I Finished the Black Dress

I cut out the simple, black dress in preparation for the sewing retreat I went to in October...you know, just in case that five piece Laura Ingalls get-up came together in no time at all.  Ha!  I think I might have sewed a few seams on the bodice of the black dress, but that was it.  So, yeah, its been on hold in cut-out form for going on three months now.  I started at in in earnest last Friday since I had the day off.  Thus, it was with great joy that I finally put the zipper in and finished it up this morning before work.  And so I wore it to work.  Naturally.

Despite how it might look the dress is sleeve-less.  I like to make them without sleeves because then they are cool in the summer and can be paired with short or long sleeves underneath in cooler weather.  Today I discovered that I only have one non-black shirt to wear under my black jumper dress--and that shirt was in the wash.  I usually wear black undershirts under my other dresses.  I am not a big fan of this black-on-black though...so I might have to keep an eye open at the next clothes swap for something with a little color that I can wear under it.  The green of the scarf and sweater (last photo) seemed to help though.

The deep pockets on this dress are one of it selling points for me.  

Ready for work!  Credit for these photos goes to Matt.  I'd tried to take some with the camera's self-timer, but kept cutting my head out of the frame!

I am happy with the dress.  Just as I have been with the other two I have made.  BUT, there are two area I am not 100% happy with...yet  One I already tried to fix--the bottom end of the zipper in back lays wonky drawing much more attention to my behind than desired.  The second go-round made it considerably better, but still not quite just-so.  I may ask my mother or mother-in-law for some advice.  The second area is a small tuck in the dart that isn't supposed to be there.  I didn't notice it until I was wearing it.  I'd already paired the plain dress with a flashy silken scarf a friend brought back for me from her trip to the Mediterranean--for warmth since its gotten quite chilly again and for color since the outfit was otherwise quite monochromatic.  The tails of the scarf just happen to perfectly to cover the little tuck...that no one would probably notice except me anyways.  But, that should be an easy fix--a couple minutes un-sewing followed by a couple minutes re-sewing.

The dress is from Simplicity pattern 2174, altered to keep the neckline high.  I keep saying I am going to try one of the suggested necklines, but...well,  I don't.  What can I say, I like a high neckline and its so easy to sew.