FITTING: By Hand London 'Anna' muslin/toile - I need your help with fitting (part 1).

And here she is, my Anna wearable toile/muslin, almost completed.

Fabric from my stash, it's cotton dad got from Vietnam for me in November 2012. 

I only had 2m of fabric so the skirt neither midi or maxi - just made do with the length left over after I cut out the bodice. 

The neckline and arm holes are finished with bias binding. 

Bodice seams frenched and skirt seams serged.

It's been 44C degrees for four consecutive days in Melbourne so haven't been sewing this week. Bloody heatwave. My sewing room is like an oven. I would have died if I stayed in that room for a sewing session; someone would have noticed my absence on social media (probably my sister) and I'd be found in my bra and undies, with a yellow tape measure around my neck, holding the Anna dress.

Last night (aka day 3 of heatwave) I sat in the lounge, which  thankfully has aircon, and handpicked the zip. I tried it on one last time before hemming and found some problemos...

Fitting issues:

• Hem at the back is lower than the front
• The waist seam doesn't sit 'straight', it dips towards the back
• The front bodice seems to ride up, I keep feeling the need to pull it down

My measurements are:

• bust 78cm
• waist 68cm
• hips 90cm

I cut a size 2/6 bust and graded out to a 6/10 waist. 

Even though my hips corresponded with size 2/6, I cut a 6/10 to match up with the waist. Would this have anything to do with the hem being longer at the back.front bodice riding up?

Anna size chart from By Hand London website.

I really want my Anna to be perfect the next time round, so for once I will do the right thing and fix the problem areas properly before moving on to the real version. 

I found the Anna pattern easy to make. By Hand London's patterns are superb! I read the instruction booklet cover to cover. 

The real version will be the maxi with thigh high slit. I need it completed by 23rd February to wear to a wedding, my best friend is getting married, yippee!

So, I really need your help, please comment below with what you think is wrong with fit and what modifications to make on the pattern before I cut out the next version. 

I appreciate all advice so please give me any thoughts you have. 

I reached out on Twitter last night and got a lot of helpful suggestions but I wasn't able to get gross, sweaty photos till today and I thought this deserved a blog post as 140 characters is not enough!

Is it a swayback?

Do I need a FBA?

Do I need a bigger size?

Help, help help.

Thanking you ladies in advance! 

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WIP Butterick 6582 Retro 60s Dress.

Hi all! 

How's it all going? Just a follow up from my old post about the death of Google Reader and the confusion about finding a replacement, has everyone made the switch to Feedly?? That's what the whole internet is doing, apparently!! 

I made a Feedly account, but haven't used it much. Even though I have dissed Bloglovin' in the past I've found that I'm still relying on Bloglovin' to follow all my blogs. 

Now on to sewing!! Three weeks ago (seems like forever-ago) I set up my sewing room and started a new project - B6582. I got as far as putting the shell together and cutting the lining out one Saturday afternoon after kettlebells - last time I will attempt to sew after strenuous exercise!! My hands were shaking so much that my cutting ended up being jagged and so off! Since then, Saturdays are my kettlebells, brunch & nap days. I haven't even been going out that much on Saturday nights cos I'm so wrecked from my work out. So. Un. Fit.

Today was a public holiday so I made the effort to do some sewing. I'm kind of embarrassed that every Monday when I come to work and my friends ask if I did any sewing, my reply has been "um, no.." and that new friends I have made in the last few months don't even know that I sew cos I haven't been doing much of it! 

This is what I managed to do today in 6 hours... (a lot of the 6 hours I was texting and tweeting, lol).

#selfie

I sewed the darts on the lining, put the bodice lining together and sewed the lining and the shell together using the 'bagging' technique (tutorial here).

Bagging this bodice, finally.

The pattern actually has facings not lining, but of course I had to be a smart ass and go with lining and put myself through the torture of sewing a bunch of darts on stupid fraying polyester!!!! Grr!!!!

I spent the afternoon swearing my head off because there was shit fraying everywhere and thread flying all over the place. My sewing machine was making strange noises (turned out it needed a new needle). 

Bagged. Now to sew up the side seams.

The lining I bought was sunsilky polyester (the best kind of polyester lining - it's treated so it's breathable) but for some reason my sunsilky felt stiff, cheap and nasty. Who. Knows.

Here is the end product.

Faux wrap.

Cute gathered shoulders.

Butterick 6582 bodice.

I am so glad this step is over! Next up is the skirt. Full gathered skirt has not failed me so I'm going with that style again. Unlined, thank Christ.

I'm so keen to do a finished project post and have a new dress to wear!!!!! Hopefully finish it this month.

To be continued...
PS. Hope the Aussies had a good Queens Birthday :)

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