ah, simplicity 3061, the would-be wadder. i swear, i almost threw this in the don’t-ask-don’t-tell UFO pile at least a couple of times due to fitting issues, but decided to stick it out (mostly because of the time i spent on the buttonholes :B). i’m still not 100% sold on the fit, but it’s definitely passable. and comfortable! and the buttonholes look great! yeah!
i only made a few changes to the pattern, mostly putting in 4 bound buttonholes instead of the suggested two. i think all the buttons look better with a buttonhole backing them. for fitting, i used 1″ seams (instead of the standard 5/8″ seam) on the shoulders & bodice sides, which seemed to fix most of the issues. i fudged the zipper insertion a little; my view called for a side zip that was open all the way to the armhole – i did a standard side zip with the placket that is closed 1″ or so from the top. i think it looks much cleaner.
i need to add another snap to the front because it is gaping a little. and the slit – i don’t understand the slit! i followed the directions rather faithfully – basted the slit closed to the notch, sewed up a normal seam beyond the notch – but they never directed me to open the basting stitches. and the giant seam allowances (something absurd like 2″, i mean, seriously) aren’t tacked down so they’re just flapping around. right now the slit is still basted closed because i haven’t had a chance to figure out what to do with it, but i’m sure my clumsy ass will rip it open soon enough.
i accidentally did not buy enough fabric for this dress, so i omitted the sleeves. since i didn’t buy enough fabric, i didn’t have any leftover for making a self-covered belt. whoops! oh, and i was planning on making the white detachable collar but of course i didn’t buy enough fabric for that either. i actually like the dress without the collar, so whatevs. win for me.
a red belt it is! and i cropped my feet out of all these pictures – the shoes i planned to wear with this dress were still at the office (i bike to work some days, and rather than lug a giant pair of platforms around, i just leave them in my desk all week :)), so i’m barefoot!
sorry the colors are so ridic in this picture – i was messing with the contrast so you could better see the dress front!
4 darts in the back for shaping, the bodice back is slightly gathered.
the wrinkle by my boob is from an ill-placed snap socket that i need to move
the facings are hemmed with navy rayon seam binding, both the neck & the armholes
four! four bound buttonholes! ah ha ha ha!
this is actually the only buttonhole that functions. the rest of them are purely decorative.
lapped zipper
eep! sorry so blurry! this is the hem – again, faced with navy seam binding.
upon getting dressed for work this morning, i realized i actually do have a pair of shoes that go with the dress. see?:
red pumps!
as a side note, this is what i deal with while sewing:
damn cat laying rightupbeside my sewing machine
you can’t see in the picture, but she is furiously thrashing her tail because i dare disturb her.
“what, bitch?”
LLADYBIRD 
This dress is fantastic! I love it just how it is: without the white collar and sleeves. It looks great on you.
What a great dress!
Oh! this is a lovely pattern!! and you did a great work even if it has no sleeves it looks really good! love the volor and you look so pretty =)
You’ve done a great job on this, it looks amazing on!
Gorg! Mwah! (Your cat is hardcore. Don’t mess huh?!)
Px
Absolutely stunning, your attention to detail is amazing and you look fab in it! Love the red belt with the navy too. x
Cat is quality inspector! Mine drove me crazy when I was making a bird mobile last summer.
I love your dress! My cat does that too, just not so close to the sewing machine. 🙂
I love this dress. Its nautical but alluring at the same time!
This is just lovely! The collar, the buttons, the shape, all perfect. I think it looks wonderful paired with the red belt, shoes and earrings. When I lived with cats in the house, they did the same thing! Gotta love ’em!
The dress looks really good on you. I love the interest in the bodice. My cats do the same thing. It’s like the sound of the sewing machine is an advertisement to come lie exactly where they’re not wanted.
Hi Lauren–I’m sure you figured out what to do with the slit-and-basting stuff long ago, but thought I would mention anyway that the version I sewed has a kick pleat instead of a slit. Took me forever to figure out what was going on, but that’s maybe why the directions for that part were weird… It looks great anyway, though.
I found your blog while searching for the info on that pattern. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful result! Though one thing bugs me about the photos: it looks like the buttons are sewn on the right side of the garment (the way it is done in men’s clothing) instead of the left side (the way it should be in women’s garments). Sorry to be a stickler, but I find that to be a distraction from the beauty of the dress… The photo of you in the mirror looks perfectly fine and feminine! Once again – you did a wonderful job!
You’re probably right. I always forget which side is which and there’s no telling if I followed the pattern there or made a mirror mistake. I always lap my front fly zippers on the wrong side too lol. Hm maybe that should be my new sewing goal for this year.
I’ve just discovered your blog and there is so much that I will use in my sewing future so thank you. As to your ‘naughty Tortie’, I often machine with a Yorkie on my lap – okay until I need to get up to iron or fit then he stands, grumpily, until I sit down again! Maureenx