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body shape angst
Nov. 18th, 2012 08:56 amI've been making a dress and I'm quite concerned that it won't suit me. You don't get to try on dresses before you make them.
Last week I thought I had the skirt for the dress sorted out. I'd carefully measured my fabric and worked out how much skirt I could fit into it. Then I made a prototype and finished it (except for the hem which doesn't count) yesterday. It's a 2 circle circular skirt, and it looks fine. If I squint and get rid of my belly, it even looks awesome.
So last night I finished off the patterning of the dress bodice and cut out the lining for the last test fit. Yay, that all worked and then I measured how much fabric I have left after cutting out the bodice in the dress fabric. Damn! I have less fabric than I thought so I need to rethink the skirt and I don't have time to make a prototype again. I just need to make a decision and go for it.
This site talks about body shape and the best skirts for what body shape. According to it, "the full circle skirt is almost one-shape-suits-all" and I do have enough fabric for a single circle.
Then I had another look at the dresses I liked from the Vintage Pattern wiki. In particular, this one. It looks like a circular skirt with pleats and the description in the entry calls it a "full, four-gore skirt with unpressed pleats". So I went looking for the back of the pattern. to try to understand what a four gore skirt is. The back of the pattern packet includes a picture of the pattern pieces. The skirt is actually a rectangular skirt with a hem to waist ratio of 4-5:1. Wow, that would be so easy to make!
This morning I was struck with indecision. The full circle skirt has more potential for problems, but is possibly more flattering. The full gathered skirt will be easier but might just result in over-emphasising the shelf of my hips. Thanks to this blogging, and re-finding Gertie's version of the full gathered skirt - Gertie is not too far from my shape and I like the look of the skirt she made, I've decided to go with the easy option. I may need to make a petticoat too, but I'll see how stiff my cotton sateen will be, especially with a deep hem.
Last week I thought I had the skirt for the dress sorted out. I'd carefully measured my fabric and worked out how much skirt I could fit into it. Then I made a prototype and finished it (except for the hem which doesn't count) yesterday. It's a 2 circle circular skirt, and it looks fine. If I squint and get rid of my belly, it even looks awesome.
So last night I finished off the patterning of the dress bodice and cut out the lining for the last test fit. Yay, that all worked and then I measured how much fabric I have left after cutting out the bodice in the dress fabric. Damn! I have less fabric than I thought so I need to rethink the skirt and I don't have time to make a prototype again. I just need to make a decision and go for it.
This site talks about body shape and the best skirts for what body shape. According to it, "the full circle skirt is almost one-shape-suits-all" and I do have enough fabric for a single circle.
Then I had another look at the dresses I liked from the Vintage Pattern wiki. In particular, this one. It looks like a circular skirt with pleats and the description in the entry calls it a "full, four-gore skirt with unpressed pleats". So I went looking for the back of the pattern. to try to understand what a four gore skirt is. The back of the pattern packet includes a picture of the pattern pieces. The skirt is actually a rectangular skirt with a hem to waist ratio of 4-5:1. Wow, that would be so easy to make!
This morning I was struck with indecision. The full circle skirt has more potential for problems, but is possibly more flattering. The full gathered skirt will be easier but might just result in over-emphasising the shelf of my hips. Thanks to this blogging, and re-finding Gertie's version of the full gathered skirt - Gertie is not too far from my shape and I like the look of the skirt she made, I've decided to go with the easy option. I may need to make a petticoat too, but I'll see how stiff my cotton sateen will be, especially with a deep hem.
