I love this dress! It was on sale and it fit. The fit part never happens to me. It was almost perfect -- I wanted it longer (a lining was just wishful thinking).
I'm at the point now that when I order clothes from Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack, I leave them hanging in my office. There's no use in hauling them home and back downtown to the store for alterations.
This dress made it home; I figured I could live with the length. However, after some serious mirror study, I couldn't. My knees are not pretty. I like for them to be covered, even as a dress swings while I walk. Compounding the issue is the amount of fabric needed to make the back hemline match the front.
I know I'm taking modesty to a new level. This means my hemlines are always incorrect according to both where hemlines should fall based on your shape and the current fashion trends. (I am so thankful the midi is still going strong.)
This dress had a nice deep hem. The fabric is a Swiss dot cotton blend. Surely, I could let it out. Unused though it may be, I still own a sewing room. I had the day off and I needed domestic creative therapy. This would benefit my knees more than baking anyway.
First, let's see what we're working with.
About 1/2" of the edge was turned under. No need to press that out now. I might need it later 😅. It's been a minute ok.
I do love my clapper. We do great things together.
Here's the not so great. I had to put a press cloth underneath the fabric because the excess water on the ironing board stained the fabric. Whoever heard of such foolishness?! That's bottled water and a not-so-cheap Reliable ironing board and Rowenta steam station. (As I write this, the hemmed dress has been soaking overnight in Oxi-Clean.) I need a dauber.
I got to break out my new skirt hem marker (like literally take it out of the shipping box). I got it in September. My Dritz one died. It wasn't very sturdy and it always seemed to be in the way. After years of getting bumped around and moved, it gave up the ghost. This new one is messier, but I'm not above admitting assembly or user error. The clip that holds the chalk on the pole is better than the old one and that's all that matters.
Here's the surprise of the day: what I thought was a 1/2" turned under hem actually varied in depth. Curse you fast fashion 😒
Make it work and keep moving.
I am not above machine basting. (I wanted to wear this Sunday.) It's been so long, I had to check the manual for bobbin winding instructions.
I now have a longer hemline with a topstitched hem. I ended up changing the top thread to a lighter color.
I miss learning to sew. I recently threw away my previous sloper tracings. All that paper was getting on my nerves. I have been inspired by a recent fit clinic post about the Cashmerette Upton Dress. I do love that dress.
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