LLBD= Long Little Black Dress

This is my farewell to winter (finally!) dress. I wanted a long, warm knit dress that I could pair with boots.

Dress Photos:

First of all, I apologize for the photo quality. It's difficult to photograph black, and my sewing room is a light apple green with a deeper green stucco wall surrounding the fireplace. Adjusting the photo quality to show the detail in black made the green turn out in kind of scary hues.

I altered this photo dramatically to show the style lines:
I handstitched 56 white buttons down the center back
This shows the buttons flanking the invisible zipper:
I made a reverse open collar instead of the turtleneck collar shown in the pattern:

The collar is closed with a hook and eye about half an inch above the neckline. The chain is from the necklace

Pattern Used:

Kwik Sew # 3472, modified

Pattern photos:

Pattern Description:

These dresses have a slightly dropped waist and a flared skirt. View A has full-length sleeves and a turtleneck. View B has short sleeves and a scoop neckline finished with a self-fabric neckband.

Materials:

Fabrics:

Black Sophia rayon/poly/lycra knit (I love this stuff!)

Thread:

Mettler 100% polyester in sewing machine

MaxiLock 100% polyester in serger

Machine Needles:

Size 80 Universal

Machines:

Janome 6600 computerized sewing machine

Elna Pro 905 DCX computerized serger

Things I did with this project (that weren't in the pattern instructions):

1. Turtleneck was changed to a reverse open collar
2. Two front pleats added to the skirt to elongate the look
3. Front and back vertical darts and bust darts from armholes added for closer fit
4. Bodice was self lined
5. Skirt was lined with Hang Loose antistatic poly lining
6. Invisible zipper inserted into center back (the pattern has no back opening)
7. 56 buttons handstitched down the back from neck to hem
8. Clear elastic used to stabilize shoulders and skirt. It was stitched into the shoulder seam and onto the allowance of the skirt seam.

Things I learned, or was reminded of in this project:

For the first time, I used Pam Erny's Pro Sheer Elegance fusible interfacing. (scroll down the page to see the product) I used it in the collar. It was wonderful to use an interfacing that did not have to be pre-treated first! This particular interfacing stretches lengthwise as well as crosswise.

I was a bit concerned about the amount of glue on the product, but it fused beautifully with no problems. It's a cool fuse type of interfacing, so no knit was harmed in the production of this dress.

Things I would do differently, were I to make this dress again:

Not a thing! I love it!