UFO's, and the good, the bad and the ugly!

I have a few sewing projects on the go so my UFO collection is, well, expanding.  It would appear that I am expanding too, because I have had some annoying "fitting" issues.  The sewing bug-bear I have is that I have discovered that the amount of time and care spent on the construction and finishing is exactly disproportionate to how much I like the end result. 

Bad: made me mad.

Exhibit A: 
Description: short sleeved top with bust darts and centre back seam.  Minor adjustment made by inserting two slim darts in back to remove excess baggage fabric.  Made from polycotton mix, found in an op shop.  Pattern New Look easy two hour top with neckline variations.

Diagnosis: the problem with this top is that it is slightly too small across the bust and shoulders.  I wanted to tuck it into the waist of the skirt to give a nice silhouette.  It kept coming out.  Getting wrinkled.  However, on the bright side the upper back is possibly the best fit I have ever achieved and the neckline sits very neatly. 

Prognosis: will be worn from time to time, but with a cardigan over the top. 

Here is my cheery cherries top, made from the same pattern:

Badder: made me madder, borderline ugly. Actually I am hating the top right photo.  

Description: pattern same as Exhibit A, made from fabric from Lincraft - a very light cotton.  

Diagnosis: The neck line and front does not sit nicely.  Honestly, the fabric choice was the beginning and the end of the problems with this top.  I opted to use bias binding around the neck because I did not want the pattern to show through if I used the fabric to do the facing, and I thought that white facings would be too stark.  Additionally, the fabric is so thin I had to wear a singlet underneath and although it was fine cotton it felt like it "grabbed" at the top all the time! 

This time I scaled up to what I thought would be a size 16.  I hoped that this would solve the shoulder bust problem and it is a little roomier than the turquoise polka dot version.  The sleeves are much more comfortable. I can almost put my arms out in front of me without worrying about ripping the seams. 

Remedy: will attempt a white cotton facing around the neckline to resolve the neck problem.  Need to wear a nude coloured camisole not a cotton singlet underneath.

Okay, now for something a bit different.  
 
One day while browsing at the Bond Street Hospice Shop I spied at the back, behind the counter something made of the most gorgeous fabric.  One quick look and it was identified as a cross-over house coat made from 1950s cotton fabric.  I can't remember what I paid for it, but I have blogged about it briefly ages ago.  Anyway, it is now a UFO.  I want to convert it from a house coat to a dress:

Beautiful rose print vintage house coat with wrap front, wide collar and pocket

These three photos are an attempt to show you the original sewing (top right) the cross-over front and wide collar (left) and the pocket detail (bottom right)  the placket is on an angle, not straight and this can be seen better in the left hand photo.  I would like to convert it to a dress, so in the weekend I started by unpicking the facing of the collar which is in two pieces and very similar to a traditional kimono design.  (I have unpicked a kimono and its really fascinating how they are constructed). 

In it's current form, it is not really a UFO - it is not yet altered so it is not yet unfinished.  In my opinion it is beautiful, but not practical. I am a tiny bit nervous altering it, because I might ruin it.  On the other hand it was simply made (there aren't any clippings in the sleeves for example so it could be unpicked completely).  

Any thoughts?  Suggestions?  Advice?  Is there a support group for disillusioned sewers?