My first commission and The Ultimate Snoop story.

Story of E Couture is now official.

An artist who lives in my town (who also happens to be nationally recognized, award winning, and has great genes; art lovers check this out) has commissioned me to create two dresses for his models to wear. He sent me some inspirational photos and described the looks he wanted. The goal for me was to get the look right, but also create a garment that can fit many body types and be versatile enough to be used in future paintings.

I knew instantly that dress number one would evolve from Butterick 5224, which was in-stash.

I would lengthen the lower panels and have the front criss cross and close like a bathrobe. Unfortunately, the gathering along with the liner in the skirt created way too much bulk at the front when it overlapped. Take-two had me going conventional with a back seam. I left the back open where a zipper would have been and attached ties so the dress is adjustable. Moving the opening to the back allowed me to add a long tie at the center front which can be wrapped around a number of ways.

I wanted alot of fabric folds coming from the shoulder seam, so I added 6 inches on each bodice piece at the bustline and gathered the entire sleeve taught to the neckline. I left the bodice unlined. I personally like to see a little nipplage in my paintings. Classic.

Dress number 2 is waiting for Simplicity patterns to go on sale Thursday at JoAnn. There is a costume pattern that will be juuuuuuust right.

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The Ultimate Snoop

Ok, so if you know anything about mE, you know I'm a sucker for formal wear. While trying on dresses at David's Bridal for my sister's wedding, of course I was checking out the construction and detailing. I found myself wondering how they were going to do the alterations for my sister's gown (ohhh, I bet they open it at the waist!). Then I found myself looking at their alterations price list. Then I found myself wondering if they were hiring seamstresses.

Yup, that's right folks. The only two problems were 1) I have no experience, and 2) I have never even looked at an industrial machine, and anyone who's ever watched Project Runway knows how that goes... So two days before my interview I tracked down a sewing machine dealer who happened to have an industrial machine for sale and was nice enough to sit down with me for half an hour and school me in the art. And schooled I was. I went into the interview and knew the machine inside and out. Unfortunately my lack of experience made the endeavor an epic FAIL, but they offered me a job at the store anyway (just far, far away from the scissors). I wonder if they'll let me try on dresses during lunch?