Vogue 1236 - The White Dress

I love, love the white trend this summer. I've been wanting to make a white dress since I saw the trend. I know, white is not necessarily your friend, especially when you have a bit extra in spots but who cares!

I remembered this white seersucker type fabric in my stash from about 2 or so years ago. It was a Fabric.com purchase when they had all that Ralph Lauren fabric. I think it was all of $2.99 a yard. It's cotton and was only about 50" wide and I had just over 2 yards. I had initially wanted to make a shirt out of it but I've given up on fitted shirts.

I also really liked this Vogue 1236 from the get go. I should really avoid these dresses without a delineated waistline but I thought it might work because a) it's a DKNY dress and she designs well for curves and b) the fabric had vertical stripes.



This is a super easy pattern but I've been working on it for a week now. Life has gotten in the way of sewing. Between landscaping and my son's new gymnastics schedule, we've been so busy.

This is my second attempt at a dress for my husband's high school reunion this weekend. It's a casual affair or so I've been told, anything goes more or less. I'm not loving it enough to wear to his reunion but I did wear it to work today.

I like the shape, even though it may not be the best for me. I get bored wearing the same thing over and over again. I cut out a 14 which was the biggest on the envelope but probably should have added some width to the sides. It's probably a bit more snug than it should be. It is cotton so it's loosening up as I wear it. I'm also pushing maximum size here and am trying to lose a couple pounds. I love the neckline and shoulders, they fit very well for me.

All in all, this is a very nice pattern, quick, easy, and uses little fabric. A lot of bang for your buck. It's not the best shape for me but I will wear it. I've been trying to make some more basic pieces that I can mix and match. I tend to go bold with my fabrics and need some more simple pieces in my closet.

Swiper joined me for photos this morning. I hit the timer, went to my spot, and he followed me and sat down just right without any prompting. He even did it for the back view. He's a Border Collie crossed with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and is my social misfit. He loves us, but won't let anyone else (other than my mom whom he adores) near him. I've had him since he was a baby so we think it's a biological thing...something is miswired in him. His littermates are fine.

Holy Frilly Batman!

Ok, so I didn't expect this to be so FRILLY! Why, I'm not sure. The picture on the pattern is frilly and even the line drawings are frilly. I'm trying to decide how I feel about it. I don't wear frilly stuff like this at all, shoot, not even my wedding dress(es) were frilly. But, I tell you, there is some part of me kind of enjoying it. Shh...don't tell! I need to keep my sexy momma image ;-)

I don't know, I guess "Ladylike" is in so I will probably give this a whirl. I could tame it down a bit like replacing the sleeves with some cap sleeves and reducing the length of the bodice frill. Other than the style things, this is a very nice pattern. I cut out a 14 D cup which was the largest on the pattern and added 1/2 inch to each side. I did forget to add the same to the flounce on the bottom, darn it, so my flounce comes up short where it ties but I don't think anyone will notice. It's a design feature.

So what do you think? I can take it. The household here is split. DS loves the flounces and DH flicked at them and scrunched his face up...lol. So maybe it won't work for his reunion but I'd still wear it to work. I know it's not my style but I think it's a nice dress. I'm going to keep it around for a great woven wrap dress pattern. There's no reason you couldn't leave the flounce off the front completely. It has standard facings, which are flipping btw, but that always happens with me. As I'm wearing it though it's getting better.

McCalls 6024 - Girly Girl

I'm seeking out that little bit of Girly-girl I have and making a dress with ruffles...yes, ruffles! This is so out of my zone but the fabric just told me it had to be a frilly dress. I love it when material tells me what it needs to be. It takes all the guessing out of what to make with it.

I've had this pattern in my stash since it came out. I seem to buy almost all of the multi cup sized patterns whether I like them or not. I did like this, even though it's not my usual style. The reviews on PR are very favorable even though there are only a few. It does tell you something though when people who do make it, make it multiple times.

I have the bodice mostly done but don't have pictures yet so you'll have to wait for the final product. I am making it for my hubby's 20th High School reunion at the end of the month...I robbed the cradle. Mine was several years ago ;-) The reunion is supposedly casual but darn it if I'm not going to look nice. Here's to hoping it turns out. I'm on vacation this week. I'm supposed to be doing a whole lot around the house but with it near 100 degrees here today, well, not much got done except sitting on my butt sewing in the AC! Crazy weather! By Friday, it's going to be in the 60's!

I'm making the view with the flutter sleeves.



Here's a shot of the fabric from a couple months ago. It's the black/roses with the pinstripes. It's pretty darn shear so I'll need to either make a cotton lawn slip or buy one. Luck would have it that I got some black cotton lawn in the last FabricMart mystery bundle!

Blogger Troubles?

Is anyone else having issues with Blogger? Over the last week I've tried to post comments on various blogs I visit. Just recently I tried to post a comment to Be. Mine. to tell her how much I loved her latest pair of shorts and it won't let me.

After I type a comment then choose the way I want to leave it, I check the Google account. It kicks me out to Google to sign it, even though I'm already signed it. Then takes me back to the comment but only allows me to post as anonymous or so it seems. I type in the secret word but it won't leave the comment.

This is only happening on some blogs. It doesn't seem to matter if I'm a follower or not.

I tried to comment here the other day too and had the same issue. Knit Machine Queen. I'd love to comment on her dresses but it won't let me....grrrr!

