Sunday, December 6, 2009

Purple dress saga

I am proud to announce the birth of a beautiful purple formal dress. Only slight birth defeats that will only be noticed by the most scrupulous observer. The birth was long and arduous. It comprised a number of steps that few expectant mothers would be prepared to endure.

1) invisible zip inserted - too tight to do up. Tears, teenager tanti "Practice your @@##$ sewing on someone else..My formal is days away and I don't have an @@##$$#dress!"
2) applied black tape and handsewed zip onto this. Still tight and at risk of popping.
3) uppicked all of the above and tried unsuccessfully to use hook and eye tape. Pop, pop, pop - hopeless disaster both visually and practically.
4) sought professional advice - added two panels of the purple fabric to create a new area to apply the zip. Created a 1 cm channel of fabric on either side of the zip. Visually this looked good, but still a little tight.
5) unpicked other side seam and let out they .5cm. - and it fits!
6) complete handstitching of linings, stitching beaded waistband and machining the hems.
7) have a gin and tonic and swear never again.

Having fixed all this up, ready to get on with my paid work and my @@@###*** computer has broken down. No pictures until after the big night on Wednesday.

Thank you all for your supportive comments. I would not have completed without you all cheering from the sidelines. I have two years to recover before my younger DD's first formal.

17 comments:

  1. LOL!!! My DD's formal is January 8th and now I need to get serious about her dress that I started back in August. I expect I will be writing a similar post to this one, Gail. Maybe I'll just change purple to red and re-post it. Can't wait for the photos!

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  2. I don't have children so I do admire your patience/perseverance when sewing for your daughter. I admit that after reading your description, I would have been tempted to install an exposed zipper in all it's glory. I think that you are a very good person. Congratulations on finishing the dress

    Rose in SV

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  3. Are you kidding me? Solution: Younger DD wears this very same purple dress in two years. Problem solved. Paying the tears now will save both of you the tears later. ;) Can't wait to see the photos!

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  4. YAY! Can't wait to see the photos! I'm so happy I don't sew with teengagers (yet!) xoxo

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  5. A tanti! about a made from scratch silk evening dress - before it was finished !!!, you must be a more kind mother than I. She is lucky she was not off to the formal in her underwear - or worse, some nasty poly thing from the shops. I hope the words of adoration and eternal gratitude once the dress was completed lasted 5x as long as the tanti. I can't wait for the photos either. Unfortunately, despite the appealing nature of Antoinette's solution, if your younger DD is anything like my DD the second, wearing this dress for her formal in 2 years will not cut it. I would have her sign a no-tanti contract before agreeing to embark on the dress.

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  6. Bravo! How wonderful - can't wait to see it...... ahh relax!

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  7. Hooray Great Mom! Congratulation! Can't wait to see the photos.

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  8. Well that gin and tonic was well deserved! I bet it looks beautiful - can't wait to see it.

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  9. Yay! Glad it all worked out and can't wait to see pictures!

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  10. I can't wait to see the photos of the couture dress you've worked on. I prefer vodka when I've had to deal with reworking the fit of a final dress. Most of the DD friends will be absolutely envious of your work. What a mum.

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  11. Reason 6987 why I don't have children ...

    Seriously, though, I think you've done a wonderful job and I'm sure you feel you've gained a lot of skill from this process. Looking forward to the pictures.

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  12. #7 should have been #1 and then there would have been no worries :)

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  13. i love Cindy's comment! Lol! I cannot wait to see this dress finished and on your gorgeous daughter!!! It sure has been a problem project, but as with problem children, a little tough love and determination wins out!!!

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  14. I'm so excited to see the finished dress! Hope your daughter has a great time at the dress. I'm sure she will be a knock-out.

    I loved the black dress you created from your 1980's skirt. Seriously - the best example of re-styling I've ever seen.

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  15. Oh my, makes me glad to have boys!! I can't wait to see the pictures!

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  16. It is really very interesting a part of showing your preparation and waiting for Christmas... Really very cute idea. Thanks,..

    r4i칩

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  17. Bravo,
    You are a wonderful mother and seamstress.
    I am glad I have a son and no daugter.
    Nevertheless I have undergone similar fits with last minutes projects!!!!!
    I simply hate zippers particularly invisible one.
    The dress is to die for.....

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