Remember when you were little and waiting for Christmas or your birthday and it seems like a year was a lifetime. Adults would always say "Enjoy it while you're young, time flies when you get old." I'd roll my eyes. Every day was an eternity! How could time "speed up"? Well, ask me now. 26. More than half way through this pregnancy, more than a third through 2018, and just TWO weeks away from traveling for a month to Texas for work. Time, please slow down! I missed Summer, don't take Autumn, too.
Whether I like it or not, it's September and that means Washington is already cold so I made a sweater! Except I couldn't JUST make a sweater, obviously I had to do something different. This is my modified Après Ski from Striped Swallow Designs. Don't get me wrong, the pattern is excellent as designed, I've just wanted a 60's shift dress for as long as I can remember.
Hello 60's! I only missed you by 30 years.
The Après Ski was the perfect base pattern for this dress and I really didn't change a lot. I NEEDED those bishop sleeves. Be. Still. My. Heart.
I added length and then I had to modify the neckline because of ... reasons that you will read below.
I encountered several mishaps while creating this garment but perseverance was key! The fabric I chose was something I got from Cali Fabrics for their Black Friday sale in 2017. I had actually intended this fabric to be a Hideaway sweater, but the shift dress won. The stretch and recovery was my biggest issue. I knew that the fabric wasn't ideal for this pattern, but I wanted it anyway. :)
I sewed size small with no mods except lengthening it until I got to the neckline. The damn neckline. It didn't matter how many times I measured and resewed that derned neckline! I ended up making it too big in the end from cutting and resewing it and finally had to compromise and add pleats at the neckline to prevent gaping. Overall I'd call it a win. :D
My husband gives it a huge thumbs up, I give it a "good try, can't wait to make another." and my mom gives it a "why are you wearing plaid when no one is making you?" Don't ask a former Catholic who grew up in the 60's what they think of your plaid dress. HAHA
If you want to see more versions of the Après Ski in it's traditional form, check out the Striped Swallow Designs Facebook Group! You can purchase the pattern here. It sews up quickly and comes in sizes XS-XXXL.
No affiliate links are used in this post. I did receive the pattern for free from Striped Swallow Designs for being part of their promotional team. All opinion are my own. :)
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