Back to the drawing board

So I thought this would be an easy project, something fun for the weekend.  I went to the fabric store and picked up some pretty ivory fabric and was going to get to stitchin` right after work today.  And that is what I did.  But I am not liking my fabric choice, I am not liking my pattern. 

I had thought using a cotton sateen would be nice.  No need to line the skirt because of the weight, and contrary to Miss Monroe, I did not want to have a dress that was soo light and airy that it would blow up over my head.  But the fabric choice was wrong, oh sooo very wrong for this project. 

Bodice attempt, it's alright but not quite right. 

Now as for the pattern I selected, I though I would use Butterick 5209 .  I have made this dress before, once with the sleeves for a wedding and once in a polka dot.  I like this pattern, but it is not quite right.  I was going back and forth between this one and the dress pattern from the book "Famous Frocks"by Sara Alm and Hannah McDevitt.  It is a beautiful book, but I do not like the pattern for the classic "Seven Year Itch".  So as I started cutting and sewing, there was a doubt in the pit of my stomach saying "Amanda, don't do it! Don't cut the fabric, the pattern is not right and neither is the fabric." But I went ahead, and boy oh boy should I listen to that little voice inside.  I want to do justice to these iconic garments, and continuing with this would have just been a poor copy that would be missing the details and character of the original garment (think cheesy Halloween store costume awfulness).



Butterick 5209, seemed like a good idea at the time.  Great pattern, but not for my project.

I feel like it is time to go back to the drawing board, and maybe put the "Seven Year Itch" dress to the side for the moment.  Not a failure, but not a project for right now.  Everyone makes mistakes here and there, so I am going to sleep on it and maybe watch a film for inspiration and head to the fabric store in the a.m.  Sorry to disappoint anyone who was expecting a super cool dress this week, but I want to deliver quality to my readers.  Thanks for reading, next post I promise a more well thought out plan! 

~Miss World