Outfit Along -- Half Way There

We're at the half way point in the outfit along.  Where do I stand?

My dress is finished.  And here's my sweater.

Yes, I frogged it completely.  The yarn just wasn't right for this sweater.  So we're working on plan B.  I really need to pick up the pace.

Outfit Along - Muslins do Lie

I thought that three muslins would be enough, but no, they weren't.  Maybe I just don't quite understand the fitting process.  In any event, after cutting out my dress in the real fabric, sewing it together, through the neck facings and side seams, and trying it on, I realized the front was too big by about 1.5 inches.  The back was OK, but not the front.  Strange.  So I took it apart and created a seam down the front (see it down the front?).  Yes, it looks a little strange, but.....at least the fit is better.  Ripping out a sewn item is a lot more work than ripping out a knitted item.

At least the spring flowers are beautiful.

Outfit Along - Progress?

Making clothing is a slow process.....requiring some prep work (much like painting).

Since I need to adjust all sweater patterns to better fit me, I decided to start with the Myrna sweater (outfit along recommended sweater) -- the stockinette allows for easier modifications -- using a cotton blend yarn that should be suitable for summer wear.  And here's where I am now.  Unfortunately, when taking the picture, I saw a mistake two rows back, so I'm in for a some ripping before moving forward.

The dress has been my real focus.  I settled on the pattern and fabric and I finally cut it out.....after three muslin attempts.  Sewn clothing can be even less forgiving than knitted clothing.  The final breakthrough was realizing that changing the length of the bodice would help solve some problems.  Thinking outside the box does help.  So now it's on to the real sewing part.

Here's one of the muslins.  Sewn with the skirt inside out.  Woops.

Outfit Along

Hoping to get some inspiration, I joined this summer's Outfit Along (OAL).  For more information, check these blogs.  Andi Satterlund or lladybird.  The goal is to both sew a dress/skirt/whatever and knit a sweater/whatever -- that together will form an outfit.  There is a recommended dress and cardigan -- but the "rules" are flexible and participants can choose patterns that best suit themselves.

I went stash diving (and that's deep sea diving) and came up with three possible combinations (there are more, but no need to make this too hard).

There are two different pink fabrics in the bottom picture - one a solid, the other a subtle stripe.  Note how two of the yarn choices are even swatched.....that's impressive.

Right now, the blue/yellow floral with blue cardigan is in the lead.  Hmmmm.  Maybe I should try the cream swatch with the blue/yellow fabric......  Decisions, decisions.