Wednesday 2 December 2009

Party dress pattern

So what's been keeping me away lately? My ears ... my job ... my sewing ... I'm tired ... i'm weary, and i've still got to get through next week which will leave me worn and torn as well as tired and weary. Each day for the entire week I shall work more hours than I usually do in a whole week! Just the thought of it is exhausting me! Can you believe it's been a year since This Post and That Post?? Well .. the time has arrived, the reason I was hired. I have already managed to book the wrong speaker for the wrong dinner ... oops!


Much more excitingly, and before the horror begins, I have a party to go to on Saturday. My favourite party of the year I might say, and I need a dress. I absolutely refuse to buy one. Have you been in Coast lately? Have you seen the dresses? Have you inspected the dresses? I can do better than overlocked hems, underboned bodices and tatty ends, so I'm damnwell not spending over £150 on shoddy factory made clothes.
Here's what I have in mind - Coast-like because I do love Coast Clothes. Quite 'retro' thanks to the belt which will have a vintage buckle from this stash:


And here's the detail ... Because it's a strapless dress, it will need a foundation. I'm not merely doing a boned bodice, oh no ... I'm going all 'Couture' and I'm doing a proper dress foundation with separate closure underneath the zip closure of the dress. Don't faint! I've got a whole lot of blogs lined up to show you how.


The 'foundation' is on the left of the picture. It extends to the upper hip and contains about 8 bones, with a hook and eye fastening. The front overbust seams are vertical for ease.

The dress on the right, has wider overbust seams so as to enhance the fabric pattern. I'm sure it will do something to the line of the bust too, but i'm not quite sure what! Perhaps it will just make my shoulders look big? You can see where the different dart placements are on the pattern draft.

I've never worn a strapless dress before - high street shops don't cater for the fuller bust, ie anything over a B cup, and so if I do dare to try on something strapless in a shop, I end up looking like an overstuffed sausage! I am an F cup!



12 comments:

  1. You make dress-making seem like a science, it's so complicated! Give me 800 squares to sew together any day!
    Looking forward to seeing the finished article!
    I went to Oxford today and walked past Coast and had a private little snigger to myself!

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  2. I'm glad someone else is suffering from the "fuller bust doesn't go with high-street clothing problem". I'm something like a D or E cup myself and I have never dared to wear anything strapless. Without a bra??!! Oh no, not in my wardrobe! I'd love to see how your dress works out. This whole foundation part seems very complicated. You have to keep us posted on how the strapless dress works for you. And then...lo and behold!...maybe someone will see me in a strapless dress one day...

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  3. I think I need a sit down - you're making this gorgeous and astounding creation for Saturday?! I have no doubt at all that you'll pull it off, but I know I couldn't. Oh, and as another generously endowed (ahem) blogger, I know for a fact I'd be stuffed without Bravissimo. I remember the ladies in M&S looking horrified when I told them I didn't actually want to be minimised, thank you very much, and directing me either to the granny bras or down the road to the new branch of Bravissimo. I have never looked back.

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  4. Wow, that is what couture is all about!

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  5. i cant wait to see the dress x

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  6. You are making this stunning couture dress... by Saturday???? Do you sleep? I am in awe and can't wait to see the result.

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  7. you are truly superhuman Julia! I am completely in awe now!

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  8. Very swish dress in mind, Julia...love the retro belt/buckle! Look forward to seeing the finished piece! Very posh... Hope all goes well with the sewing... And in time for Saturday! Saturday?! You are a wonder... Have fun at the party! :o) ((HUGS))

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  9. I am hopelessly excited about the blogs you have planned for this project Julia! It is as though I live out my dreams of doing these things through your work. Lazy eh? x

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  10. Good god. If I was tired and weary - which I am - I'd never think of making a challenge dress.

    Maybe this is my problem.

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  11. I bet you look gorgeous !! can't wait to see some pics. I'm a DD cup so I know where you're coming from, I need major engineering :)
    Twiggy x

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  12. Oh this is exciting! I love the thought of beautifully made clothes.

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