Marfy 1214

It's finished - and I love it.
I've been reading all the Marfy reviews on Pattern review, but never knew what the big deal was. Why would you pay that much for a pattern that has only one garment, one size, and no directions???? Well, I finally bit the bullet and got the spring catalog. What beautiful dresses and suits they have! Lots of creative ideas that you could adapt to other patterns as well. The catalog comes with several patterns in it ( sort of like BWOF) so I looked them up and thought about it. Then one day I was in Walmart of all places and saw this lace. I knew it was perfect for the dress, so I bought the lace and later bought the fabric.



This dress fits many firsts for me
First wardrobe contest garment
First Marfy I've attempted
First garment made with eyelet

(and a few other "first" mistakes that I don't care to mention)
I'm really glad I made a complete muslin (sans facings and lining) on this first. The fit was pretty good, but I needed to take out a little in the hips and take in a little in the back and front neckline.


I think this dress is really cool because of it's seaming. It has darts that run from the small of the back into the armscye and insets in the front that create princess seaming.


Everything just fit together very well. Even though Marfy patterns don't come with instuctions, it was easy to figure out the steps. This is what I did
1. sew darts in back and insets in front on dress and lining - press
2. sew shoulder seams on both dress and lining - press
3. attach dress to lining at neck and armholes
4. Press ALL seams open before turning - I use a tailors board to do this
5. Pull backs through the shoulder seams to turn right side out
6. Understitch the neckline as far as possible - do the same at arms
7. Insert invisible zipper
*. rip out invisible zipper because it is crooked (arghh!!!!)
8, Make sure needle is farther away from seam and insert invisible zipper again.
9. Flip lining over so that it is right side together with dress over zipper and sew in the seam allowance to the bottom of the zipper. Do this on both sides
10. flip lining back over so dress is right side out. Lining is now completely attached at the zipper
11. finish bottom of center back seam below invisible zip
12. finishe lining cb seam starting about 3 inches below zipper and going to hem
13. Pin dress hem
14. serge or finish lining hem
15 Pin lace to hem and sew by machine, catching hem at the same time
16. Use a blunt needle with a large eye to weave ribbon into the lace.