Saturday, October 8, 2011

Muslin of Simplicity 2054 view C : articulate this

Hello! I started at 11am and finished this muslin at 3:15pm and that includes stopping for lunch. I wasn't as careful with some steps as I would normally be for the real thing, and I didn't iron it...but hurrah for a relatively fast dress!
Simplicity 2054 muslin view C done
I saw this brand new Cynthia Rowley pattern at the Simplicity booth and at the Simplicity runway show at the American Sewing Expo last month and bought it there.  I want to add the cowl collar of view A to View C for the real thing, but for now, the muslin of view C is enough.  (that cowl collar is a totally separate piece that lays on top of the dress like a scarf, by the way, very clever)
Simplicity 2054
I don't usually make muslins, but seeing as I'm going to use some good double knit from the Common Thread in Austin, TX, I don't want to mess this up.

The muslin fabric is a lime green 'clearance' fabric I bought online, thinking it was a great deal for double knit, without knowing that it actually has all these horizontal lines on it instead of being an even color.  It would have cost too much to mail it back and it's been fermenting in stash.

I first cut out a 14 grading to 16 at the hip but determined after the first try on that a straight 14 would be fine, woo!

It had an anticipated swayback issue:

Simplicity 2054 muslin view C in progress
which I fixed with a tuck which I sewed in. When I cut the real thing, I will add a CB seam and do the tuck in the tissue paper.
Instead of making the neckline as the pattern suggests, I finished it as follows (I need to find out what this finish is really called): Sew CB seam of binding. Pin binding  to neckline. Sew in a 3/8 seam. Flip binding to inside of garment. From outside of garment, using a ruler, pin the binding down so that it's right on the edge of SAs . From the outside, sew the binding down evenly from neckline seam. Done! Looks great! doesn't flip over or anything like that. The binding is unfinished on the inside, but it doesn't bother me. Also that makes the overall binding lower than what the pattern calls for, which I think is good.

So at this point I wanted to see what the sleeve of view C looked like; so it's one-sleeved. Do you like peek-a-boo elbow or does it look like a mistake??? I'm thinking when I make the real thing, my coworkers might think I seriously messed this one up. Note that you have to figure out where your elbow ends and adjust the pattern accordingly otherwise the slit will not be at the right spot. I had to adjust upward on the pattern by 1.5 inches.
Simplicity 2054 muslin view C in progress
Another sewing coworker identified it as an "articulated sleeve" like Becky did in episode 7 of Project Runway.
I finished the muslin off and I will wear it as a nightgown..without the belt of course!
Simplicity 2054 muslin view C done
Show me your elbows!
Simplicity 2054 muslin view C done
When my arms are down, it looks like this:
Simplicity 2054 muslin view C done
The real version will be a turquoise blue. I might start it today, yea!
Be well and healthy-healthy-healthy!

7 comments:

  1. I love that peekaboo elbow! Edgy. Now I want to make it for myself in black. ;)

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  2. Recognized that Rowley dress right off the bat. That's a nice night gown, and I know the real deal is going to be smashing.

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  3. Tammy from VirginiaOct 9, 2011, 6:00:00 AM

    Love the dress, but hate the peekaboo elbow. I think it will make the dress look trendy and very dated very quickly. The dress itself, though, looks really nice on you!

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  4. Your "real" dress will be smashing! The peek-aboo elbows are trendy, and if they are in your comfort zone, then by all means, go for it!

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  5. Super cute! I think you should keep the "articulated elbow" ;-)

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  6. I'm on the fence about the peekaboo elbow. I don't think it's for me. I can't wait to see your 'real' version!

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  7. What a cute pattern! I hadn't seen this one until now. I often use the same technique for finishing knit necklines. It's a good one. I love the unexpected slit in the elbow. If I were making this dress, and I just might after seeing yours, I would definitely sew the sleeves with no ease around your arm, or with a tiny bit of negative ease especially as you get down to the wrist. I think it would be a cleaner edgier look.

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