Faux All the Sewing Ladies

Faux all the "jingle" ladies: Beyonce covered up stunningly in a green wrap dress while in New York City promoting Samsung's B'phone on October 11, 2007



































I like the interesting hooks and clasp closures along her left side.






























From BarriePace.com, three faux wrap jersey dresses from Muse.




Butterick's version of the faux/mock wrap dress.


















After seeing Sharon M's stunning dress, I became tempted to purchase this pattern.

Last week's tribute to the Rolling Stones on American Idol still got me rocking and now sewing. Pardon me, Mick Zig-Zagger, for toning down the lyrics to make them SEW appropriate.


I'll come to your SEW-motional Dress-Cue
"Misses' Dress: Close-fitting, pullover dress, above midknee has mock wrapped front with stitched tucks at side, long sleeves, purchased applique and optional narrow finishing at hem." There are also back vertical darts for more shaping.

I purchased this pattern for only $0.99 along with other patterns at ebay instead of purchasing it on clearance at the Butterick website and paying exorbitant shipping prices for something lightweight packed in a mailing envelope.


Size is on My Side:
6-8-10-12


Between a Mock and a Wrap Dress
I would say that my dress resembled the dresses on the envelope, except that I replaced the tucks or pleats with gathers and included a tie belt.


Let's Sew Some Textiles Together:
Poly knit with a bit of lycra from GorgeousThings.com. I think a knit with more drape would provide more comfort and a desirable fit.





The vibrant colors remind me of the Aztec native costume worn by 2004's Barbie Aztec Princess of Ancient Mexico.


For your listening and viewing enjoyment, here is a treat for RS fans, which is also one of my favorite RS songs, 1965's The Last Time on youtube.com. They are better live, though.











I Sit and Watch As Seams Sew By...
*I like the style of a faux/mock wrap dress with a DVF flair

* There are four pattern pieces: Sleeve, back, right front, and left front (more like a bodice that ends at the waistline and goes beneath the right front or acts as an under lap as referenced by Sharon M in her very helpful review).

*After my usual adjustments, I was surprised that the lowest edge of the dress landed mid-knee on me, a length that I prefer. I wanted to warn women of all heights about this.

*Maybe due to the stability of my knit, I was able to staystitch, fold the raw edge under, forming a 5/8" hem, and topstitch the neckline.


*The left front piece that the right crosses over, would be more comfortable if it were 2-3 inches longer, because it had a tendency to ride upwards after considerable upper body movement. Even though I am short-waisted, I found the the left piece still short for me.

*The neckline is low, but not that low as I had expected. I still could get by without wearing a camisole.

*I agree that it is close-fitting, but I forgot to add more to the seams to coincide with my usual "14".


You Can Sew Me Up...I'll Never Stop, Never Stop....
The directions are fine. I was able to refer to them minimally, because the pattern was very easy instead of "easy" as printed on the back of the envelope. Although the dress is easy to sew and seems non-intimidating as a first dress project, it is easy to err while aligning the seams, especially if the markings are not transferred properly (or simply not transferred due to not noting their presence before cutting, ahem....) to the fabric pieces. While placing the long right front piece over the short left front piece, I aligned the matching dotted squares (located by the side tucks or pleats) and notches.

Although the directions mention using double stitched seams, a serger would be very convenient to finish the seams.


I See a Knit Sleeve and I want to SEW it Flat...
Instead of setting-in sleeves per Butterick (those directions should be changed due to sewing with knits), I sewed in the sleeves flat before sewing the sleeve and side seams.



Jumpin' Back Flash


The changes as said, they are under my thread...
*Shorten the upper back (at the lower armscye) 3/4"

*Take in the upper center back 1"

*1" petite adjustment at the waistline


Goodbye, Ruching, Today....Who could hang a pleat on you?..."
*Instead of making and sewing the three side tucks or pleats at at the right and left bodice that land below the bust (due to them being misplaced anyway after making my fitting adjustments), I loosened the thread tension and machine gathered the ends where supposedly the pleats started and ended. I still was able to obtain some type of ruched effect that transversed the abdominal area. The wrap look would most likely look better with the distinctive folds coming from the pleats. However, the folds would not be conspicuous due to the busy print of my fabric. Also, since I plan to use a belt with this dress, those folds would be covered up anyway.


*I cut and sewed a tie from the same fabric


Don't you panic, dont you panic, give it one more try...
I plan to sew this again and possibly add a collar. I have knits from my stash that would collaborate nicely with this pattern. If you are looking for a knit dress that is easy to sew and to adjust, then this is the pattern for you.


I can't get no....SEW-tisfaction. Hey, hey, hey...
I'm satisfied with the dress and even more so if it were in a drapier knit and in my usual size. I still recommend this pattern as a simpler alternative to a wrap dress.




Here is a little Christmas gift that I received from Keith Richards in 1995.
I received this via one of his nieces (through his marriage to 70's model Patti Hansen) who was a student of mine in the mid-90's. Looking back, she looked like a a sweet and young version of Beyonce...














Beyon-Sew gorgeously wrapped in animal print on Good Morning, America. I wonder if she will collaborate with Butterick or another company for a pattern of hits...

Mock On!