A frustrating pattern, a re-worked dress

A frustrating pattern, a re-worked dress

---

• 2.16.2010

I've probably complained before about how dumpy modern patterns are.  Even the cute ones, are meant to fit baggy and without shape.  I think this may be because the main market for dress patterns is older women, and sometimes even on the package the dress on the model looks bad but you can tell it would look better if it FIT!  I usually check my measurements on the pattern, decide I am a 14, cut out a 12 because of my fear of this phenomenon, and have to take the garment in to an 8 or 10 to make it fit!  I also use slightly smaller seam allowances in most places than patterns require, but still.  Does anyone else have this problem?
Case in point, the dress I made from this pattern:

I had some cute cotton/spandex plaid in light colors, and I imagined a cute shirt-dress with sort of a vintage flair, maybe add some lace to it and give it a romantic, soft, Anthro-ey look.  I cut out the puff-sleeve, high collar version of the pattern and started sewing.
I got so into it that I didn't stop to try it on, hold it up, or think about how it was turning out.  I sewed the zipper in and everything.  How silly of me.  I try it on, and it looks like a potato sack with some lace and a collar!  It was too awful to take a picture of with me wearing it, but here's what it looked like first:

Trust me, it was bad.  Several inches too big around the empire waist, HUGE, long puffy sleeves, super high collar that hides all the skin there... I thought about adding a tie sash to cinch it up, but it was too far gone.  I was embarrassed and sad, because I was really excited about using the fabric to make something girly and pretty and original. 

So, ready to give up and start over but without enough fabric to do much of anything, I... gasp! cut the dress apart.

I turned under the edges of the armholes and neck opening.  Because of the interfacing and multiple layers in the very center where the neck placket used to be, the fabric was too thick and looked lumpy and bad.  So I added some trim with more of the lace--

I thought about making a floret but couldn't make one that looked good...

So I just added a ruffle.
I looked at something like this for inspiration:

(Anthropologie)

And here are some other cute plaid dresses, before you see mine:

(ModCloth)

Hm, looking at these makes me wish I had given mine a natural waist... but, too late now.  Here's a pic!