Work In Progress: Gray Ruffle Dress

So this is what I worked on this weekend. I'm not *thrilled* with it, and so I figured I'd put it up for your comments.

What's wrong:

-- the skirt was originally about 3" longer, which was WAY TOO LONG, Texas-compound long, but I'd already sewn on the ruffle, which meant I had to take it up from the waist. Which meant resewing the seams on either side of the center front and back piece (had already put in the pockets, too, so I didn't want to resew those seams).

-- I wanted to match the darts with the center front seams so I had to ease the front into the skirt and so it wrinkled. I think if I stay it with some twill tape it will stay stretched, but I haven't done that yet.

-- I thought I was ready for an elegant gray dress, monochrome and understated and all that, but now that I have one I think it needs some color. Where? I could sew middy braid around the neck and hem ... or, you know, I could just wear a yellow cardigan over it (which is what I'll probably end up doing anyway).

The weirdness on the right-hand side of the picture (left-hand side of the dress) is from pinning it -- I haven't put in the zipper yet. Nor have I sewn down the sleeve self-facings.

This dress came about because I (shock, horror!) managed to LOSE the pieces for this pattern:



I don't know where they went; all I know is that I can't find them. Arrgh.

So I took a six-gore skirt from a pattern I had NOT lost the pieces from (McCalls 3036, which I don't have a link to right now), did some rudimentary math and some pattern-piece surgery, and put together the skirt. Then I just slapped on the bodice from McCalls 8858 again.

Here's a few more pics:





Anyway, am I not thrilled about this dress because it's inherently not a thriller, or am I not thrilled about this dress because I had to do too much fussing with it? (Actually, the more I look at it the more fun I think it will be to wear, if I try not to overthink it too much. And if I finally wear a solid-colored dress, perhaps I could finally wear some of the colorful jewelry I've collected ...)

Thoughts?

Comments

[Anonymous]

I think it's the color, but if I were you, I'd bite the bullet and remove the skirt. Then I'd rip it out and start over so it lays the way you want. Then, I'd sew some bright red soutache around the neck, front and back. Red and grey go well together. Then I'd add the same soutache to the ruffle hem.

[Zigzag Baby]

I actually like it... I think it would look great with a red belt...

[kharma]

I would personally vote for either lime green or 60's mod orange piping (or just a nice addition of bias tape to take my normal method of trimming) around the neckline and sleeves. Add coordinating belt/sash at waist and it is awesome. The pockets could be handled in the same manner.Electric blue could also work, but I am less fond of that contrast with grey than the previous other two. That way, you get a pop of color that outlines the construction without making the dress busy when it was originally supposed to be understated. Then it's just understated with highlights.

[Anonymous]

The model on the pattern seems to be wearing a crinoline. That, combined with your general joie de vivre, would carry this off just fine.

[sweetpea]

Honestly, I feel the severity of the upper part of the dress fights with the ruffle. I think if you put in cap sleeves instead that might soften the whole thing--and then made a little belt (or cumberbund) out of a great remnant-something with a blue or green in it to tame that grey a bit. It could be gorgeous. Or orange piping - I like that!

[Beth]

I think what makes the ruffled skirt work is the original bodice...v-neckline with center front seam is sophisticated and a nice complement/contrast to full skirt with ruffles. Maybe that's what makes your version of the dress seem less than thrilling and more prairie girl gone, well, grey. I really love the skirt AND the color and think that next time you could totally rock it with a rethink on the bodice. In the meantime, a colorful cardigan and some killer shoes makes all things right again....

[celaine53f@comcast.net]

It so needs a red polka dot belt! With a gorgeous buckle!

[Callista]

I like it the way it is. Add some nice bright shoes and jewelry and it'll just make them pop. It's hard to tell when it's not on a person.

[Little Hunting Creek]

This dress cries out for Smart Accessories! Yellow or red and white shoes, a colorful necklace, a bright jacket or sweater, a thin belt... Cute colored buttons? Piping? You're right, it does need...Something. When you find that something, you'll know it.

[Jessica]

I think the color is very nice, but I like gray. This dress might be the perfect backdrop for any number of fun accessories!

