Good Feelings

Recognize this pattern? It's Vogue 8278...again. I thought it might be a good idea to continue the knit sewing trend..I like to make things more than once just to make sure it wasn't a fluke that it turned out the first time. Again, this pattern was super easy to make and if you can get your hands on a copy...make it!  As much as I loved making this pattern, I love this fabric even more. It is soooo soft!! I can't remember the content, I'm sure that it is some sort of poly but I couldn't care less. It just feels so good. 

I had enough of this fabric to make a longer sash this time but still not enough to have any choice with the pattern placement. I think it looks fine and I'm not sure having more fabric would have made it any better. I am pleased that the navy section of the fabric ended up closer to my face...it's just a better color on me and kind of makes it look like a yoke. Both good things.

Here I go again with my catwalk pics... much better than jumping, don't you think?

Here you can see the color palette up close. I have paired this with my navy cardigan on cooler days and can foresee wearing this dress a lot.

So there you have it...two knit projects. I am feeling pretty good about myself and want to continue to sew up some knits.

The Highs and Lows

This dress.... I love it...I don't love it...I love it.... I don't love it....and on it goes! I really like the fabric... it is a blue and white floral with very subtle polka dots in the blue background. Does it get any better!? All my favorite things in one fabric!  The bodice of  Vogue 8870 is great... it's the hemline that I'm fighting with.

 The silhouette is just feels "off" to me.....

I thought I would like a high-low hem but I wish that I had made it into a maxi. I would have worn and loved this as a maxi dress. I don't want to go buy more fabric and take it apart so I think I will first try to trim the hemline like view A. Maybe the less severe high-low version will be more to my liking.

Pattern: Vogue 8870

Fabric used: A pretty textured voile.

Instructions: The instructions were great. This is rated as very easy and I found that to be true. 

Changes I made: Absolutely none! Not one! 

Repeat worthy? Yes! The bodice of this dress is perfect for a summer sundress and I like the twin straps. You could very easily change the straps into one single wide one for more bra strap coverage. Next time I make this I will cut the skirt into a maxi...which shouldn't be too hard.

So...what's your take on the high-low dress/skirt thing? Is it a high or a low for you?

Is It Practical or Pretty...or Both?

I can't seem to keep myself from making pretty dresses...I am quite practical in other areas of my life... really I am. But when I come across such a pretty and painterly print...it just begged to be made into a dress. Another dress...like my closet needs another dress. 

On the topic of practicality... if you want to make a great fit and flare dress that doesn't require a copious amount of fabric or wastage...this is the one. Vogue 1353. Go ahead and look...no... wait I'll save you the trouble...

Whoa!!! Oh Vogue...you make it so hard to love your patterns sometimes! It was pretty easy to pass this one over...until I took a closer look at the line drawings and then the yardage. The yardage was the clincher for me....this beauty only requires 1.4 m! (1 1/2 yards for those of you in the US) Granted, that doesn't include lining but if you are anything like me, you probably already have some that you found on sale stored in the stash. Finding patterns that use less fabric and have less waste has been a goal for me lately. 

My most favorite dress Simplicity 2444 calls for 1.5m just for the skirt! 

Needless to say...I'm hooked on this new favorite.

Pattern: Vogue 1353

Fabric used: The prettiest stretch cotton sateen.

Instructions: I found this pattern to be quite easy to put together. No problems that I recall.

Changes I made: I added 2.5 inches to the length and just did a turn and hem at the bottom. I found it to be too short for me. Next time I may consider going down a size...I'm not sure though. I think that this particular fabric may have stretched somewhat while making it. I may have been a bit too zealous in my pressing. 

Repeat worthy? Yes! I love that this dress uses fabric frugally and it has some lovely details like bodice pleating and bust darts. My only wish....pockets! I added pockets originally but removed them after an initial fit test because I thought that the dress was going to be tighter and I didn't want the pockets to be pulled open. In hindsight, I should have left the pockets because there is plenty of room for them! Oh well... lesson learned and of course I could always add them still!   

I have worn this dress so many times already which is a sure sign that I should make it again. I should actually be making more wardrobe staples but we all know that I won't be doing that!

Delicate Daisies

Have you ever fallen in love with a fabric the moment you laid eyes on it? Like all the time right!?? Yeah I know...

All. The. Time. 

All. The. Fabric. 

So when I saw this blue and white lacy goodness, I swept it up and brought it home knowing that I would make it into McCalls 6696. I was a great idea in theory and now that I got through it....I love it but...boy was it a journey! 

Anyone who has made this dress knows that it requires all lot of hand sewing, which I don't usually mind....but when combined with a delicate lace... it meant MANY hours carefully hand sewing. 

I included this picture so you could see just how delicate the flower petals of this lace is. 

Pattern: McCalls 6696

Fabric used: Blue and white daisy lace and white batiste for the slip.

