Unexpected frustration

I was very busy on Saturday and I didn't expect to do a lot of sewing, but after the running around in the morning I was able to sit down around 4 p.m. to sew until 8. I can't believe I almost finished a dress in that time including the alterations.

I decided to make this sundress pattern: http://www.simplicity.com/assets/6557/6557t.jpg.

From Sewing

I thought I would start with making the lining and then putting it on to see if it fit. It barely got around me! I was so disappointed. So I took out the basting stitches and decided I would use smaller seam allowances.

From Sewing

It wasn't until I tried to put the lining to the back of the dress that I realized that the lining fabric, in spite of being washed, dried, and pressed, had shrunk when I ironed the seams! There is a good 2" added to the back on each side! I am not fatter than I thought I was! I added some fabric to the back seam and took larger seam allowances on the sides.


It still doesn't fit quite right. I have to fix this area:

From Sewing

It doesn't look like much on the picture, but this bunch of fabric is due to the lining shrinking that much. I am bummed a little bit because I love this fabric, so I will do my best to salvage this, but this may be something I only wear around the house. I don't have much of that lining fabric left so I won't run into this problem with my other dresses. I am proud, though, because I did a sway back adjustment. I usually have fabric bunching at my lower back. I have not determined if it is due to a sway back or a big-butt protrution, but it is the same adjustment either way so I say it is a sway back!