This is my first non-Burda Foreign Pattern Magazines for 2010. If you recall, my sewing resolution is to not purchase fabric in 2010 and make every other garment or one a month from my assortment of La Mia Boutiques, Patrones, Mrs. Stylebooks, etc. I’ll have to check, but I think this is my second completed Patrones! (**EDIT. This is my *fourth*. I didn’t count my beloved Roberto Musso skirt, Vero Mondo skirt and a Chloe skirt ) My first Patrones is a shirt two years ago. I seem to be a 42 in Patrones and most definitely need a FBA!
I think I’m going to keep up with the woven dresses! I love how professional they look. Yes, I will always have a soft spot for knits. But, for the daily work life, woven dresses are it. They seem so much more tailored and put together and a better substitute for wearing a suit. You can see above that I’m imitating the model from #267 Patrones. I even found a smiliar style belt at Forever 21. But, truthfully, the dress might look better beltless after all the alterations I made.
The fabric is a poly/wool men’s suiting from my local Gus Woolen. It’s a men’s suit fabric store in downtown Baltimore. I like them for their non-traditional suiting geared to the black male community. But, they keep banker’s hours. You know, 10 to 3 on days that don’t end in ‘y’. But, great great stuff and they sell loads of skirt lengths at a discount.
There is bagging at the waist because I suspect that I put the waistband in upside down. One of the reasons the belt is not great is because of the gathering and wrinkles it can cause. I used pre-purchased red piping to pick up the red woven stripes in the suiting. You know, red is actually my favorite color — not pink. But, I really like pink accessories.
Pattern Alterations: My colleague brought me several bras from her trip home to Ukraine. Why? Because they fit well and are $20 a pop. But, they have made the bust in my last two garments crazy tight. So, on the Patrones #267-13 dress, I decided to attempt my first ever FBA. Meh. I’ll do better next time 
For the rest of the dress I traced a size 42 and graded out by two inches at the thighs. I now think I could have cut a straight 42 as I took the dress in about two inches from the lower waist down. I also reduced the length of the torso by one inch and think I could have cut an inch out of the skirt under the waist.
I made my typical swayback adjustment in the skirt. But, should have taken it out of the waistband. I also have come to the realization that many things are too long for me in the lower back. I’m going to alter for that soon.
I ended up not lining the dress. I made so many alterations to the dress that I could not take fixing the already-constructed lining. So, I made 1.5 inch long facings at the neckline.
I also pegged the skirt because it was wide and kind of straight and made me look like a block. But, something totally wonky happened. My right side seam is off by over an inch. No idea how that happened!
Overall, I’m pleased with the dress. There was WAY TO MUCH fussing for my taste. But, I just need to learn to make FBAs. And make the darts actually aim at my bust point! That’ll make a huge difference
I was asked about my shoes in another post. They are available from Aerosoles.
** EDIT: I agree. Red shoes would be great. I’m still on the hunt for a pair that I like
