Silver New Look 6469

I've had this soft and squishy silver stretch velour in my stash for ages. So just before the holidays I decided to make this up, and chose New Look 6469, which I picked up earlier this year from PatternReview. 

I made View D, but with a straight hem line like in View C. I like it...but I don't love it. I'm thinking that it's perhaps because the fabric is a bit thick, and yet it's also not quite fitted enough in the bodice/sleeve area. I think this is another one that I'm going to have to redo just a bit to be happy with. And boy, do I hate mending/altering something, even if I've just finished it. Sigh! 

Anyhow. The fabric is very soft and comfy, and the fit is extremely forgiving. It's a comfortable wear -- kind of like wearing a bathrobe around all day. But is it wearable as an actual dress? 

Short answer, yes. I added side seam pockets to it; I can't stand a dress without pockets. I'm always losing my key if I don't have a pocket to put it in. This time I chose a woven to make the pockets -- I didn't think it would look very nice to have stretchy pockets in this stretchy fabric. I had a nice remnant of rose & white toile cotton that looks very pretty as a pocket bag. Usually I'll stabilize the seam that attaches a pocket bag to the side if I'm using stretch fabrics (with twill tape or seam binding or iron-on seam tape, etc).  But this time I just carried that over to the whole pocket. We will see if it stands up to use. So far the pockets sit very nicely and invisibly.

It's quite swishy, which is something I really like. And the fabric is so soft and stretchy that I left out the back opening at the neckline and just sewed the collar on as a band. It's not quite as even as I'd like, but the fabric is so slouchy and reflects the light at different angles that you can't really tell -- it all looks like it is different tones and folds anyhow.

I'm not 100% convinced on this one though. Some suggestions were to wear a bright coloured scarf (I like that) or to shorten it slightly - also a good idea. I'll give it a fix, and a few more wears, and see if it grows on me.

The pattern itself is easy and straightforward; if I use it again, I'll make it with a lighter weight knit. The only flaw is no pockets, but that is easily fixable. This was my last project of 2019, and I'm moving forward with my 2020 plans now. I'll be sharing some of those soon, too. Hope you have lots of ideas for the new year as well!