George & Ginger Mood Dress
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This dress incorporated so many new things! My first George & Ginger Pattern, first sew-along online and first time doing lace insert panels. I am delighted with how it came out.
The pattern is the George & Ginger Mood Dress, with pockets added. The fabric is both plain and patterned cotton with Chantilly lace. The patterned cotton is a dragonfly print which I have had for years, the plain is white muslin, and the Chantilly lace was leftover from my regency bonnet.
The pattern was easy to follow and went together well. I did have some trouble with the bust darts, and eventually came to the conclusion that the 3 dart configuration simply doesn’t work on me. I tried it with two darts and that worked much better. I also had to widen the armhole a bit.
Another first: the ‘burrito method’ of doing the neck and armholes. This is where, after you sew the neckline and turn it, you roll one side to the other so you can wrap it around the rolled side to match up the armhole lining and main fabric. It does work, however I prefer the method of pinning and sewing the neckline and both armholes all at once, and then pulling the back to the front through the shoulders to turn. I like being able to pin everything at once and make sure it is all smooth and even. But I am glad I tried a new method!
I didn’t follow the instructions when doing the lining since I do not have a serger and wanted all my rough edges inside. I did my bodice side seams by opening out the bodice and lining, and doing one long seam. Then when attaching the skirt, I only sewed it to the main bodice fabric and handstitched the lining in after. This takes longer, but gives a nice clean finish.
The lace-only stripe was interesting. Since I wanted the scalloped edge on the hem I had to cut the pieces on the bias, which meant being very careful not to stretch anything while sewing. But it worked out well, and the pattern even matched up perfectly on the front, quite by accident!
George & Ginger has a Facebook group where they do Sew-Alongs. It was fun to see everyone’s work in progress and gave me motivation to sew during the week. I did fall behind after a bit though, what with my lace overlays, added pockets and different lining method, not to mention disastrous baking endeavors. (I learned that one can’t make pastry in hot, humid weather. It simply does not work.) I loved seeing all the different versions of the same pattern at the end of the Sew-Along. I now have masses of inspiration to make another mood dress (or three!).
Bodice opened out for the continuous side seam.
Perfectly matched! I love it when I’m accidentally perfect.
