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Graduation dress DONE!

 Finished my dress last night. I love it even though it is not perfect.I love the fabric - I really didn't want to wear black or a solid under that ugly cape thing we have to wear (what's that called?). When I made this dress last time I did a bodgy fix up - it was so wide in the back that I sewed up a seam in the back just so it looked decent, but unfortunately even though I measured and made a much smaller bodice at the top, it is still wide and should have some darts in the shoulders at the back. (but it's not too bad)I am SO small in the back I don't even think the size 8 would be small enough.
 Here's those pleats - doesn't look complicated does it but there is a double pleat underneath this middle pleat - not sure how much the complexity adds except fullness. Seams matching. I love how Burda patterns just sew up so nicely. I hope to make the jacket and skirt from this pattern also. I'll need to make some business worky clothes when I get a job. 
This is only my second invisible zip - funnily enough the first one was in the other iteration of this dress. Forgive me for the pretty ordinary insertion. I don't have a metal invisible zip foot and the plastic one I do have I couldn't work out what to do with it, so I sewed it in with the normal zipper foot and one side didn't go in quite close enough so I added some hand sewing and it looks ok. I watched a tutorial on Youtube and it made it very clear. I think I just bumbled through the last one - no wonder it wasn't good!

 Now off to get ready and graduate officially! Thanks for the nice comments.

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Judith said…
Graduation! How exciting - where is it being held at???? Not sure what the 'official' name of the gown is, but I have always referred to my one as an 'academic gown' I think you made a great choice with the dress fabric, a lovely pop of colour under the gown is much more exciting (and more you) than plain boring black! Enjoy the day...J
23 July, 2013 11:39
Rosi said…
Beautiful dress, I really like the pleats. I must say that the purchase of an invisible zipper foot was one of the best sewing investments that I've made. Congrats again!
23 July, 2013 14:16
Nikki said…
Congratulations! This fabric is great and should look brilliant under the black gown. I'll be interested to see what colour your hood is too! Colour at these occasions is important and makes you feel so much better. Hope you enjoy the ceremony.
23 July, 2013 17:09
Sarah Liz said…
Yes, this is a lovely dress - and no-one will notice anything sizewise with it at all, with the lovely pattern on it - and if you are that small in the back, it is going to be a better fit than anything RTW. I loved wearing my academic gown and chalkboard - hope the colours go with the dress.
23 July, 2013 17:53
Sue said…
Very pretty dress and should look lovely under your academic gown. Congratulations!
23 July, 2013 17:56
Summer Flies said…
Thank you Judith... yes I think you are right in calling it the 'academic gown'. I do love the colours too.
23 July, 2013 21:32
Summer Flies said…
Thank you.. yes I can see that I'll be getting one soon too as I do believe invisible zips are much easier to do overall, and I love the 'seam' look.
23 July, 2013 21:33
Summer Flies said…
Thank you! The hood is royal blue and I realised after that although I don't wear solid royal blue, there was splashes of it on the fabric.
23 July, 2013 21:34
Summer Flies said…
Thanks, I felt very swish!
23 July, 2013 21:37
meli88a said…
Beautiful dress! and Congratulations on completing your degree!
27 July, 2013 12:39
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