MMM Day 27 Graphic Design

Dress:self made Cardigan:J Crew Shoes:Franco Sarto

Butterick 5455

The print of this dress is not something I usually go for but I am really liking it. This dress is so comfortable and flattering, making it a winner with me. I made it back in March and didn't give it a proper review so here goes...

My Review: 

Pattern: Butterick 5455

Fabric used: Stretch cotton. Lovely to work with! 

Instructions: I don't recall anything particular about the construction of this dress. I need to do these reviews sooner.

If I could change anything: I wouldn't change a thing about the pattern. I would however change the hem on my particular dress, the print on the bottom of mine is uneven, I'm unhappy with that but choose to ignore it. Lesson learned.

Repeat worthy? Yes, for certain! It has such a lovely, flattering fit and of course pockets. I have said this before, but I love pockets!

MMM Day !6

I really enjoy sewing a pattern for the second or even third time...I have worked the kinks out and am able to relax and just sew. I made this peplum in a white polka dot before (here and here). It's from Newlook 6196, view B. I made it without sleeves this time because I wanted it for summer and it is easy to line a sleeveless top like this. This is a light cotton which needed to be lined to give it body and to be less see through. No cami needed!

I love the floral of this print... not sure what kind of flower it is though.

Top:self-made Jeans:Calvin Klein Cardigan:J Crew(thrifted) Shoes:Joe Fresh

Here I am doing an inspection of my jeans...no spots yet but white jeans are just calling out for a coffee spill!! 

Peplums, Fancy Pants and Meatballs

I think these pants are just the best pants I have ever owned. Period. No, I didn't make them otherwise I would have a pair in every crazy print I could find. I can't make pants...yet. (I'm an optimist) Remember my last attempt, I know I'd rather not. Now that I have expressed my undying love for these pants...I'll move on to the top I made just so I could wear these pants on this blog. Showing off my fancy pants... Yup.

I used  Newlook 6196. I made view A with the cap sleeves. The pattern was pretty straight forward and fit well enough. Although, I find the waistband a little to high, which is not unusual for me but I almost always forget to check. I got excited to start this top and rushed ahead without thinking. Oops. Sometimes I'm a slow learner.

Top:self-made Fancy Pants:Joe Fresh Shoes:Payless Purse:Winners Necklace:a mystery 

As a side note, I should never be allowed to wear white, I dropped a meatball on the front of my pretty new top. Luckily you can't see the greasy spot (ok so maybe you can, so what). I always blamed my kids for my inability to wear and maintain white clothing but maybe, just maybe, it's me that's the slob after all. Sorry kids.

Dressed for Spring

Well, spring has finally sprung! Now if only the grass would...these pictures look so blah with brown dead grass for background. Handsome isn't home to take pics so I tend not to venture to a new location without him. I'm just lazy like that.

This pattern is one of my favorites,(made before here). Simplicity 2444. I really love this retro silhouette and of course the pockets.  I actually made this dress a year ago and have been waiting until Easter to both wear it and post it. I made the belt from and old wool skirt that I had, each flower on the belt is made of many circles folded and sewn together. I love the combination of this outfit, polka dots, flowers, pearls and the spring color. I kind of feel like I'm eight years old, but more sophisticated. Just missing a crazy Easter bonnet.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Black , White and More of the White Stuff

On others blogs I follow, I see that spring has sprung. Lucky ducks. But not quite for those of us living on the east coast of Canada. We just had another snowfall! So here I am still wearing tights and a winter coat. So sad.

On a happy note, I can still wear this new dress with a cardigan or a blazer. This is the first time I used this Butterick 5455 pattern, which was a fairly easy project. I chose this bold black and white geometric print in a cotton stretch, it was sooo nice to work with!

I really like the pockets in this dress and luckily, I didn't have to make any fit alterations. I cut a straight size 12 and although you can't tell from these pictures, it fits me to a T. I omitted the back vent in this dress, I found that it had plenty of room to walk and I liked that it gave it a more tapered shape.

Around My House

When I was cleaning the kids bathroom the other day it dawned on me that I had another project to post... the shower curtain. Last spring, I came across lots of pictures of the waterfall ruffled shower curtains and knew that I could make one...it was time consuming but so worth it! 

 For mine, I used a white flat sheet for the backing and some textured white fabric that I thrifted (of course) for the ruffles. Using my rotary cutter, I cut my strips in the desired length and width. I calculated the width of each strip by measuring the length of the finished curtain and then finding a width that wouldn't leave me with a half strip at the top or bottom. Say if my total length was 100 inches, I might choose to cut 20 five inch strips... to make it even. I hope that makes sense... 

For the length of each strip, I just cut it to be double the desired width of the finished shower curtain to account for the gathering. I used my serger to finish all sides of the strips (this was much easier then hemming them).Then I gathered each strip and pinned it to the backing and stitched it on. Like I said before, time consuming!!! But I love the results. The fabric is a polyester, like a tablecloth, but it washes well, which it needed when it is white.

The paint color I used is one of my favorites, Benjamin Moore Whythe Blue. I loved it so much, I used it in my sewing room too!