Serendipity Studio "Marilyn"

Posted by Kristin on Thursday, June 6, 2013.

I was so excited when this pattern came out and bought it immediately.  For my fabric I used Amy Butler's Lark Souvenir in Persimmon.  Nothing could go wrong, right?  Beautiful dress pattern, beautiful fabric, I was ready!

Except once again my body is WAY outside the pattern sizings.  My waist fit, but that was it.  The pattern states that it is sized for the average woman: 5'4" with a B or C bust.  My almost 5'9" frame with, well, let's just say 'larger bustline', required a few pattern adjustments.

As always, I first made a muslin as is with no changes.  It was lovely.  The upper waistband hit about mid bust.  The arms gaped in all sorts of lovely directions.  The entire bodice was about 3 inches too short.  And I had no idea how to fix it.  In the instructions, Kay (the designer), mentions that you may have to do a full bust adjustment (FBA) and to just Google it.  I've never done this.  So I follow her directions and looked it up and found loads of tutorials for patterns that have darts.  This dress doesn't have darts.  Wonderful.  I was on a roll at this point.  I eventually found a very well done tutorial at Lazy Stitching.

I ended up adding two inches in the FBA and another inch in length.  My new pattern piece looked nothing like the original.  Here is the original pattern placed on top of the new one...(am I really that big??? I can't believe I am posting this for the world to see.)



 I stitched up muslin #2 and voila!  It fit!  Now on to the dress!  Wait...I'm 5 inches taller than perfect woman that the dress was designed for so now I have to add 6 inches to the skirt pattern.  I decided on six inches because the pattern allowed room for a hem band which I wasn't doing.  I pulled out all my tissue paper and started cutting and taping all over again.  Now can I start sewing?

One of these days I'm going to realize that the whole gathered bust/high waist design is not a flattering look for me.  I'm too top heavy for it to look even sort of attractive.  I almost didn't finish the dress I was so disappointed.  But I did and here it is!

 I was playing around with settings on this one.  This is called "vintage".  Do I look vintage-y?

 Here it is from the side.  I didn't realize until I was done that my eye make up was smeared across my cheek.  I spent my day filing what felt like a year of special ed paperwork.  Plus it was rainy all day.  So I'm a hot mess.  And that thing on the floor behind my feet?  It is not a giant spider, it was once a cat toy.


Here is a close up of my ginormo bust.  It isn't actually as bad as I thought it would be once I got the facing in around the neckline. 

I may keep it.  I may chop the bodice off and turn it into a skirt.  At this point I'm so tired of working on it that it is just going to hang in my closet for a bit.  



Here is my parting shot...can you tell I haven't quite figured out the timing mode on my camera?  It is titled "Run away, run away!".  I'll be selling signed prints in my shop.

Not really.

9 Responses to Serendipity Studio "Marilyn"

  1. Danielle

    I think it looks great .
    I use the gathered bust/high waist design all the time ;)

  2. Christine

    I really like this dress, It looks good on you. I know we are all critical of ourselves, but I really like it on you!!! I need to make this dress, I just love it!!!

  3. Sewing by Shirley

    Very nice!

  4. Susan

    Your dress is beautiful and you look beautiful in it!! Keep it!

  5. Kristin

    Once I got over doing my modifications (I'm relatively new at this), it was quite easy to put together! And my biggest issue is how I perceive my own body...

  6. Kristin

    Thank you!

  7. Kristin

    I did keep it. And I wore it out to an event. And saw myself in pictures and thought it looked ok. Thank you!

  8. Lyric

    Bravo, bravo. Saw your post over at Gertie''s and just had to stop for a look see. I am proud of you and you chose my fav colors red/white.

    Sewing hugs to you, girl.

    More thread,

    Lyric

  9. Sherri's hobbies

    The dress looks really pretty on you. I hope you wear it often.

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