Betty Dress – Sew Over It

I made my first Betty dress to wear on my birthday and I have to admit I’m in love with this pattern. There’s something about a full circle skirt that makes a girl feel like a princess! The construction was pretty straightforward. I opted for the sleeveless version with the original neckline and the V in the back. I used the facings in the pattern instead of baging the bodice out, although I have to wear a slip under the skirt because the fabric is a bit see through. I had some fitting issues with this dress that I’m still trying to solve. First of all, there was a substantial gaping in the back. What I did is I installed the invisible zip on the top using a bigger seam allowance, about 2 cm, and as I moved to the waist I graded back to the 1,5 cm. This stopped the gaping but I’m looking for a more permanent solution next time. The other fitting issue I had was that the botice is quite tight around my armholes. After doing some research I realized that I needed an FBA. The pattern is drafted for a B cup when I have a 36 inch bust and I wear a D cup. After making this dress, I made 3 muslins trying to figure out the FBA and I think I’m ready to make my next Betty, right this time though. I cannot call this dress a complete success due to the fitting issues I just mentioned, but there’s definitely room for imrpovement on my part and I really think I will make it better next time. I already picked my fabric and I’m ready to dive in! It’s such a lovely pattern and I shall report back when I make it again! You can see more photos and read a few more tips on my blog: http://athinakakou.com/2017/07/20/first-betty-dress-sew/