Food and Fitness

Thursday, July 22, 2010

McCalls 5893 or the 1 year 1 hour dress


Okay I exagerated a little. I started making this dress about 11 months ago right after finishing this version. Then I got distracted by other projects, plus this one is made from an ITY knit and I wasn't quite sure it would wear as nicely as the last one. Through out the months, I would pick it up and complete a step or two, pin this, stitch that until finally I decided to finish it because the other dress actually works well in my somewhat limited Summer maternity wardrobe. I guess better late than never.

Pattern Description: Empire waist dresses A, B, C, D have hemmed, scoop necklines, side seam pockets and elastic casing at waist; dresses A, C and D have hemmed armholes; dress A has contrast bodice and hem band; dress B has sleeves gathered to sleeve band.

Pattern Sizing: B5(8-10-12-14-16), RR(18W-20W-22W-24W)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Mostly, I omitted the elastic at the waist. I don't need anything binding on my growing belly.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Instructions were super easy. I didn't really need them.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved that this dress had pockets and that it went together so quickly (in theory at least).

Fabric Used: ITY Knit

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I added two inches to the bodice length and one inch to the width to make sure I had full bust coverage. I had already re-drafted the pattern pieces the last time I made this so it made this part a breeze.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I probably won't make this again since this is my second one but I would definitely recommend it. It's so comfortable.

Conclusion: This dress is confortable, easy to sew and can be used easily as a maternity dress with minimal adjustment and still work as a transitional garment after baby.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Finally . . . Great News!

Thanks to all of you who have kept me in your thoughts over the last few months. Back in April I was trying to recover from a MS exacerbation and just could not understand why I couldn't shake it. After lots of tests we got the results, I'M PREGNANT!!!! This is definitely great and welcomed if not shocking news since we had a miscarriage last year and had been trying unsuccessfully for almost a year after that. Then a new waiting game began, getting past the "dangerous" period which for me with all the health issues was a little longer than most. But we're finally over that and to top it off found out that we are having a GIRL (techinically my third but my first bio) and my feet have not touched the ground. I still haven't mustered up the energy to sew but I am definitely more relaxed and relieved.