Nothing But Truffle!

 

Some of my readers will know that in Christchurch, we have had a 100 year storm this week which caused widespread flooding, gale force winds and very cool temperatures.  Those same readers will then realise that this photo was not taken this week.  In fact it was taken at the beginning of February and my blogging is actually that far behind...tisk tisk!

I had this very vibrant stretch cotton sateen in my stash since spring and loved the semi flourescent graphic print.  I had my heart set on a simple shift of some sort that would make the fabric the star of the show.  I borrowed Colette Sewing Book from the library and traced the Truffle dress.  During the intervening months I kept coming back to this pattern despite considering others.

This project was actually conceived one Friday afternoon in January.  Friday's are not usually days I take on a new project due to my weekends being characteristically chaotic.  Friday's at best are usually used for those, 'my brain can't focus on a large project, lets make a token top' kind of projects.  So why I decided to start on a new dress, I am not sure!

Now, let me just say, that what looks like a simple dress turned out to be anything but!  I must have unpicked every seam at least twice.  I do know I inserted that darn zip 3 times due to fitting issues.  To add insult to injury, at my final fitting, the neckline gaped, not just a little, but seriously.  I had cut the dress to size 4, when I am usually a size 6, so I thought fitting wise, I should be relatively safe.  Short of cutting a new bodice, which I did consider overnight, the only way I could see of overcoming it was to add darts.  Now I am not terribly happy with the dart but master 10 assures me that my dress is perfect.  In his words, 'most mums can't even make a dress and wouldn't notice the darts'.  Hmmm I think I may have used a similar line on him at some point in time!

Now, advice from small people aside, I have learn't something from this experience, Colette patterns just do not suit my shape.  Which begs the question.....do I make up the skirt pattern that I haven't yet tried and has been gathering dust for close to a year or do I just move on.