I’m currently involved in the Mad Men Dress Challenge and the Sew For Victory Challenge. I figured it’s time for an update.
Mad Men Challenge
All I have left to do is hem the skirt and the sleeves of the jacket. I also have to attach the back of the collar to the jacket. I’m getting frustrated because this jacket is going to be the death of me! I made my own pattern, created a muslin and hated it. I ordered Butterick B5647 jacket (on sale for $1.88!) and tried to manipulate the pattern and create my own. That actually worked out pretty well. It took a lot of fittings and alterations but it is just about finished. Whew! I want to wear the outfit for Easter so I guess next weekend I’ll be finishing up the final touches.
Sew For Victory Challenge
I was late to the game and wanted to start this on friday night after work. The husband and I went to the gym for the first time in years and figured we’d start small and do a few laps in the swimming pool. We both did 2 laps and that was as much as I could take! I didn’t realize I was so out of shape! It’s only been 2 months since I had the surgery (GERD/esophageal surgery called LINX) and I’m not 100% healed for another month… maybe that’s why? Maybe that’s just an excuse? LOL
Anyways, friday night was a bust. I was so tired I ended up doing nothing when we got home and then went to bed. So yesterday I worked all day on my project. I’m not too happy with the bust part of the dress, it’s very awkward and positioned really weirdly. I know I should have made a muslin but I didn’t … so now I am trying to figure out the best way to fix this. I do have about an extra yard of fabric, so all else fails I can try again. I have followed all the directions but the way the bust is, I should have my boobs start 3 inches higher and be under my armpits! HAHA! The stomach part really needs boning, did they have that back in the 40’s? Guess it’s time to do some research. The other fun part is that the unmarked mail order pattern doesn’t tell me which size zipper I need. So I had to construct the garment and then measure, it’s 12″ and all I have in white is 7″. I was debating on using the 7″ but a side zipper is already hard to slip the dress on and with a 5″ smaller zipper would be torture!
I can say I’m definitely learning a lot from this mail order pattern. I love the unexplored newness of everything. I like how the outfit is modest yet summery, it’s a change from my usual pin-up girl tight-show-everything-you-have dresses 😉 Okay, I’m off to buy my zipper and some Starbucks, I’m going to need it! Guinness wants me to pick him up some more dog treats since PetSmart is right next to Jo-Ann.
So looking forward to seeing your Mad Men outfit!! Hehe about gym, I think if your still mending after having surgery thats a very good excuse! Don’t push yourself too hard missy. I have only just started back at gym and I am so unfit, larger men and women are kicking my butt on the treadmill (awkward!). Plus I have no excuse! I hope your ‘Sew for Victory’ dress works out, luckily you have more fabric but good luck getting it fitting right. The fabric is gorgeous so no doubt will look stunning on! 1 week to go!! 🙂
Thank you! Getting the fit on the Sew For Victory dress is driving me insane, but overall it’s turning out much better than I thought it was going to. I’ll be finishing up the Mad Men look this week – I’m proud of that one 🙂 I feel you about the gym, there were old people swimming laps so fast and I felt I had to sort of keep up!