One of the side effects of learning Summerset's invisible-zipper-and-side-seam-pocket trick is that it's making me re-evaluate a lot of my all-time favorite patterns for pocketosity. Like this one, for instance:
Before I knew the trick, this poor dress was limited to just ONE side-seam pocket -- obviously an injustice. But now that I can have bilateral pocket symmetry, it was obviously time to make it again:
Oops, looks like I got it a little twisted on the dress form, there. I swear it actually hangs straight. Here's the new, improved, invisible side zip, with pocket:
Notice that I didn't match up the waist seam exactly on either side of the zipper. I must also disclose that, while I was wearing the dress, nobody mentioned this. (Very kind of them.)
Here's the OTHER pocket, the "normal" one:
I didn't have QUITE enough fabric to cut this dress out according to the layout -- in fact, I had to piece the back bodice, which is supposed to be cut on the fold:
I also cut the skirt sections on the fold, instead of giving them a center seam. This adds 1.25" to each skirt piece, which, miraculously, is just the amount I need to enlarge the waist by so that it fits comfortably. (Don't forget to add 5/8" to the bodice sides, too, if you want this to work!)
This is almost certainly going to be made again, and soon. I'm happy with how it turned out, but next time I'm going to make one change -- I'm going to make the neckline facing in a lighter fabric -- the facing in the fashion fabric, especially here (this is a fairly heavy cotton sateen) is just too bulky, see the little lumpiness on the left shoulder back:
Even with all the fussing about, cutting some things on the fold and not others, adding pockets (the pattern doesn't include pocket pieces), putting in an invisible zip, etc. etc., this is a remarkably fast pattern to make -- even with hemming it by hand (and that's a LOT of skirt), it was still under four hours, total.
(And possibly I'll even iron the next version before I take the pictures.)
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