Let's talk about the sew-along.

This week I continued on with my get crap done initiative. 

I have this wax plant clipping that I got about 10 years ago when I was still in college. This one is about 5 years old. It's safe to call it a plant now, I think :) It's starting to flower again, and there is nothing more wondrous than smelling these sweet flowers on the air as you sleep. It's heavenly.

My plant, let's call him Fancy, has been in this pot for a couple of years now, and I find him drying out faster and faster. As luck would have it, I had this terra cotta pot from a planting casualty some months ago that has been vacant. Fancy needs to move in. I'm sure you can see the procrastination. 

I actually love planing. When I lived in San Francisco, I had an obscene amount of plants (a younger Fancy included) because my old apt got great light. But now I have streamlined my plants, and I've taken to the larger ones. Ah, those days were fun...

Anyway, in the spirit of non-procrastination, I should go on and replant this puppy. I watered Fancy the day prior, and I also watered and treated the new soil in the new pot. Replanting took all of ten minutes. I hope Fancy is happy.

Wait...what was I talking about?

Oh yes, the Sew Along.

I have noticed that only four people have posted their pattern selections in the Flick forum. I know that the span for this sew along is long, but I hope you all are taking advantage :) I made it long so you can transition seasons for the same pattern plus just have a good chunk of time to complete three garments. Think of the possibilities!

Me? I've finally gotten my dress out and traced. 

I then decided to enlist Onda in the grading process. To my surprise it all went rather smoothly. For this particular pattern, I wanted to make sure I paid special attention to my problem areas, the shoulders and the butt. 

This is going to me only my second time making raglan sleeves. The other was on my V neck dress, which I wore the other night and I had forgotten how well it fit, but again, I digress.

The reason I used Onda instead of flat grading was the sleeves. See? 

That gape at the back of the sleeve I would not have paid attention to if I had done it via the flat way. So for all you ladies who still don't have a dress form, see how it can help?

Seeing this actually modeled helped as well. I was able to address the areas that needed to be altered with lighting efficiency and I was able to adjust the entire bodice in about an hour. 

Some of the alterations I did were add a bit of extra to the gathers at the top, at the front fold where it meets the top of the sleeve, I notched that area of the neckline so it would curve. I also put a dart in the under bust, and one at the back shoulder.

This pattern is originally a 40 bust, and I was amazed that these were the only small alterations I had to do. From there I altered the skirt, which I still have reservations about, but once I baste the dress together and try it on, I can get a better gauge of how it will fit about the bum.

That's it so far. I'm planning a trip to the fabric district next week to get some fabric for this dress, and some fabric for some slips. I think I'm going to do the one closest to the original pattern first, then I might change it up a bit. But before I start on the dress, I'm going to make up some bras. Oh man, will sewing ever be done?

For those who are participating, don't forget to check in here and then if you'd like, contribute to the forum. We'd love to have you.