Simplicity 1651

Finally, I was able to get a few okay pictures of me wearing Simplicity 1651.  Most of the review is posted here:


Pattern Description:  It's described as misses' dress with bodice and skirt variations.  Vague as usual.    This pattern is inspired by project runway.  It has a twisted yoke with peek-a-boo front.  The second bodice options has a "v" neck front bodice. The back bodice also has two variations: option one has waist dart and covers the back completely and the other has a deep "V" that ends about three inches above the waist.  Two horizontal bands make a peek-a-boo affect for the back view.   So you can safely wear a bra with this view. The skirts options  are half circle and slim with a slit on the left side.  There are also three sleeve options:  cap, double cap, and 3/4 length with ruching.  The closures is an invisible zipper on the left side.  The designer can mix and match the sleeves, bodices, and skirt variations to create different looks.

Pattern Sizing: 4 to 20; I used 14 with modifications.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, the green print option at the bottom of the envelope.

Were the instructions easy to follow?  Very easy.  Nothing confusing in the instructions or construction of the dress.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The double sleeves, twist bodice and the gathered slim skirt.  No real dislikes.

Fabric Used:  Floral Dana Buckman Taffeta from the Fabric Mart.  Great fabric to sew.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  I made a few alterations as noted in my previous post referenced above.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?  Yes and yes.  This pattern has good bones.  You can create other style from the pattern.  Plus you can mix and match the bodices, skirts and sleeves with other patterns.  I think experienced beginner can sew this with no problems.  Check the fit first.

Conclusion:  This is a cute little dress that is easy to sew. 

Making it Fit: Simplicity 1651

  

 

I really like the design options of Simplicity 1651.  The peek-a-boo back panels can conceal a bra strap.  The soft gathering at the waist of the slim skirt, double layered sleeves, and the twist yoke bodice sold me on this pattern. 

 My first dress is like the green print dress at the bottom of the pattern envelope.  Early last month, I purchased "too much fabric" from the Fabric Mart.  One of the fabrics was perfect for this dress.  (My daughter absolutely hates this print and wonders why I like it. Tee Hee.) Anyway, this is a Dana Buchman taffeta, 60% rayon and 40% polyester.  It sewed up beautifully. 

Many of the colors can be found of the Pantone color palette for spring and fall 2013.  This fabric looks more like fall the summer.  It's a good transitional garment the can be worn alone or with a jacket on cooler days. 

I had to make a few adjustments.  The full bust adjustment was the first to tackle.  My biggest concern was excessive fabric at the center front bodice.  I wanted to ensure a good profile as well as a good front view of the dress. 

The Full Bust Adjustment probably looks weird, but it works for me.  After making a basic FBA for a princess seam side bodice, I had to reshape the center front edge and the seam line adjacent to it.  Adjusting the bodice center front was easy, I just added the length needed to match the added width of the bodice front.  Additionally, I trimmed about an 1/8" from the upper edge of the curved seam ending a zero at the first notch.  Of course, a picture is worth a thousand words.

The prominent shoulder blade and sway back adjustments were super easy.  Instead of doing my usual PSB adjustment, I decided to follow the Palmer Pletsch method, which is to add width the length of the bodice; then ease or make a shoulder dart.  Finally, the excess below the shoulder blade can be adjusted as I sewed.  This method worked out just fine.

My mistake, though, was I didn't adjust the amount of ease in the sleeve cap.  So I used the excess to my advantage.  I made gathers along the cap.  This further accentuated the double sleeves, which I liked even more.

The dress has one slit on the left side.  I made a slit on both sides and added a few inches to the length of the skirt, not shown today. 

That completes today's installment.  Have a fantastic weekend.

Happy Sewing!
Cennetta