Blue Velvet Monday

So, the first two garments are the last two posted! I'll have a review up for the Vogue top shortly (it'll be on the sidebar).

Lessons learned: Stretch velvet definitely needs to be cut w/more ease than slinky. I've made three other Cityscapes dresses (see yesterday's post for that photo)...all from slinky...and this dress is noticeably (to me, anyway) more snug. I did think to lengthen it, as I knew it wouldn't grow in length like slinky (I let out two of the 1" tucks I'd taken in the skirt portion of the pattern), but I didn't think about it needing more girth. So I'll be happier with it if I manage to lose a couple of pounds. That didn't seem to bother anyone else, though...I got a bunch of compliments on it yesterday (including one lady who wanted to know where I got it). The Edwardian hobble silhouette is a little frustrating to walk in...and I laughed at DH when he suggested I just come round to the back and step up to the top riser. I could do that in slacks or even a long swishy skirt, but in that...no way! I'm not sure how it was dyed, though, when the blue lights hit it on stage it turned a deep purple. Interesting!

The snugness of the dress reinforced my idea that the Vogue top would be a little less snug in a thinner knit, too. So I'll probably try it again in something a little stretchier and less dressy.

Now...I've got paper templates to cut for the ruching on the Chopin Blouse. My sewing goal this week is just to make that top.