Thrift Store Find Becomes Pattern

I had picked up a dress a while back at one of the thrift stores I visit periodically.  It was a pretty rayon print.           

Thought I could use the fabric for a sleeveless shell.  Got it home, and it hung for a week or so.  Decided to try it on,  and it fit well!  What a nice surprise.  It was very long--almost to the floor on me.  In trying to determine the best way to shorten, I discovered that the seams were very stressed and pulled apart in a few areas.  

Hmm.  Not worth trying to save--I could still use the fabric for a shell.  Then, I got the idea to cut it apart and make a pattern from it since I liked the fit so well.  Carefully took the dress apart and pressed it.  I pinned it to some rayon fabric that had been designated long ago as "muslin fabric."  With a ballpoint pen, I traced the dress noting whether I was tracing a seam line or cutting line (some parts I cut and some I took the seams apart).  Marked the bust darts and cut the thing out.  

Sewed it up--not bad, not bad at all.  I especially liked it because the sleeveless armholes didn't bind or cut into my arm.  (Does anyone else have this problem besides me?).  I made a couple of tweaks--lowered the bust dart just a bit and shorted it. (it's a side dart).  I sloped the shoulders just a tad more, and adjusted the hem length.  From that "muslin" I layed it on tracing paper and began to trace.  

The original dress had bias neck and armhole bindings.  On the neckline, I used the Louise Cutting method of folding the binding in half lengthwise WITHOUT pressing in a fold.  Place the raw edges of the binding to the wrong side of the dress.  Sewed, trimmed and turned the binding to the right side of the dress enclosing the seamline and top stitch close to the folded edge.  She says not to press the fold into the binding before sewing because with the turn of the cloth, the fold line will be off.

The armholes I bound with the Threads article method shown in Threads Issue 145. 

The fit of the dress is very comfy--just skims the body and this rayon twill hangs so well.  I think I'm really going to enjoy this one.  I think I'll try one out of linen or linen blend next.