Instructions: I didn't have any problems with the instructions at all. The collar went together nicely as did the button stand! I tend to stay away from buttonholes but the more I tackle them the less I fear them.

Changes I made: I didn't make any changes to this dress, not even any fitting changes. I decided that due to all the extra work I did handsewing, I would make covered buttons. They were a wee bit tedious but so worth the effort. I think that they finish it so nicely!

Repeat worthy? Yes! It has lots of really pretty details and the fit is great for me. Next time, I would use a different pocket...I have a favorite...don't you? I found the pocket included in this pattern to be a bit too shallow for my liking. My hands barely fit.

I may have started out a little over my head on this one but in the end I enjoyed rising to the challenge of this fabric and it was totally worth it!

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!

Summer Uniform

I want to wear this dress everyday. Like... Every. Day. I think I wore it three days this week and it's only Wednesday.... true story.

After searching long and hard for this dress... I had no luck finding it so I decided to remake it. Of course I couldn't make an exact replica because I didn't have any of that beautiful green fabric left in my stash. I did however have some of this coral and white geometric print that I love. Hooray for the stash again!!  

I tend to think that a bold geometric print like this one needs a pattern that has fewer pieces to allow the print to shine. I like this Burda pattern for that reason. It has minimal design elements yet comes across as quite expensive looking. Chic and simple. Sometimes we think that the more "bells and whistles" a garment has the better, when really, all that fuss and fluff can leave it looking cheap. Especially if the fabric is cheap to start with.... So I say, if the fabric is cheap (as is the case here)...at least make sure that the design isn't.

My review:

Pattern: Burda 7378

Fabric Used: A geometric polyester print that wears like a dream and washes well too.

Instructions:  This dress is quite simple to make. I did change the construction process a bit by attaching the facings and shoulders, then pulling them through before sewing the side seams. You can read more about this process to give a neater finish to a sleeveless garment here. 

Changes I made: I didn't make any design changes to this one. Love it as is!

These days I am living in my dresses...they are so easy to wear. What is your go to uniform during the summer months?

Wedding Wear

  With wedding season in full swing right now, I thought about this dress that has been stashed in the back of my closet. I made it to wear to a wedding many years ago and long before I ever even thought of blogging or even knew what a blog was. 

I made this dress from a Sewstylish Simplicity 3867 pattern. With its empire cut and tie at the high waist, it is a flattering dress. I also love the pleated skirt and tend to choose pleats over gathers every time. As I look at this dress and pattern again, I'm thinking that the top would look rather cute made in a soft lawn. I think that it would be awesome in a maxi length as well.

My review:

Pattern: Simplicity 3867

Fabric Used: A poly charmeuse in ivory with taupe polka dots that I remember getting at a very great price. Like $1.99 a meter! 

Instructions: I followed the pattern instructions without any difficulty. I do remember rereading the section on attaching the waistband/tie a couple of times but it came together nicely.

Changes I made: I didn't make any changes to this pattern which is so unlike me. I liked it so much that I made another in a navy polka dot but I no longer have that version. 

Aren't these polka dots great!? Little circles rather that traditionally solid dots. I think I may have mentioned before that while I love polka dots, I prefer them to be a little irregular in some way to prevent them from becoming too cutesy.

Red Tulips

Anyone know a 13 yr old girl who could give me lessons in taking selfies? Or not. My "photographers" are MIA right now, so I had to dig out the tripod and give it a go. I failed miserably. I cut my head off, was out of focus, I forgot to take my sunnies off or I just plain forgot to smile! I worked myself into a lather of sweat and so these pics will just have to do. 

Now on to the dress... I bought this fabric at a thrift store! Can you believe that?!! Who gives away a lovely gem like this and I wonder what plans they may have once had for it? I love the color and the print, it feels very "me"and I love red tulips! I think that it is a silk shantung. I only had a meter and a half of this fabric so my pattern choices were limited. Anytime I have a shortage of fabric, I pick a pattern with more and smaller pieces, giving me the ability to play "puzzle" with them on my fabric. I thought that Newlook 6774 would fit the bill. And it did.

My Review: 

Pattern: Newlook 6774

Fabric used: Silk shantung that I thrifted!

Instructions: Were clear and straightforward.

Changes I made: I lined the skirt portion of this dress in addition to the bodice. I hand stitched the crossover part of the bodice to prevent gaping. Instead of using the fabric tabs on the straps of this dress, I choose to pleat and hand stitch them in place with tiny, invisible stitches. I also added inseam side pockets. Of course!

Repeat worthy?  I recommend this pattern but I'll probably move on to another...

After my selfies didn't go so well, I put the dress on my form and lugged her outside for better pictures. What my neighbors must think!

Here is a close up of the pleating that I added to the straps. I am so pleased with my hand stitching here and I love the shaping it gave the dress.

I remembered to get a back view!

Here is the one picture that my head wasn't cut off AND I smiled. Still blurry... but I'm smiling.