Abstract Floral Appliqué

Sometimes a project comes together even better than expected.

I will admit that I was disappointed when my first muslin of Vogue 9125 did not turn out exactly as I had hoped.

But sometimes having to work through a problem can really turn out for the best!

And I am quite pleased with how this dress turned out.  

Scaling up the design also made this one of the faster Alabama Chanin style projects I have worked on.

If there is anything that I would change about this garment, it would be the 100% cotton jersey, which stretched out slightly after wearing the dress all day.  Those many, many running stitches that created the appliqué certainly help to combat that problem, but the silhouette probably would have worked better with a little bit of extra recovery built into the textile. 

That said, I am not sure I would have enjoyed hand sewing through a fabric with lycra or spandex.  And I do not think that the issue is all that noticeable.

For the moment, I am going to keep my altered muslin.  I may end up adding some extra ease and trying to make this in a woven, or perhaps I will find a suitable knit that I really like.  I would love to get my hands on a heavier weight merino knit . . .

And now I need to think up another project with lots of hand stitching to keep my hand busy.  I keep meaning to play around with some wool felt as an appliqué medium, but I am starting to dream of Spring colors and fabrics, so that may have to wait until the Fall.  But I am sure I will find something else to keep me occupied until then!

Dress:  Made by me, Vogue 9125

Shoes:  Banana Republic
Earrings:  Banana Republic