I suppose I could blame Alicia for this one, but only because hers turned out so cute. She was totally honest about the brutal process of constructing it though, so I have no one to blame but myself for taking it on anyway. I’ve had the pattern since the fall, and dithered all these months about what fabrics to use. Once I decided on that, it was all fun and games until I got to the neckline and the facing, which were so fiddly and fussy that I was convinced I had done something very wrong. But no, they were just designed that way. And is there a reason the midriff needs to be faced on the inside of the garment? And is the (not kidding) FOOT of ease in the back of the dress (which looks ever so cute all squished up and tied with the waist ties- maybe bustles will make a comeback) totally necessary?

In the picture, it is actually kind of cute– a space-age bathrobe for the female crew of the Enterprise, perhaps? In person I think it will be perfect for days when I feel like eating a whole turkey. You may notice that I haven’t added the contrast band at the hem. I’m trying to decide if I want to, or whether I’ll just hem it like this– what would you do? I’m thinking it needs the little show of leg to avoid being totally shapeless, but do the proportions look weird without the final strip of dark blue? I’m also thinking that I’d like to try the McCall’s version of the Duro to see if it is any better. Then I can blame Erin…