A Dracula Kwik Sew 4001

Last weekend, Spotlight stores hosted a super sewing weekend in their stores. I went along on the Sunday, mostly to try my hand at winning the brother sewing machine. Spoiler alert, I didn't win it. But I did have a very lovely day, spending many hours at a table of other crafty ladies, appliqueing unicorns on tote bags, and making felt finger puppets. The brother sewing machine was the prize for the most creative felt finger puppet, and although mine was one of the best, someone (I don't know who, as they were there on the Saturday) beat me out.

Once the crafts had finished, naturally I did a bit of shopping. I got a few $2 a meter fabrics from the clearance table, a number of nativity scene panels that were $2 each from the remnant bin, and 3 panels of this awesome retro style Dracula cotton poplin print. Each panel is about 1.5m and cost $2 each, making it pretty good value.

After spending the day at Spotlight, I spent the evening at my brother's house, so he and my husband could have a few beers to celebrate my husband's birthday. Being my usual self, I decided to amuse myself with my new pretty sewing things, and borrowed my sister-in-law's sewing machine and supplies. I picked out Kwik Sew 4001 from her pattern stash, choosing to make view A from my Dracula Print poplin. Despite there only being 1 review of this on Pattern Review, and that review not being particularly positive, I thought I would give it a go.

Using the largest size, XL, I managed to cut out all the pieces for the bodice and pockets from one remnant, and 2 rectangle panels for a basic dirndl skirt from a second remnant. That left the third remnant to hopefully use as panels of a bowling shirt for my hubby, as I don't think there is quite enough to make the whole shirt from it. The bodice went together quite easily, following the pattern instructions. When overlapping the front pieces, I angled the points down a little further (so they weren't quite lined up with the bottom edge of the other side) so that there was slightly less gape in the neckline, and trimmed off the excess. I got all the way to attaching the waistband pieces before heading home from my brothers house. The next day, I overlocked around the pocket pieces (the only pieces that needed it) and sewed them into the skirt pieces, then gathered the skirt and attached it to the bodice, and inserted the zip into the side.

At this point I tried it on and hated it. the bodice was sitting horribly and was just loose and baggy everywhere. Fiddling with the fit while looking in a mirror, I decided to take up the shoulders a whole 2 inches each, which at least got the dress to a wearable, shop-bought level of fit. It is still gaping quite badly in the armholes and neckline, but is at least wearable. While I usually have to shorten bodices, I don't think I have ever had to take off this much from the shoulders of a pattern before. If I ever make this pattern again, I will be making a smaller size and making a few changes to the pattern before I even cut it out.

Despite not loving how this dress turned out, I still finished the hem and wore it to my Orientation Day for University on Wednesday and received lots of compliments (which I think was mostly due to the fabric choice. I will probably still wear this, despite the fit issues, as it is quite comfy due to how loose it fits.

These photos turned out a little bright, but you get the idea. Anyone else sew up a pattern, against their better judgement? I guess that's the whole point of Pattern Review, so that we don't waste our time and fabrics on patterns that just don't quite work like they should.

Dixie

P.S. I am super excited to start University next week!