Simplicity - that says it all

I've been madly getting ready for PR Weekend Montreal, which mostly involved sewing my cocktail dress.  I'm holding back on showing it to you until it's been seen in person by the 50 or so people who are to be in attendance.  It involved a lot - and I mean A LOT - of hand-sewing.  That has never been my strongest suit but I'm trying to get over my aversion to it, and to get better at it.  I tell you - hand-overcasting about a million miles of princess seams, and hand-felling several kilometres of lining edges, facings etc. is a lot of hand-sewing practice, and as they say, practice makes perfect (or in my case, it improves).  The inside of my dress is VERY tidy (and the outside isn't bad either).  You will see it soon.

In the meantime, have a  peek at my latest quick knit therapy, courtesy of Simplicity 2369. 

I have more than enough patterns, believe me, but this one looked like a dress that would be flattering, comfortable, and suitable for so many outings - sort of like wearing comfy pajamas to work. 

The resulting dress did not disappoint.  I combined the long length, cap sleeves and buckle rather than bow tie at the left side.

It went together quickly, was sewn entirely by machine, looks exactly as advertised on the pattern envelope, and is supremely easy to wear.  I made it from a cotton/lycra jersey knit picked up on the sale table recently at Fabricland.  I love the vaguely architectural print (see the domes?) and the colours.  The only faint quibble is that the cap sleeves are a little on the loose side, but again, this is very true to the pattern envelope photo. 

In this detail photo, you can see the front drape better, along with the black vintage buckle I used. 

I can't even complain about the assembly instructions.  Simplicity included a long skinny piece to finish the neck edge.  You fold it in half, sew at 1cm (3/8") to the neck, turn to the wrong side and topstitch.  It's the perfect length to snug the neck in so it is completely secure.