BWOF 07/2009-104

This poor dress has been cut out and half sewn for almost a year! I don't generally create UFOs, but I was pregnant with Duncan when I started this one, and I just couldn't make myself work on something I couldn't wear.

The pattern is BWOF 07/2009-104, which is a basic A-line shirt dress, shaped at the waist with elastic shirring. It features a collar with stand, and the pattern calls for flat felled shoulder seams so that the sleeves can be rolled up artfully. I decided that was too much work (both the seams and keeping them rolled up) so I shortened the sleeve to elbow length and elasticated the hem.

I also underlined the dress portion, since my fabric (an embroidered cotton/lycra shirting from FFC) was semi-sheer.

Burda called for shirring the waist panels by zigzagging over elastic cord, then pulling the cords to a designated measurement. I'm not terribly confident of my ability to zigzag over cord without catching it in the stitching, so I thought about shirring with elastic thread in the bobbin, but you don't have much control over the finished size that way, so I elected to use clear elastic, cut to the finished length per the pattern.

Here is the inside of the back waist panel, with the elastic in place. I like the way it worked. The elastic feels sturdy but still soft and comfortable, and the fit is excellent.

You can see how nicely the elastic shapes the waist. There is just a tiny bit of negative ease - hence the three tightly spaced buttons at the waistline. I also like the way the underlining serves to give the skirt body. I was going for a casual, comfortable dress and didn't want to wear a slip or petticoat with it.

From the back, the bodice blouses over the waistline and the skirt echoes the A line shape. It's surprisingly shapely for a completely shapeless dress. It's amazing what a bit of elastic can do.

What do you think? I'm pretty happy, although maybe I should put on my pearls and clean the house.