Same Pattern.....

Whole different outcome.

Or what happens if you choose the wrong fabric for your pattern, don't check the fit properly,  and then add a neckline binding that appears to have been added in the dark, at speed, without benefit of pins. 

This sad looking object is Style Arc Cleo.  The same pattern I used to make the lovely striped dress a couple of weeks ago but this time with the neckline as drafted.  But I think you will agree, this version is not wearable.  I have seen this made up by Clothing Engineer, and hers looked fabulous... because she made adjustment for fit... and I did not.   I have got into the habit of going "ah, Style Arc, bound to fit me without alterations", and that assumption just bit me on the butt. 

It is possible to step into the dress via the neckline. It then displays most of my chest, all of my shoulders, struggling to remain upon my person without falling down over my arms and causing me to get arrested for indecent exposure.  I also managed to apply the neckline treatment in a manner that gives every appearance of having been the result of some sort of drive by sewing incident carried out in the dark.  I should point out the ALL the issues with this dress result from my own stupidity and are not the fault of the pattern.  Though the neckline seems a bit wide as drafted and I'd perhaps suggest people checked to make sure that it was to their taste, it is shown that way in the drawing, I just chose to see what I wanted to see, not what was there. 

I suspect that the fabric choice was a bit flawed.   I used what I think might be cotton ribbing designed for the cuffs and necklines of sweatshirts.  It was the only red fabric I had and I wanted a red dress.  I should know better. 

I suspect I stretched out the neckline when applying  the binding, plus the neckline as drafted was wider than I personally like (nothing wrong with it, just not my preference) and rather than alter the neckline on the pattern to more closely fit my preferences, I just set off and somehow thought the thing would magically produce a neckline that fit me how I like just because I wanted it to, even though the picture didn't show that kind of neckline.  

I think next time I'll add one of the necklines from my TNT pattern and if I want a vee neckline, draft one that has a deeper shoulder seam so it comes up closer to the neck, a shallower vee, and a higher line at the back neckline.  All elements that I should have known to check if only I hadn't been determined to have a new red dress to wear to work on Monday.  

There is also a version of the Cleo tabard cut out.... I made that from super annoying, lively crepe semi sheer that was a pig to cut out... and I wasn't sure, even after two hours of fiddling, whether I actually got the stuff on grain.  I've not actually got further than the shoulder seams yet... its hung on the ironing board reproaching me... I lack the courage to tackle it yet because my gut feeling is that it was infected by whatever was going on in the sewing room that day.  Also, I don't have a red dress to wear it with now do I?