The Aubergine Dress

Hi everyone. Thank you so very much for your wonderful comments to the previous post... as well as for the kind emails... I treasure them so much. Thank you!

On Thursday evening, I finished the dress I might wear at church tonight, and shall wear at my parents' on Sunday. I'm not sure yet whether I'll wear it tonight, as it might be a bit chilly by the time the Easter Vigil begins (9 pm). I'll be one of the two cantors at the Vigil, and you can't sing right if you're shivering! I wore it at church yesterday evening, and it was colder in the church than outdoors.

I didn't think the Floraison dress would be quite right for church. It is gorgeous, and I love it (and thank you for telling me you loved it too! ), but I don't want to be too conspicuous, you know? Besides, although the neckline was raised a fair bit as compared to the original pattern, it remains pretty sassy, and I don't think I'd be comfortable, wearing this in front of a whole congregation.
You may remember I got New Look 6429 a few weeks ago. I decided to use that pattern, along with a very dark mauve jersey I bought a couple of weeks ago. I love the colour because it is just as classy as black, yet more original than black. (it's close to DMC 3802, antique mauve v. dark, for you stitching friends!)

*Pattern*
My, that pattern runs large! I was warned by some reviews at patternreview.com, so I made it in the smallest size. I still had to take another 1.5 cm off each side, and then some. This is good news for plus sizes: even though the pattern goes up to a size 18, it will probably fit sizes 20-22, as well.
Apart from that, and as many of the ladies at patternreview.com acknowledged, too, the design of this dress is original and classy, especially for a cheap New Look pattern. There are no side seams, which is a nice change and gives a flowing figure.

*Alterations*
Besides the aforementioned fitting alterations, I altered the neckline and bodice. First, I raised the neckline (again!), and I raised it more than on the Floraison dress. Second, I used another one of Ann's great tips, this time to elasticize the neckline. That means even though this is a (mock) wrap dress, the wrapped bodice can absolutely not gap - it will stay snugly wrapped against my chest.
Once I did that, and tried the dress on, I realized I needed to take in the top bodice parts a bit more so that the elastic would be taut, instead of rippling. (I just wanted to take in the elasticized top edge, not the whole bodice).
Another thing is, the drapé didn't look quite right to me, partly because it started a bit too low, partly because altering the neckline so it wouldn't ripple had, well, ripple effects on the gathered part. I ripped that part at least six times (which is not funny, on that type of fabric, and with an elastic seam!), but still it wasn't quite right. It was OK, I guess, but not perfect, and I knew I wouldn't wear the dress if it wasn't.

I almost gave up, then took a deep breath on Thursday night, made myself some herbal tea and put Cecilia Bartoli on (ah, she always helps!). Then I totally undid the seams on that side (you have 3 layers there: side part, right gathered bodice, and left bodice, which sits underneath the right bodice in real life, and is therefore over the gathered part when the dress is inside out). I flipped the left bodice over to see the gathers and basted the whole thing by hand, rearranging the drapé as I really wanted it. Once I was sure it worked, I sewed it one last time, and it finally looked fine.

As you can see, the back construction is interesting as well.
(the spot at the bottom of the dress was on the camera lens)

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I also added a reversible Toile de Jouy tote to the boutique:

Two styles in one tote!
I plan on adding more goodies today.

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I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend.
It means so much to me, singing on the Easter Vigil tonight. I was baptised during the Easter Vigil 9 years ago (can it really be nine years?). I just hope the emotion won't mess up my voice! My singing friend Cathy told me bananas would help me control my nervousness. Thanks, Cathy!

I'll be spending Sunday and Monday at my parents', celebrating my brother's birthday and playing with my nephew Robin. Can't wait!

Have a great weekend everyone.