The Sciencey Dress: Simplicity 2444

It's almost time for Mehetabel to head back to the classroom, and that means finally putting the finishing touches on another novelty-print dress.  

I found this fabric last spring at Mill End Fabrics in Portland, Oregon, and I knew Mehetabel would love it as she was co-teaching freshman science at the time (as well as teaching her special education caseload).  

Well, I almost had it finished in time for the end of school, but then the zipper broke!  Drat.  It took me all summer to get around to replacing it.  Now that I have, Mehetabel is excited to wear it to class, even though she isn't teaching science this trimester--she's sticking with special education and co-teaching sophomore English.

The fabric is called "Chromatics by Melissa McCulloch Designs for In the Beginning Fabrics 2015."  It is a quilting cotton, so to give it more body, I underlined it with batiste.  Of course I did.  I almost always underline fabric it seems!

The pattern is Simplicity 2444, one of Mehetabel's favorites, and I've made it for her a number of times--and I'll probably make it more times too!  As I have with all but my first version of this pattern, I used facing pieces I drafted rather than the bias strip finish used in the instructions.  The facing pieces (1 back, 1 front neckline/armscye) were interfaced, the edges were finished on the serger, and about 1/8" was trimmed from the neck and armscyes prior to sewing; this helps keep the facings from rolling to the right side of the the dress.  The facings were then hand-sewn to the underlining.

I used a white invisible zipper.  Twice.  The first one was kaput.  I don't mind installing zippers, but I draw the line at sewing them in more than once after the dress is completed!  The hem was hand-sewn.

Mehetabel told me the dress is perfect.  Yay!  It also goes well with her hot pink accessories--

 --as well as her new hot pink pencils all ready for the classroom in her "I've got to be moi" mug! 

 TTFN!

Painting the Roses Red: New Look 6723

When I happened upon a 60% off coupon from Joann Fabrics, I couldn't resist purchasing this pretty Swiss dot fabric--part of the Gertie collection--and I knew Mehetabel would love the red rose print.

 The pattern is New Look 6723.  I made view B (the one in black), but scooped the neckline.  

This classic style was very easy to make.  I underlined the skirt and lined the bodice with white batiste, installed an invisible zipper, and stitched the hem by hand.  

 

The front skirt gathers were concentrated between the side bodice pieces, because I know Mehetabel prefers that--she likes the look and comfort of a full skirt, but doesn't like it too puffy.  The back skirt gathers were concentrated similarly.

Now, I may have mentioned before that Mehetabel and I are tall.  She is 6 feet, and I am 5'10".  Why do I mention this?  Well, I always, always, always, make pattern adjustments.  I know, who doesn't?  The majority of Mehetabel's height is in her legs, so while I didn't add any length to the bodice, I did add four inches to the skirt.  Usually, especially if it's a pattern I've used before, I tape the appropriate amount of paper to the skirt pieces.  But this time, I decided to use my gauge and mark the inches right on the fabric.  And then I forgot all about that when I cut out the back skirt pieces.  Nuts! 

The dress would be too short, and I hadn't yet cut the front skirt, but I didn't have enough fabric to cut new back skirt pieces.  So, I matched the print and added a strip to the back skirt, but there was nothing left for the hem.  To solve that little problem, I faced the hem with more batiste (made into bias strips).  The skirt wound up being an inch or two shorter than I intended, but I think the length looks good.  The patched strip is only noticeable if you pick up the skirt and stare at it; hopefully, Mehetabel's students will be disinclined to do that!  It's certainly not my best work, but better than scrapping the whole project.

Now it's time for daughter and mother to get out of the bright, bright sun and enjoy a frosty beverage!

P.S.  While making this dress, I couldn't get the Disney song "Painting the Roses Red," out of my head!  I haven't watched that version of Alice in Wonderland for ages, but the song is front and center in my head.  "...Not blue, not green, not aquamarine.  We're painting the roses red."  No wonder I screwed up the back skirt!