Semi Formal Dress, New Look 6145

I scored some really good fabric deals a few weeks ago from the aunt of a co-worker (she used to report to me but now works in another department.  Hi J, hope you're not reading this at work!).  The aunt used to work in a fabric store and when it closed bought out what must have been all of the inventory.  Among my new stash was a couple yards of a beautiful royal blue polyester Dupioni-esque shantung which looks and feels like real silk.  I had to take a match to a few threads to tell for sure. I decided it should become a semi formal dress.  Although this is the Southwest, so for here it's practically a ball gown.

I love the look of mid fifties and early sixties dresses, so I searched for a pattern reminiscent of that time. New Look 6145 fit the general look I wanted (except for the stupid collar, more on that in a bit) and seemed like it would sew up easy.  Here are the raw materials:

The shantung cost about $20.  The pattern didn't call for lining but I decided to underline it so it would hang better.  Between sales and coupons the black rayon acetate, thread, hem binding, bias tape and invisible zipper cost about $20.

I mentioned the stupid collar.  Here's how it's supposed to look:

What the heck IS that and who thought it would be flattering to anyone?  I used my Jedi sewing skills and cleverly fixed it using a little known technique called "folding the collar down".  Don't feel bad if you can't do this yet.  We were all beginners once, it will come with practice.

Voila. Not stupid!

I should add that the collar as specified in the pattern looks even stupider in my picture than it probably should because the pattern specifically calls for it to be cut on the bias.  I knew I wanted it folded, and for it to maintain a crisp fold so I deliberately did not cut it on the bias.  I also slightly changed its placement; the pattern called for cutting down to the stay stitching and attaching the collar there.  I put it up a bit higher.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through.  I need to set the sleeves, finish the seams with bias tape (because this stuff frays like a booger, what is it with me and fraying fabric?) and I suppose a hem would be a nice touch.  The sleeves and hem are pinned in/up but here is what it looks like so far:

Ed the Cat approves.

The collar aside, this is a really nice design, and the pattern is very easy to follow.  I hope to get it finished this weekend.