Pattern: The amazing Bryant Gown from Charm Patterns aka Gertie. I loved this one as soon as I saw it - the mermaid shape, the off-the shoulder neckline, swoon!
Materials: A gorgeous floral cotton/poly from Hawaii Fabric Mart. Delightful to sew, so forgiving. I looked all over for a large print, affordable floral fabric for this dress, and I should have just looked at Hawaii Fabric Mart first. Noted for the future.
Cost: $36 for 8 yards of fabric, plus about $3 for a zipper and thread. Good thing I was able to find a decent priced fabric for this dress, considering the yardage, because the pattern was also $22 for the PDF version, plus another $4 or so to print it. That brings the total for this project to around $65.
Timeline: I bought the pattern on September 9th, planning to wear this dress to a wedding on October 2nd. I hemmed it the morning of the wedding, so it all worked out juuuust in the nick of time.
Sizing, mods, changes and notes on fitting: I made a size 12 with an H bust for this dress. The beauty of these patterns is that they are drafted for a variety of cup sizes. Since I have to do a Full Bust Adjustment for every top or dress I sew, this is a HUGE win for me. Obviously there are still small fitting tweaks to make, but this, alone, saves me so much time and effort that I would consider the cost totally worth it. For this project, I did not start cutting and sewing until a week before the wedding, and I took the chance and did not make a muslin. AND LOOK AT THAT FIT! Again, 100% worth it for me and my body type.
I went with the VERY dramatic lantern sleeves, and almost second guessed myself and cut the smaller cap sleeves. I'm glad I stayed the course! However, my arms are very thin and these sleeves ended up a little big, so I intend to go back and take them in.
One big note about this dress is the length. I am 5'8" and I took a lot off at both the end of the bodice (aka around the knees) and then again off the bottom. Although the drafting was generally great, I did have to even up the bottom of the bodice after easing in the princess seam, plus an additional inch or so. And then another 3" at the bottom of the dress for hemming, for a total of 5" off. Honestly, I would rather have it this way, since I am on the tall side, but if you're a shorty, consider taking off length during cutting. Oh, and I am wearing the dress with flats, not heels. Secret comfort!
Feelings about this project: I absolutely love it, and I want to make a second one. I'm thinking the short version in stretch velvet with cap sleeves!
Feelings about myself: When I decided I was going to attend this wedding, I knew I wanted to make a fresh dress. Since I have gained weight over the last year and a half, I didn't really have any formal dresses that felt very ME. This dress makes me feel amazing. I love it, it fits beautifully and makes me feel gorgeous and sexy! What more could I ask from a GOWN?!
Feelings about the world: This was an outdoor wedding of vaccinated people, and it felt so good to be out in the world again, celebrating the love of my friends!
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