Medieval Dress for Marianne- FINE! plus the explanation I promised...

 Here it is-- the Medieval/Modern "formal" dress for "Marianne"! 

Pattern Description: McCall's Costumes, M4491, View C

Pattern Sizing: Size 10

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? (except for the alterations I made and the look of the trim)

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, they were very easy to understand. (How easy to apply is somewhat debatable.)  The only problem I had with the instructions was that they could have used much larger and bolder writing to let me know what view a certain set of instructions were for... that caused me a great deal of grief.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I look the medieval look to it, but also how it can be altered to look suitable for modern "fancy" wear.  (In Marianne's case, it was to play for a wedding.)  It would make lovely bridesmaid dresses... The two things I disliked about the pattern were 1) what I already said about the confusion about the instructions for the different views, and 2) the underarm gussets!!!  The Sense & Sensibility Chemise gussets were a piece of cake compared to these.  They took me a looooong time and just weren't the most fun thing to sew. Next time, I might alter the sleeve style so that I don't have to do the gussets. 

Fabric Used: Casa Collection Special Occasion Fabric for JoAnn Fabrics... I am not sure what the actual kind of fabric is called, though.  I wasn't the one who picked it out.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I omitted the train on the skirt.  I also inserted a zipper instead of having it lace up the back (to make it both more modern and more convenient).  My error in this was narrowing the back piece too much, so that the dress was almost too snug.  I just sewed in the zipper at a smaller seam allowance to make it work.

Would you sew it again? Definitely!  Margaret wants me to make it for her in View D, and I may be sewing several for another occasion in the semi-near future...

Would you recommend it to others? Again, definitely!  It's a great pattern, pretty easy, mostly straight seams, and very beautiful.  Just make sure you mark all the dots, squares, and circles on the fabric in the right place so you don't mess up on the gussets.  If you don't, it could be frustrating.  And make sure you know which view you are sewing and which directions are for which view... Just sayin'. 

Okay, now we move on to pictures:

 Unfortunately, the last WEEK has been so dull and cloudy and dreary and blaagh....  I'm sorry, but I just do not like fall.  Anyway.  The weather caused for not so gorgeous pictures, but I tried to alter the lighting to make it look a little better.  

 

 It was windy.

 Aaaahhh, silly Princess Kitty, always having to be in the middle of everything....

 The trim on the sleeves.

 The neckline.  It took me almost an hour to sew that trim on (in the car on the way to the revival meetings, because I was on such a tight deadline...)  My left hand was literally falling asleep holding on to the trim and fabric while I sewed it on (and I'm not kidding you; it was falling asleep).  The result was very satisfactory though.  Marianne picked a lovely trim.

 And now for those who were wondering...

and for those were not wondering...

and especially for Lady Helen Mar who was not sure whether she was reading into things...

Regarding the "Colonel Brandon" mentioned in this post...

...though I did not check with him to see whether he minded be called Colonel Brandon, though he did enjoy watching the movie Sense and Sensibility with Marianne...

...you can just call him...

....Alex.

Here are Alex and "Marianne".

 Here is a better picture of them, from the Tall Ships Festival last month.

 Alex, "Marianne", and "Margaret" played the music for the wedding of some friends of ours on Saturday.  "Marianne" played the piano, and Alex and "Margaret" played the violin-- it was beautiful!!!  Alex and Marianne love to make music together-- that is actually how they met-- her accompanying him for a song at church.

In case you are wondering, no, they are not engaged...yet... but they are prayerfully heading that direction.

So there you have it.