Knit or not

After seeing so many pretty knit dresses on various blogs I figured it was time to give one a try.  I am really not a knit sewer, perhaps because I have not had a machine that did zig-zag or anything resembling a stretch stitch until just last year.  Or maybe because I have spent so much time with my nose in all the tailoring books I could get my hands on, result being I  choose some way too detailed project for the time alloted involving lapels, underlining or other such details.
A knit - hopefully easy and instant gratification, plus I fell for this fabric (ITY knit seen on line at 2 different  sources)   

So made it, wore it, and just kind of ambivalent about it.  I do like the color.  True confession time  - I just don't like sewing on knits.  They are so wiggly.  They slip all over my workspace. They don't press well.  Hand stitches kind of show.    Stop whining, Beth.  If you don't like knits then go back to your wrinkly summer cottons and itchy wools.  Hmm.  Internal debate going on here.   I may have to try something else.  When I ordered this fabric there was a remnant of another knit which I also purchased, very different and I plan another dress.  So I am not giving up yet.   I did make a Donna Karan Vogue knit dress in February for my friend JK, blogged about here, but for some reason I had very few difficulties with that fabric.

The pattern is New Look 6429 and I may be the last person in the sewing universe to make this dress - I have seen a lot of reviews on line.  Only change I made was to have a detachable sash instead of the sewn on ties.

     Back view and envelope

Here is a look at the collar and front bodice,  as you can see there is no topstitching.  There had been but I picked it out as it looked very bad.  What is the secret to getting that right?   In any case I used another secret to keep that facing on the inside where it belongs.


Steam-a-seam, the cheater's method to no flip facings.
I don't use this very often, but every once in a while I think oh, yeah, grab the Steam-a-seam.  Instant double stick of some troublesome facings or other misbehaving components.  I'm not proud.  But I am happy with my smooth bodice edge.




On the very positive side for this dress, I realized as I finished it that it would go perfectly with a leather coat that has been languishing in my closet for a few years.  I bought this coat in Italy, near Vicenza a while ago and while it is very beautiful and soft I just never had anything I really liked to wear with it.  It is very lightweight, has some interesting welt pockets above the waist, and no collar.  For a while I had a little piece of the blue leather in my wallet as I put it there after shortening the sleeves, I think I had some idea of finding a sweater or something to match which was pretty hopeless.  Matching blues after the fact is near impossible.  I wore it with a grey cashmere sweater and wool slacks or something like that.   But now I have a coordinating piece, so the blue leather coat will give me a reason to wear this dress.



So knits,  yeah or nay?  what should I try to conquer my issues with knits?  

Here is today's SunnyGal Garden photo, which is the very first rose that appeared in my garden this year. Photo taken on 4/14, so by today I have many more blooming but none more beautiful.