Pin-up dress
One particular Saturday night a few months ago, I suddenly found myself in the forties and fifties. I was at a Radio Modern party, the best place to swing, rock ‘n roll, jive and all those other dances from back in the days. Not only do these parties offer great music, people dress up for them as well. So, when I started the sewing class module dress/blouse this year, I knew exactly what kind of dress I wanted to design. A dress to impress at the Radio Modern Christmas party. This is what I wanted it to look like:
Looks simple, doesn’t it?
The first thing I had to do, was to have my measurements taken. Always rather confronting. Once this was done, I knew what size the basic pattern had to be. In class, we use the Burda basic pattern. You draw the pattern that is closest to your own measurements, and then it needs to be altered to completely meet your measurements. This actually is the most confronting part. Everyone is gathered around, and then one by one, you’re being put on display. One of the other girls had the same hip measurement as I have, but since we are both shaped differently, we could not just perform the same alteration. So all of a sudden, I was in the middle of the group, hearing how I had a round bum, while the other girl had a flat bum, but wider hips. A bit humiliating, but at least now we could get started: alter the pattern, and make the dress, right?
Not quite… Once altered, I first had to make the basic pattern, in rough cotton fabric, to see whether the alterations were correct or not. Of course, a basic pattern looks nothing like the pattern I had in mind.
Not exactly a sexy party dress, is it? (Although, I must say, Arlette looks quite good in it!). A first fitting indicated that more alterations still had to be made. Apparently my body is wider on one side than on the other. Always nice to hear, isn’t it? I convinced myself I just have more muscle in one leg, from twitching my leg when I’m nervous. Doesn’t that sound nicer?
At last, after a second fitting, I could start on the final version. Not white, not black, but purple and dotted, like this:
I know, the picture is a little blurry. But this is what it will actually look like when people are looking at me. There’s an optical illusion involved that I didn’t think of when I bought the fabric. Just a nice little extra effect.
The third fitting still didn’t cover all. Since the dress was now in another fabric, it became clear that I have quite a hollow back, so I need to alter some more.
Next week, the last class before the party takes place. Let’s hope I’ll get to a fourth fitting. And, most importantly, that it fits.
