I made this dress in some lovely lemon fabric a few years ago and my big comment was to use a nice floaty fabric that draped well if I did it again. That first version suffered because the elastic was too tight. I put a lot of effort into getting the straps to sit well and the elastic just right but I overdid it and the tight elastic bothered me. I thought ended up with the straps too short - the bust darts were a ways above my bust. I think a looser look matches the silhouetter better - he dress rather should loosely skim rather than grabbing around the chest and then it will billow out less over the bum.
So despite my fabric thoughts, at some point I decided to make it again using a beautiful scrap of waxed cotton. The, you know, least drapey fabric. I was really cheated when I bought this most beautiful piece - I paid for a meter and I think it's 80 cm x 80 cm. I needed a dress that would be a full length canvas for it. The Tessuti Claudia dress (which I literally have printed out but have never sewn) would have been a great choice...but I have some weird aversion to making it. Every time I look at the pattern I think oooh! I would love that! So I am not sure why it never makes the cut.
I needed a fabric for the back. Some thought here, went for a dark navy linen, but something about it was not quite right - it was really quite heavy. After awhile I went shopping again and this time got a linen/viscose, a bit lighter weight, and matching the deepest navy parts of the design.
Sewing the dress is very fun, it's one of those patterns that come together with satisfying neat angles. Yet again I put a lot of time into getting the elastic at the back to be just right and the straps just right. I have very sloping shoulders which are not symmetrical, so these wide straps need to be separately angled and sewn in.
I think the dress is so pretty and the pockets of course are amazing. I wore it to a wine festival and got lots of compliments, but I noticed right away that the right side strap is way too loose- I haven't quite got the angle right. This is fixable, and probably expected considering my shoulders. It is annoying enough that I'll put the time into fixing it. Unlike last time I think I left the entire length of the straps inside the lining so I could adjust as needed, but I also didn't need to cut much off to make them fit - suggesting they are about 2" longer this time.
Overall a relative success (I have NOT done the fix yet) but a bit tricky to get a perfect fit as I really need the straps just right or I get very annoyed. I'm looking at these photos and suddenly realised I should cross the straps across the back. Not at all bra friendly but it would solve my problems!
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