am enjoyung the process. I love your new logo by the way👏👏