Sunday, June 21, 2015

Mortem's Tricks or Treats: The Galaxy is on Mortem's Dress-- New Look 6020

I used to be fairly proud of the fact that I haven't touched or owned a commercial sewing pattern during my journey through sewing self tutelage.

That is no more.

Yes, long are the days gone when I had and took the time to do all that self drafting nonsense-- all the aches, and pains of the ample amounts of trial and error.

Now, I am sitting on approximately 201 commercial sewing patterns, all acquired in the past 2 likely 3 years... and the collection just keeps growing. I don't even think I have that many repeat styles... I think...

It's like an infection that stays inflamed, and it's especially hard to ignore once you start seeing the pattern behind the annual $1.00 sales.

Last week, while we were in San Antonio looking for an apartment (which we ended up finding! Yay), Joann's was having a moonlight madness (or something to that effect) and their Simplicity patterns were all $1.99... I came back to New Mexico with less than I anticipated, but still more than my dear hubby wanted me to.

Along with a plethora of patterns (approximately 18), I also brought back a selection of fabrics I've had my eye on for some time... but never bought. Somehow, they stuck around Joann's roster long enough for me to finally make up my mind.

Among them was an eye catching galaxy print. The pattern may not be from this very recent haul, but I've been dying to sew it up since I bought it last year, but I kept flip flopping as to what I'd use for fabric, in my usual way.



This is New Look 6020. Princess seamed dresses with neckline variations, including options for clutch purses.



I chose view D, since princess seams and sweetheart necklines are, in my opinion, utterly timeless... like space! Heh... ok that was bad...


I was 60% convinced that this pattern would give me issues, particularly with the princess seams, what with the running disappointment that past New Look patterns have offered in ill-fitting dilemmas. 

This was not the case. 

This was a complete cake-walk. Other than my usual vertically challenged adjustments, this did not need anymore altering-- well, I did substitute the side zipper for an invisible one, and instead of 14 inches I opted for a 9 inch one. That being said, full bust adjustments are going to be needed for those of you who are well endowed. I stayed up all night to sew it up, though that was completely unintentional-- the sun decided to bring me back to reality while I was binge watching Orange Is The New Black on Netflix.

It's 6 am and I am heading to bed!
So, from when I started copying the pattern, making the alterations on my muslin, and sewing up the final garment, and of course pausing for long intervals to pay attention to what was going on... this dress took roughly 8 hours.

It was during one of those "I am paying attention to the good parts!" that Khan decided to lay and claw on my work, and got more than he bargained for.

Ouch. I know your pain, Khan

I heard a little yelp, and turned around fast enough to see him jump higher than I've ever seen him jump. This is not the first time he messed with my sewing projects, but it was the first time it bit back.
Thankfully it was just a superficial little pin prick he suffered, but it sure taught him what for. I thought for sure the iron would teach him the lesson, as he tried many times to nuzzle the plate while it was on, inching closer and closer each time.

When the night was over, little Khan and I retired to our safe and comfy bed... after I finalized the entire night with a few shots of the entire dress.




It's truly amazing what a little bit of eyeliner, a touch of red lipstick, and a quick pat down with some hair pudding will do to a sleep-deprived person.

Going back to the subject of having so many patterns, I came to the realization that at my current pace I will never sew and enjoy all these wonderful garments just waiting to come to fruition in my lifetime. So, for my 27th birthday (next week) I have decided to attempt to sew a garment a week at most, or two garments a month. It'll take tremendous efforts in time management (which I always fail horribly because I get hooked on gaming or show watching), but I am very determined!

Wish me luck!

25 comments:

  1. Awesome! I tried to schedule a garment a month, I seem to be failing miserably at it lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suspect I'll fail too, but not before I get a few done... and that's good enough, I guess lol

      Delete
  2. That fabric is so pretty, and the finished dress looks lovely. I wish we had cool prints like that available in Finland, but no... thank goodness for ebay!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I am glad for ebay too!
      We may have cool prints, but other countries have the coolest sewing notions. =P

      Delete
  3. This dress really is galactic! Do not refrain from commercial patterns, they can make your life a little easier if the design is what you are searching for. Although I have more of a simplicity figure, I always have to make some changes in New Look...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to be a snob about it, and I have no idea why... glad I booted that part out of me. Commercial patterns are such a time saver. I've used basic patterns as slopers for designing costumes for clients at work.

      I don't think I have the technical body type for any pattern company that I've tried-- I'm too short! But this one surprised me in that, I've always had to do a small bust adjustment along with my decreases but I didn't have to.

      Delete
  4. Love it! The fabric is perfect for that style dress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Truly-- I am beginning to favor bold patterns and simple silhouettes.
      Thank you!

      Delete
  5. Gorgeous! I love to see how the pattern looks when done with such a cool fabric!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too! I really want to further experiment with bold prints.

      Delete
  6. I've got this one in my stash, so good to know it's easy. Great choice of fabric!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is! It's perfect if you're in a wardrobe funk and don't have the motivation to take too long to create something to get you out of that funk lol

      Delete
  7. Looking at the fabric in the first picture, I never would have guessed it would turn out that cute! I really love it!! How on earth can you stay up that late sewing? I'd be face planting on the ironing board. LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's one of the reasons it took me so long to buy the print, I could not see it in anything... but then that pattern came along, and when I revisited the fabric, it was the proverbial lightbulb going off.

      I haven't done it in a long time, believe me lol
      But I was so engrossed in the show, I simply lost track of time.

      Delete
  8. That dress is super cool!

    I've been considering if I should drop the "self drafted patterns only" policy, and realize that comercial patterns aren't actually evil and superficial, but can be a great aid and timesaver.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks!

      They kill off a days work for me. Self drafting takes a lot of math... which I am personally not very fond of doing lol. I mean, I did it, and it felt really great... but it feels even better having taken just a few hours to modify and reshape a commercial pattern to suit your design, and seeing the completed garment in that same day lol.
      Plus if you don't want to take the time to track down all your materials for a specific design, it's really nice to bang out dresses like this when you're in a wardrobe funk!

      Delete
  9. Wow!!! The dress is amazing! I love the print and it fits you so well!

    ReplyDelete
  10. That dress is so lovely on you! It's so nice and inspiring to see a fellow goth sewer posting projects. I'm looking forward to seeing all the pretty dresses you will be sewing up. keep up the good work! And I also watched a marathon of Orange is the New Black while sewing. Lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks!
      I had to follow you right back, it is really nice to see more goth sewists!

      Delete
  11. that's some awesome fabric you picked up. And you did a great job sewing it too

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have that same fabric, and I was planning to use that same pattern with it! I've hesitated though, considering the trouble I've had with New Look patterns in the past. I've considered purging my stash of their patterns! Glad to hear you didn't have trouble with this one. I might actually get to mine, eventually...

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...