Seanwork Mesa Dress = fail

I'm still on the hunt for a go-to dress pattern and I'm sad to say that the Seamwork Mesa Dress is not it. I think it's more my body's fault rather than the dress, but I'm still a tad disappointed. There's no photos of me in the dress as I don't need those images out in Internetland forever.

I sewed this up in a 2XL leaving the length at a 3XL. I had read on various blogs that the dress was quite short so I added an inch to the length, which was totally unnecessary as it was way too long and frumpy (I'm about 172cm FYI). I found the sleeves to be very loose, I'd prefer them more tighter as it's a more flattering look. The sleeve heads also didn't seem to sit quite right? I also found the neck to be very wide - sitting to far out on my shoulders and also a tad too deep. I also eliminated the side-split as I'm not into that sort of thing.

I had hoped the shape of this dress would be sort of straight down from the shoulders, but on me it clung to every curve, lump and bump -- more body-con style, which is not a good look on me as I have a fat tummy/thick waist. This may explain why I've not seen the Mesa made up by any curvy/plus-sized bloggers.

Oh well...on to the next project.

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Pattern: "Mesa Dress" by Seamwork Magazine
Size: 2XL, sewn with 3/8" seam allowance.
Modifications: 1 inch added at the lengthen here line, removed the side-split.
Fabric: Hmm....something stretchy and cheap from My Hung
Changes for next time: none, I won't be making this again.

Me Made May 2016

I've decided to take plunge and join Me Made May again this year.

I, Melanie from made-by-melanie.blogspot.com and @whatpiggydeos, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '16. I endeavour to wear two me-made garments each week during May 2016 (one more than my pledge last year). I will also consider the me-made garments in wardrobe first to see if there is an option I can wear over RTW in a hope to changing my mindset towards my me-made wardrobe. And lastly, during May 2016 I'm going to finish that darn toile of the Moneta dress that I started but then cast aside. 

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Stiff as a board Tessuti Tokyo Jacket

I had initially ear-marked this fabric to go in the "swap" pile for our recent Sydney Spoolettes fabric swap as I knew I would never make a dress out of it as originally planned (woven dress + me = no thank you). Now that I've been sewing for a few years I do have quite a few pieces in the stash that are just not "me"...hindsight really is 20/20.  However, I did quite like the fabric and couldn't quite bring myself to part with it.

I have been keen to make another Tessuti Tokyo Jacket and this seemed like as good as any fabric as any to try it out in a bigger size. I knew the jacket would be quite stiff as it's similar to a cotton drill but it's REALLY stiff...which I suppose is not quite dissimilar to how a traditional kimono must feel when you have all the various layers on. I feel swamped and engulfed by the fabric!

I think this is one of those makes that looks WAY better in photos than it does in real life. In fact I'm quite chuffed with how nice it looks in these photos with a simple, fitted black midi-dress. I was going to donate this to Vinnies, but perhaps I'll hang on to it for a bit and see if an occasion pops up where I can wear it.

This was a fairly easy sew (partly as the fabric was so stiff), but like my first Tokyo Jacket (made in a very shifty fabric) the neckband gave me trouble...which is why the pattern tells you to baste the neckband before sewing it with your machine. The neckband kind of "grew", the result of which you can see on the right of the photo below -- it's not flush with the hem (which also happened with my first jacket...also not basted. I've learnt my lesson for next time).

Also, you can see the top stitching on the left is "on" the neckband; but on the right it's on the jacket. This is because I sewed from the wrong side and not in the ditch like the instructions say so I couldn't see what was happening on the right side...and also because I didn't baste the neckband down. Lazy me got what she deserved, but by this stage I was SO over the jacket and ready to move on to something else.

Once we're back into summer sewing I will make this pattern again with some fabric I bought a few years ago in Malaysia. It's softer, but not super drapey or slinky so should be easy to sew with but be nicer to wear.

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Pattern: "Tokyo Jacket" by Tessuti
Size: XL
Modifications: none
Fabric: something or other woven from Clear It in Melbourne.
Changes for next time: none, other than better fabric choice.