Two formal dresses in one week!!

My daughter won an audition to sing with her High School Orchestra for their concerto night. She sang Donizetti’s “Prendi per me sei libero”. She seems to be following in her sister’s operatic footsteps! I used a polyester taffeta, home dec weight to add volume and I used Vogue pattern 8190. I drafted the upper bodice and sleeves. I was dreading the invisible zipper but it went in beautifully. One of my favorite sewing steps is to fit and ease in sleeves and this was a fun challenge. My daughter has larger shoulders compared to her hip and torso size. I was very pleased with the fit, I am usually a very harsh self critic. She was extremely happy with the dress and her performance was magnificent. I told her it was the dress!!! HAHA.

Two days after the concert she had a date for the high school Sweetheart’s Dance. I used a stretch glam velour in grey/silver. This was difficult because my choice of lining was just something in my closet – not a good idea but I was too far into it by the time I realized this. There was too much stretch variance, but it did add stability. This was one of those projects that looks like a scrunched up bag before you put in on. You must have the real body right beside you to try it on a hundred times during construction. I thought it a pinch too tight but she liked it. I knew a zipper would not work with such stretch so I opted to just have it be a pullover and stretch to fit outfit. I also did not use the crossover lower front of the pattern, the fabric was just too heavy and stretchy for that much wrap, I just drafted one front piece with the pleating on one side. It turned out to be a dress that needs two strong people to help put it on and take it off. I used Vogue pattern 8150 and altered the front bodice up an inch. I have always brought necklines up an inch in every pattern since I was sewing as a young girl. For some reason all commercial patterns seem to have plunging necklines. Thanks for reading, I think my next project is the curtains in the office – I have put off for way too long. Thanks for reading.

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