The universe wants me to make muslins

OK, I haven't posted in ages, mostly because I've been busy with other stuff, mostly work-related, and going to various meetings and events in an effort to network to get my consulting business jump-started a little bit. But also because I'm pretty frustrated with my sewing right now.

I have been sewing sewing sewing but there's always something wrong with almost everything I make. I made the Burda shirt dress, but had to take up the shoulders and then couldn't get the collar to work again, so I did it without the collar, which doesn't look as good as I wanted, but I didn't have any fabric left to recut the collar in a size that will fit. And now I've also noticed that the darts need taking in because it's too big and looks a little like a maternity dress.

I'm making Butterick 4973 in a nice olive green knit, and it is simple and will be great... if I can only get the neckline not to gape.

My striped corduroy pencil skirt rides up weirdly and has a big wrinkle across the front when I wear it. I have no idea what THAT's all about. I made it ages ago and haven't felt good about wearing it since because of this problem.

I can deal with the darts on the shirt dress, but the rest is making me crazy. The only things I've made that have really worked out for me so far are the center view of Vogue 8300 in a black denim (the facing's wonky but it's on the inside and doesn't show so it counts as ok), my easter dress
which is nice but not often wearable, and the grey knit dress I wore all around NYC. Which I guess is pretty good, that's 3 things, but I'm working on so many more that are not working out! And I'm tired of using my seam ripper all the time.

anyhow I'm just ranting now. but it's driving me nuts and causing me not to really want to post here like I had been before. I think the universe is telling me to make muslins from now on, but darn it I don't want to!!

Dancing on the Bar in a dress I made myself

Holly Dancing on the Bar at Yogi's
Originally uploaded by fishbellywhite.

I haven't been posting because I was out of town. We went to NYC and guess what! I got engaged!

This is the actual dress I was wearing when he proposed, made from Vogue 8145. This is a highly embarrassing picture as I was drunk and dancing on a bar at the time, but it's the only one I have showing the whole dress so I had no choice but to use it. I live to serve.

The dress was originally 3/4 sleeved the way I made it, but it was unexpectedly hot in NYC and I realized that one of the advantages to having made the dress myself was that I could just cut the sleeves off myself if I wanted and not feel that I was messing it up somehow.

Also, it was knit jersey fabric so it won't unravel where it was cut. It is a VERY comfortable dress and I'm quite happy with it. I made it pretty much just like the directions said, except that the ties are not as wide because I folded them over and sewed them into tubes to turn inside out instead of just hemming them as the instructions suggested. And I found the way they were tied on the pattern envelope highly unflattering on me, so I just wrapped them around in a sort of empire waist instead and it changed the whole look for the better. Basically I wore the thing all weekend, with red ballet flats and a red cardigan for when it was chilly.

I also took and wore the duro dress I made but don't seem to have any pics so I'll have to get some another time to post, or see if our NYC friends took any that they can email me.

I almost didn't make it to the garment district because of the aftermath of the night this picture was taken--I was VERY hungover--but finally dragged myself over there and bought some very nice fabric which I will take pictures of and post in the next few days, along with my plans for it. This other picture is me at Mood. My mood: hungover. In other words not so good. But it was fun anyhow.

And just because, I'm also adding a picture of the engagement ring which is an antique sapphire with white gold filigree. N. proposed at Katz's Deli, which I thought was awesome. This was right after I said yes. With a chopped liver sandwich. N. had pastrami, and we both had chocolate egg creams.