Remember that I made a wearable muslin of this dress? It is from the 1940s and is a sweetly elegant dress – until it gets on to my back!

When I made the wearable muslin I found that my actual toile was a bit short in the bodice, so lengthened the muslin by 4cm to find it was 3cm too long, so in this iteration I knocked off the 3cm, and guess what? Yep, it’s too short in the body – very annoying!

I also felt that the muslin was slightly baggy, but without changing a thing, this one is skin tight. Yes, obviously it makes me wonder whether I’ve put on a little layer of podge, but I don’t think I’ve acquired that much.

I can also see my hem line on these photos, which I’m sure I can’t see that easily in real life, so that’s a bit disappointing. I will be frogging and redoing.

The belt has a buckle from my stash that is from the 1940s, so I was quite pleased with myself on that front.

Nothing much has changed in the back view. It is supposed to have shoulder pads, which would fill out the shoulder a bit at the back, the problem is that it lifts the bodice too much so I left them out.

So, enough of this dress for a while. I might make a summer version, but I feel as though I need to move on.

Details: Pattern is Advance 3738 from the 1940s, fabric is a fine houndstooth wool blend from Potter’s Textiles. Buckle is vintage and from my stash.

This is Day 8 of Me-Made-May14 and I have managed to wear the dress and underwear that are made by me.

Before I sign off I thought you might enjoy this image about sewing:

This is so true!!