Fall Neutral

Well.... here I have gone and made another Simplicity 2444. This time in a Japanese wool that I found in the sample section of my local fabric store. I don't usually go for a neutral palette because they tend to make me look washed out. My hope was that paired with this ivory jacket, it would look okay.

I won't go into the details of this pattern because we all know that I have made it many times before. A real TNT pattern for me. I lined the bodice and shortened the length of the skirt...I didn't have enough fabric so the hem is itsy bitsy! 

Dress:self-made Jacket:Joe Fresh(thrifted) Shoes:Rouge(thrifted) Watch:Guess(gift)

Happy First Day of Fall everyone!

A Little Out Of Kilter

At first glance...you thought...oooh... pretty dress. Am I right? However, those of you with a well trained eye for pattern placement and balance, added a little ...buuuuut.... to that. yeah so did I. I love this fabric and was so excited to have it and bought it without really giving much thought to its scale. This is a large scale print that I should have bought more of.  Lesson learned? The larger the print the larger the yardage to play with the pattern layout. In any case, this dress gets many compliments and I have worn it quite a few times already. It's passable as a wearable muslin...

The back just looks weird to me....oh well.

I used two patterns to make this dress. Simplicity 2444 for the bodice. This bodice is a perfect fit for me every time. For the skirt I chose Simplicity 2403 because of the great pockets it has. The two patterns were easy to marry. I lined the bodice with a polyester from my stash that was a perfect match. 

As I look at these pictures, I realize that I didn't wear it styled this way. I actually wore a cute cardigan and skinny belt with it. I wish I had gotten pictures of it styled that way because I think that the belt and cardigan made it look better. The belt broke up the pattern and the mint cardigan in it's solid color allowed the bottom of the dress to stand out as a skirt. It really was much better. I guess you will have to trust me on that...

Overall this dress is a win for me. The fit really works with the mash up of two patterns and well the pockets are scoring bonus points!

Hello Old Friend

Does anyone remember when I said goodbye to my favorite pattern Simplicity 2444?

Yeah, me neither.

Ok, I do. I knew at the time that I needed to give this pattern a break. Well, I didn't make any more of them...at least I don't think I did...but I already had this one in my closet and I realized during Me Made May that I had never blogged about it.

Pattern:  Simplicity 2444

Fabric used: Floral linen "look".  

Changes I made: This dress was made early in my infatuation...so it has a front center seam. I realized at dress number three that I neither liked nor needed to put this seam in. I cut it on the fold now. I also like to line at least the bodice now instead of using facings. 

Repeat worthy? Uh duh....

This pattern redefines a TNT pattern for me. I always feel like myself in this style dress. I have even used the bodice to make a jumpsuit....shocking! You definitely haven't seen the last of this one!

Charlie Jumpsuit

Project Sewn's newest season is now underway and the first challenge is titled Leading Ladies. Well, let me tell you first that all the ladies in this season are leading ladies in their own right! Their creations for this challenge are phenomenal! Be sure to go vote for your favorite and good luck choosing just one!

I decided to sewalong this season and was excited to start the first challenge... I would usually choose a project based on some forties or fifties era movie but I couldn't seem to stop thinking about the Charlie's Angels TV show from the seventies. Gosh, I loved watching reruns of that show as a kid! Besides...is there ever going to to a better excuse to make myself a jumpsuit?! Yeah no. Probably not. 

Here is an eyeful of jumpsuit inspiration for you to feast upon! Your welcome.

While tempted to make a most flattering sequined jumpsuit... I opted to make what I hoped turned out to be a more modern version.

Warning: This is not a tutorial. Not even close.
 This project is a mash up of two patterns but one pattern was hacked up almost beyond recognition. Oh the fun! For the bodice, I used Simplicity 2444. Anyone who follows here knows my love affair with this pattern runs deep. Real deep people. This bodice being a tried and true pattern for me made it a perfect start. Besides, if this jumpsuit thing flopped then I could always fall back on making it into a dress.

The pants are this Newlook pattern. I know... the finished product looks nothing like the drawstring pants of the original. This is where I played around and added front pleats and back darts (that are kind of long, I realize..). I tried the two on together and measured what I would need for a waistband.... you know to fill that gap. I used an invisible zip of course because I actually don't know how to insert a proper lapped zip. There. I said it. I stink at lapped zips.

This project was pure fun for me both to make and I'm sure to wear. I can think of sooooo many ways to wear this jumpsuit. Don't forget to vote for your favorite designer over at Project Sewn as  well as your favorite sewalong contestant!

MMM Day 28 So Close

May 28th...so close to the end. Wow. I have loved doing this challenged, however gettting my picture everyday has been a different experience. Interesting. On to my outfit...Simplicity 2444, again. I have posted this dress before here. This one is made of rayon twill and is so floaty. I think it may be one of my favorite fabrics for fit and flare dresses.  

MMM Day 26 Here Comes The Sun

Dress:self made Blazer:F21(thrifted) Shoes:Payless(thrifted) Necklace:a mystery

The sun came out today!! I can't begin to explain the joy that brings me...I wore this dress to church today, one of my Simlicity 2444 dresses. I should have worn a belt to cinch in the waist a bit because it is a tad to big now but I was comfortable..

See this dress styled just a little bit differently with a belt, here.

The envelope doesn't really do this pattern justice..

My Review: 

Pattern: Simplicity 2444

Fabric used: A rayon twill. 

Instructions: They are easy to follow. This pattern has lots of darts and pleats so if you don't like that then this may not be the pattern for you. It calls for facings which I have used but this time I fully lined the bodice using a pull through method before attatching the skirt. This is my favorite way of lining a sleeveless bodice. 

If I could change anything: I wouldn't change a thing. I have made it with sleeves as well and still loved it.

Repeat worthy? Yes, without a doubt. I have taken a "break" from using this pattern for a bit. I have made it five times already with a sixth now in production. I have also picked up an extra copy for fear mine will be too worn out to use. I like it that much!!!  I am expecting to go through withdrawl.

MMM Day 23 Dear Simplicity 2444,

My first ever Simplicity 2444 dress Shoes:Old Navy Belt:Joe fresh

Dear Simplicity 2444,

 I think I am obsessed with you. So, for fear of my wardrobe becoming a sea of vintage style dresses and my sewing skills not growing to their full potential...I had better let you go and see other patterns. I have sewn you at least five times now plus one more in current production. I have picked up another copy of you just in case you got too worn out too use and every time I look at a fabric, well... I picture it made up into you, my Simplicity 2444. It's too much... I'm sorry. I'll miss you. (But you and I both know I will be back) This is not goodbye my love...it's see you later.

Margo

MMM Day 2

Day 2 and I pulled out an easy dress and cardi. I really like the fresh feeling of green, blue and white together. See the details of this dress here.

Dress Self-made Shoes:Payless Cardi:Express

Enough Already

 This dress has been hanging in my closet for quite some time now...unworn and ignored. Now that I see it in pictures...(albeit over exposed pictures! uggh!) I really love it. One thing is certain though, I must stop with the blue and white prints.  Two of my next three planned projects are blue and white. Enough already!

Dress:self-made Necklace:a mystery Belt:a mystery Shoes:Payless

 I used a favorite pattern of mine, Simplicity 2444 to make this dress. I think I have made this dress four times in total and three of those are blue and white. Embarrassing. You can see one of those dresses here. I did change things up a bit by adding sleeves...woooo!(insert sarcasm) All this said, I will most likely make this one again because it is classic and fits great! Maybe in a different color.