Is anyone else having issues? Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Thanks for all the comments on my jumper. I'm really surprised by how much I like it. It's so much fun!

Is it a jumper, a romper, a jumpsuit, or maybe a onesie???

I don't know what you call it but I call if fun! Ok, so I wore these when I was 9 or 10 so I probably shouldn't be wearing them again. But sometimes I jump on a trend sheerly for the fun of it. I think I made a fairly grownup version so it doesn't look like something either a toddler or a twenty something should wear. I did end up buying some fabric for this instead of making it out of some ugly stash fabric I didn't like. I found a 40% off coupon for Joann's and while I don't normally buy fabric there. I've not had the best luck, but I did find this rayon/lycra knit with some weight to it. I've had their rayon pill horribly before so I'll just have to hand wash and lay it out to dry. It wasn't cheap though at $12.99 a yard. I don't see myself wearing this for too many summers. I'm guessing this is kind of a fleeting trend.

As a reminder, here was the inspiration. Too bad we lost power last weekend. I was planning on doing this as a last minute entry for the PR Knockoff Contest. My pockets are different.



I used the McCalls 6083 pattern then added the ruching pieces. I completey left off the elastic. I just fiddled with them til I got the right size in width and length. I don't think I'd like this with just the elastic waistband. I need more to pull me in and make me look like I have a waist. I say that but I'm seriously considering doing the pants version in some pinstriped linen I have.



The top gapes big time, but, in order to get this on and off, you need it wide there. I just put in a little snap to the front. The instructions may tell you to do that but I didn't even glance at them. The pattern calls for interfaced facings but I blew that off too. Maybe for a woven but not needed for a knit. I just used my double needle.

I wore this around today to run errands and it was so comfy. It was nice to not have to worry about a skirt blowing around in the wind today. If these weren't so trendy, I might actually make another one.

The shoes are just for show sadly. I'm still not really wearing my high heels but I think this will look really cute with my yellow flat sandals from the previous dress pictures. I also have some grey suede flat sandals.





My newest tattoo is peeking out. It's not done yet. It still needs colored.

Vogue 1179 - My Crayola Dress

This is the fastest dress EVAH! I did cut it out on Tuesday night so I can't count that in the time, but I sat down last night about 7:45 ish and had this done and hemmed by 9:15.

There are three pieces with a some pleating in the front which is super easy. Sometimes I get so confused with pleats...lol, but these were really quick. Baste those up, sew some clear elastic at the shoulders, and serge the sides and shoulders together. The pattern wants you to handstitch the collar down, seriously, maybe I'm just lazy but I doubled it up and serged it. You can't see it when the collar folds down, not even close. I did pin it to make sure. Add a hem and fold over the armholes, I used a double needle, and ouila, instant dress!

I have to say too that Donna Karan is a Goddess! How does this woman draft clothing to be so flattering??? Now mind you, this is a "sack" dress that doesn't have a whole lot of body consciousness to it. But still, for a "sack" it's flattering. The last couple dresses I've made have been either the Donna Karan ones or the DKNY ones. I've decided I'm going to work my way through her patterns. They all seem to work so well.

Finally, this fabric is to die for! No, it's probably not for everyone, it is bright! I showed my DH when I bought it and his response was "OKaaaay?" As in, you're really going to make me be seen with you wearing that? He's a bit more conservative than I am, but he should be used to it by now after 7 plus years, right? ;-) The fabric was purchased on ebay from HighEndFabrics. I've bought a ton of fabric from them and have loved everything. They specialize in organic fibers, bamboos, modals, and rayons. I love their rayons they are so soft. That's what this is, a rayon knit.

I'd been waffling over what to make with this fabric since I loved it so much. I just wasn't 100% sure about this pattern, being rather unshaped as it is. But I'm really glad I went for it. I put a low slung belt on it and it looks cute that way too. Today I have it on with a casual white blazer for work. I'm trying to do the Me Made June but I'm so bad at taking pictures in the morning and I forget when I get home.

Anyhoo, I'm calling this My Crayola Dress. It reminds me of when you were a kid and put the crayon chunks in paper, folded it over and ironed it...this is what you get.

Tohrment (aka Pookie Bear) wanted to be in the picture. I don't know why I'm not smiling in these, I am happy!

Let there be light (and power for my sewing machine)!

We got our power back on! Yeah! Way to go power company (whom I happen to work for)! Considering all the damage done with this storm, I'm extremely happy to have it back in just two days. So last night I kicked on the AC and turned on some lights and cut out a pattern.

I've been dying to try this one Vogue 1179, another DKNY pattern.



It looks pretty shapeless to me but loads of internet sewers have posted pictures of it and it ends up looking quite pretty on them. Even women built like me! Isn't that the best thing about sharing what we sew, seeing normal women who look like us in clothes we want to make. I rarely ever make things that I don't end up liking, mostly because I can see what it will look like on me through seeing it on others. Of course I have my wadders, but that's usually because I'm taking a chance on something that might or might not work.

Speaking of a chance, I'm also just about ready to cut out McCalls 6083. I just loved that jumper/romper so much. I was going to franken pattern something but then realized I had this pattern which was nearly identical. Close enough for me. I have some cheapy cotton knit that I'm going to try it out with. If I like it, I am going to make it up in some black bamboo knit or something equally soft and breathable for summer.