Monday, July 20, 2009

Colette Patterns - Macaron - Muslin

I'm not looking great but here's the muslin. I have some tweaks to work out I think. Overall, it fits well. I like the style and it makes it look like I have a bust. This is the size 0 which has these measurements: b:33", w:25", h:35". My hips are about an inch bigger and my bust is an inch smaller. I didn't put in the zipper; I just pinned it shut. In some of the photos you can see some weird fabric poking out from there. (Excuse the big honking wrinkles in the back skirt; it's a muslin.)

Fit problems- (1) I've been working on a sloper pattern with the help of my jacket instructor. She said I have a narrow chest but wide shoulders. I put the pattern on top of my fitting shell and decided to leave it alone except for moving the shoulders out an inch. That might have been a bit too much. But, can you imagine how tight it would have been across the shoulders without that extra 2"? (2) The waistband of the dress hits me at the bottom of my ribcage, not at my natural waist. This does make my legs look unnaturally long but is that the way it is supposed to fit? (3) It is tight, tight, tight at the midriff band. I think that if I added an inch or so to the bodice and moved the midriff band down it would solve problems (2) and (3). Right now it's at the ribcage and not at my narrowest part. (4) This dress is unhemmed. I will add an inch or two to the bottom since this is as short as I want this dress. (5) This dress is designed for a C cup. I will do a tiny SBA tuck to get rid of any extra bust space. I was surprised that it wasn't super big on top.

Pattern problems (maybe): (1) See how the top of the back bodice is all wrinkly? I really had to ease it into the bodice bottom piece. It seems to be extra wide. The khaki fabric is a stretch twill and I had to stretch it to fit the white. I'll take a tuck out of the white piece in the back and leave the khaki piece alone.


How do you like it? eta: I made the pictures bigger so you can see the details. Also, like the new red shoes? My husband, I love that guy.

ETA: I was getting a lot of SPAM on this post so I locked the comments. Feel free to comment about this dress on later or previous posts. :)

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Damn, you're fast! It's really cute, I would love to make it up with a sheer top for a formal occasion. Looks like you know exactly what to do to fix it. Good luck. (p.s. love the plea to Angie!)

Anonymous said...

I just cut out the pattern today and deciding what two fabrics in my stash will work. Your muslin looks great. It is an adorable style on you. You are so good about knowing your body and adjustments needed. I am going to measure and hold my breath that it fits!
You can really make it casual or dressy depending on fabric.

Jacqui said...

Just when I talked myself out of buying a Collete pattern, you've given me the bug again! I just love the faux strapless look. (Okay, I don't know if that's even a real style but that's what I'm calling it.) Love the shoes!

Rose said...

Love those shoes! You have good taste in husbands (one who buys you shoes must have many good qualities). The dress pattern is great. It sounds like you know what to do to fix it for you. Happy altering!! (I've heard that altering goes faster when you smile.)

JoanneM said...

This is the most darling pattern and is this the muslin fabric???? I love it. A great style on you. I may need some help from Angie too.............

Anonymous said...

Looks like it fits you great, Dawn. I went to colette's website and I have to say it looks much better on you than their model. I thought the dress was way tight on her. Can't wait to see the finished product. At the rate you sew, that could be tomorrow!
Love the red shoes. My mother always said that red shoes went with everything!
Cissie

Sue said...

Looking good - I think it should work for you, after you do the alterations.

lorenakitty said...

I was looking at this pattern yesterday & I'm thinking you've got midriff band where the designer planned it (this is often used as a slimming design element for those of us with tummies.) But-we sew because we want what we want...! If you move the midriff element down keep the current pocket placement & the rib cage slim. Honestly tho your muslin looks great!

Nancy K said...

I think that the shoulders are too wide. It looks like your shoulder joint is back almost to the original shoulder. I can't tell from the picture (pattern, not yours) if she is short waisted, or that this is supposed to be above your waist. It does look short on you. If you lengthen the bodice the skirt will fall longer too, so you may not have to add as much as you think.

katherine h said...

Well, my opinion, for what it's worth...I would move the shoulder seams back where they were. I have a wide back / narrow chest and the most successful alterations that I have done lately is to leave the shoulder width as is, curve in a narrower armhole on the front (are these multisized patterns? I would grade into a smaller size through the armhole and front side seam) and reduce the curve of the back armhole (grade out to a wider size through the back armhole). This reduces the width in the front chest, above the bust and adds extra width across the back, starting just above the armholes, without adding extra width at the shoulders. Not sure if I have said that clearly...

angie.a said...

Dang you're fast. And you ran with the chariot today too?? All I did was watch Bridget Jones' Diary. Oh wait...I did put the waistband on a pair of capri's. :D I actually think it's looking cute. I like the higher midriff thing, but I don't have my pattern here so I can't remember if its supposed to be at the waist or not?

Paulette said...

Dang cute!! I want that khaki fabric!!!

When we get together to work on jackets bring the dress so we can make adjustments if you want. L might even be able to drop in an check on our progress.

BTW...your eyes on the banner are freakin' me out!!

Gertie said...

Hey Dawn! I saw your comment about this on my blog. This is looking adorable!

The waistband on my macaron was also rather high (it starts on my rib cage and ends just where my natural waist starts), but I found that was a flattering look for my shape. Is that where yours is hitting? It's so hard to compare since we have such different figures! I think it looks great, but you could also get away with lowering it.

As for the top bodice wrinkling, I didn't have that problem at all. My pieces all fit together very smoothly. I'm sorry you're having trouble!

Let me know if there are more questions I can answer about my experience. Also, Sarai, the designer, is very sweet and helpful. I'm sure she would love to hear from you if you have questions for her.

BeccaA said...

Your muslin is so cute! My dress also had the waist band above my natural waist, so I widened the waist band so the bottom hits at the top of my waist now. Maybe you have all that extra fabric in back because of your shoulder alteration?? My pattern fit together perfectly. I agree with NancyK that the shoulders look too big. The dress is short. Even after adding an inch to the waistband, I added another inch to the bottom of the skirt and I'm only 5'1". Great shoes.

christina said...

I love the dress, can't wait to see how it turns out. Also, lots of LOL's at your banner, I started cracking up!

I got your note about the secret exchange, so excited you want to participate. Send me your contact info to christina at flyingweasel dot com

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