[Toby Wollin]

I think you hate it for two reasons - one, that you had to 'make do' in terms of trying to recreate something that you had a picture of and KNEW you once had the pattern pieces for. A lot of sweat and anxiety invested there, I think - disappointment already. Then, you have this grey thing going, which I think might have worked if it had been made in something like dupioni - something that had some light-playing-off-the-surface thing going for it. So, I can understand your feelings of disappointment. There is part of you that wants to throw up your hands and resort to the 'plastic bag at the back of the closet' thing. I'm with celaine53f - this baby needs a wildly colored belt - she likes red polka dots. I'm thinking that if you are going to go with the yellow cardi, then I'd go with a wide yellow stretchy belt with a yellow patent buckle. Or red. Or fuschia. Or make an obi sash out of some way crazy plaid (as long as one of the colors is grey or black)dupioni and put the bow smack dab in the front. I would not invest another minute in trying to 'fix' the dress - that's like what my mom used to do with cutting my hair and I used to end up with super short hair which was STILL uneven.

[Jab]

Beautiful! I would buy it!

[Lydia]

I agree with the color complaint. Ruffles were not meant for gray. At least not *that* gray. Brightening it up with a cardigan or belt will certainly help--as might ditching the little V detail of the neckline. Too much whimsy in the wrong place, I think. The bodice in the original pattern was striking, but not whimsical. Does that make sense? Best of luck. My sewing mojo was not in attendance this weekend, either. Very annoying.

[Anonymous]

I think a cardigan with a pattern would look great, as well as colorful pins or a great necklace, bright flats, lots of ways to dress this up. I like it. It will look smashing on you, I promise! From Karen S.

[Nora]

My sewing mojo is off lately, too...I do my best sewing when it's warmer, and it's practically been knitting weather. That said, I think a yellow cardie, red shoes and a red belt and beads (or something) will totally resucitate this. I personally like the contrast between the ruffliness and the seriousness of the gray. Another thought would be to sew a few brightly colored rows of ricrack, at the hem and around the neckline, "midcentury Mexican" style.

[Summerset]

Perfect canvas for wild, bright accessories. Where's that yellow purse?

[astrojen]

Texas compound long......Erin you are so funny!!

[laura]

My two cents worth.... rip the skirt off (practicing perseverance and patience). Add rickrack (the color of your choosing) down the 2 center front seams and possibly around the neck edge. Remove the ruffles and reapply the fabric as large inverted pleats. Wear with a thin buckle belt to match the rickrack and matching cardigans and flats.Laura

[Anonymous]

I too like grey and I think it'll look lovely as is, once finished and accessorised (shoes, jewellery, cardie). I like the slightly serious top, serious colour, combined with the soft, playful ruffle of the skirt. Any one of your 'object of contention' summer short-sleeved cardies with that will look fab! Personally, I'd go for a soft orange, but yellow would look lovely too.

[Latter-Day Flapper]

I'm not quite seeing it yet. It's not saying "Texas compound" to me but it's kind of whispering "Mennonite-inspired". Not that there's anything wrong with Mennonite dresses, but it seems that that was not the look you wanted.Is it too big for the dressform, or is it supposed to fit like that? I think its bagginess is spoiling the effect, but that might be a problem that goes away on its own when worn on a proper human body and with a crinoline.

[libby]

I'm with your instinct about yellow. It screams for it. I see a wide sash: yellow with big white polka dots, your cardigan, and, if I must get up on the petticoat soap box, give that ruffle the support it deserves and find/make a yellow petticoat! It doesn't have to be enormous, but show off that ruffle, Girl, and the inherent silhouette of the design.

[Anonymous]

add a couple of internal bustles to the skirt near the hem. it will take it out of texas compound land and turn it into something you might wear in SoHO.Don't add rickrack or anything cute in a contrasting color. Yoiu may want to add a bit of texture or interest to the bodice or change the neckline a bit. add color with jewelery or with a cardigan.

[cindy]

Hi Erin- I am the same way with color---I love it and can't get enough, but I have to say I do feel good wearing a neutral,sophisticated color dress now and then. I love the dress and think I am going to run to Vogue for some grey! I might not like it as much if it didn't have the ruffle, but i think the steel grey and ruffle is the perfect combo. As for the length, I think you could get away with it a little longer and wear with cute sandals. If that doesn't work, how would it look with a shorted ruffle?

[Helen]

A thin yellow belt, preferably patent leather.

[Chris]

A very narrow scallop ruffle along the sleeve openings, methinks.