I hate it when this kind of thing happens! There’s fully an inch of bra bridge showing at the lower end of the neck opening. Yuck. Why I didn’t notice that on the tissue fit, I’m not sure.

Of course I’ve *got* some plunge bras that will work, but they aren’t everyday bras and this is an everyday dress.

Not to mention that the dress isn’t fitted for those.

Fortunately (or not) I like the dress enough to try and fix it.  I may put a little dickey in that space, or I may do some hand embroidery to close the gap.

The little dickey would be faster.

Finished is better than perfect.

In the interest of using the *other* length of rayon challis that my trip to Hancock Fabrics yielded, I decided to break out another of my untried dress patterns, Simplicity 2371. This one has that loose breezy vibe the so appeals to me in a caftan, but it has a more fitted neckline and shoulders. Perhaps I won’t look so much like a sack of potatoes–particularly if I don’t add the belt.

This should be a cool dress for summer, which I *thought* had already arrived.  Recent nighttime temperatures, having returned to the 40s, tend to make me think otherwise…  No matter.  I’ll have a dress to wear when the occasion arises be it April or July.

The reviews for this pattern are somewhat mixed and tend to be negative for one reason or another.  I figure it’s a plain loose-ish dress for no special occasion–how bad could it be?

My fabric is a pretty color–a violet mock-batik, which teased me by presenting two nice sides.  I picked one, then changed my mind after cutting.

Despite its pretty color, it’s printed off grain so any attempt at pattern-matching will be a hair-pulling experience.  The print can match, or it can hang off grain.  Which would you choose?

I’m going for hanging on-grain.  Print matching in this shifty rayon would be troublesome even without the off-grain print.  I’ll just learn to live with the Picasso-effect along the seams.

Or not.

I’ve been know to can a project before it ever sees the inside of my closet!

I did place the hemlines at the same level in hopes of some sort of symmetry.

Keeping this house ready to show is a full-time job.  Just about the time I get the machines threaded, I have to put everything away for a showing.  (I’m thankful–don’t get me wrong!)  Hopefully I’ll finish this dress before I have to neaten things again!