Christmas Dresses

Happy New Year! Before the holidays get too far away from us, I thought I better post my creations for Christmas this year. The story on these dresses is kind of funny. I was in Joann Fabrics and came across this lovely fabric. It has a black lace effect over a nude base with some gold and silver shimmer to it. I end up buying 3.5 yards, imagining I would make it into some sort of party dress for the holiday season. 

We can't take a picture together where we both look normal. I must opt for the ones I look decent in- you understand. 

I got home, washed it, and hung it up to dry. Along comes my 3 year old daughter. As soon as she lays eyes on the fabric, she gasps and exclaims "Mama, I need a dwess (spelling intended)". Being the selfish mama that I am, I hadn't exactly planned on sewing her one as well. But I couldn't disappoint. I scoured my pattern collection for a mama and daughter duo that would fit into the allotted fabric length I purchased. 

For her, I used New Look 6205. I made view A. Her dress went together very quickly. I added some black ribbon to the waistline for a little something special. She wears a 3T in RTW, I ended up going with a size 4 on the pattern- glad I did because it fits her perfectly. I think a 3 would have been too small. 

For my dress, I ended up going with my tried and true Colette Laurel pattern. I've made it twice before- my first (and favorite) rendition is here. It's a basic shift dress that doesn't require a lot of yardage- perfect for my mission to squeeze two garments out of what I got from Joann's. I didn't make any changes except for adding a couple inches of length. 

I am very happy with the way the two dresses turned out. We wore these together for Christmas Eve. We got lots of compliments. I had spent $35 on the fabric- not bad for 2 "fancy" dresses! 

Posing with big brother!

No end of the year wrap up for me. If I posted my top 5 makes, it would be my only 5 makes!! I had made more, but I have a hard time getting all my makes posted. Maybe I can work on posting more frequently this year...

~Jenny 

Color Block Dress

Happy Fall! Today I am showing off my color blocked dress I made from Simplicity 1276. This is a design from the always unique and stylish Mimi G! 

I made view A, with the flared skirt, but used the elbow length sleeves. I used ponte roma knits from Low Price Fabrics. I lined the dress with a white tricot that I believe came from Low Price Fabrics as well. I'm guessing I spent about $30 including notions. 

The dress went together easily. I made my standard one size smaller than recommended by the pattern envelope. The instructions are good. I know Mimi G did some accompanying videos that give you lots of great construction tips. I was lazy though- I just did my own thing. 

The torso came out a bit long on me- I should have shortened this by 1/2 an inch or so. The fit is otherwise decent. My one complaint is that the thick ponte knit tends to bunch up in the back of the dress, creating back fat rolls that I don't have. Perhaps this could have been solved by shortening the torso so that it lays flat. I wear this dress with a jacket though so that no one gets an eyeful of the back. I know, I know- make a muslin! I can't do it people!

Overall I am happy with this dress. It looks great with tights, boots and a jacket in the Fall! 

~ Jenny 

A Galaxy Far, Far Away...

Best Halloween ever!! And probably the last one that I will ever make costumes for the entire family!! In reality, by the time next year rolls around, I will have forgotten the horrors of making four unique costumes in about a week's time (what can I say? I procrastinate), and will do it all over again. 

Let's start with the cute ones, shall we? 

Princess Leia was the easiest to make, hand's down. The white dress is a Little Girl's Skater Dress from Kitschy-Coo patterns. I used a white ponte knit. I lengthened the pattern by a couple of inches. It came together quickly and easily. For her belt, I used a silver metallic cotton blend and simply made a tube belt and glued some squares I made on top. Done! 

For Master Yoda, I used New Look 6170, a pajama pattern for the pants a shirt. These were made of a brown flannel. For the cape, I used Simplicity 1037. I made the cape using a linen blend fabric. I shortened the sleeves a bit. Not too bad so far. Bonus- the kid loves to wear the pajamas as pajamas!

Next, on to the adults. 

Kylo Ren, my husband! I used McCall's 7422 for this monstrosity. Actually, it really wasn't too bad to sew, but is a big fabric eater. There is a lined coat and lined surcoat. Accessories include the faux leather belt and the hood. I either was not paying well enough attention to the instructions, or the instructions were wrong in a few places. If I attached the lining as directed, I would not be able to turn inside out. I sort of did my own thing. The hood is made of linen. The coat is gabardine and lining. The surcoat is broadcloth and lining fabric. 

And finally, our heroine- Ray. I used McCall's 7421. This included a shirt, pants, tabard, gauntlets, and a belt. What the heck is a tabard or a gauntlet? This one was not difficult to sew but tedious. I found the instructions to be fine on this one. The shirt and gauntlets are made from an off-white jersey. Pants are a brown ponte. Tabard is tan gauze. Belt is faux leather. 

I cut corners where I could. If you allow yourself one week to make four costumes, you got to do what you got to do. I avoided hems where possible- particularly on my tabard- none of the edges are finished. 

And there you have it. We really did have a great Halloween this year and enjoyed showing off our group costumes. This was not the most economical proposition. In fact,we probably would have been better off in that regard buying the costumes from the store. We were close to the $200 mark for all four costumes. But mine have a little more detail and love (and anger, aggravation, annoyance, anxiety) poured in. 

~Jenny

Work Worthy Button-up and Pencil Skirt

And here are two more additions to my work inspired capsule collection. 

For this shirt I used Simplicity 1941. The fabric is a white specialty cotton from Joann Fabrics. It was $19.50 for the fabric. I really love the texture of the fabric with its embroidery detail- you may not be able to make it out in the photos. 

I like the princess seams of this pattern. This pattern includes fit-as-you-go instructions. I ended up nipping it in a little here and there for a more fitted look. I also like the pleating of the sleeves. It gives it a more feminine look without going overboard. 

This was very easy to sew and a great addition to the work wardrobe. It will go with a variety of bottoms, toppers, and accessories. 

For the skirt, I used Hot Patterns 1011. First let me reminisce- this is the very first pattern I blogged about here! Man, I looked young! I still have the denim version of this skirt and continue to wear it. 

The fabric was out of my stash. It is a gray, stretch suiting from Gorgeous Fabrics. I don't remember exactly how much I paid but I would imagine between $10-$15 a yard. I used about 1 yard for this.  I love the feel of this fabric- the perfect weight and stretch for work-wear. 

This skirt was super easy to sew!

I've already worn this skirt several times. It works great with several different blouses I own. 

~Jenny 

Easter Ginger

Yep, I've turned into one of those moms. You know- the kind who match their outfits with their daughter's. At least it's only on special occasions.

For myself, I made the Colette Ginger skirt. This is a great pattern for a basic, A-line skirt. It went together super quickly. I like the high waist style. It is flattering and has a bit of a vintage vibe.

I used a cotton stretch sateen print from Gorgeous Fabrics. It's been in my stash for a while until I could figure out what to do with it. I originally intended on making a dress with it. I love the colors and large floral print. However, I thought it would be a bit overwhelming on me as a dress so I opted for a skirt. I think it turned out nicely.

One word of caution. I fell in-between sizes on the size chart so I opted for the larger of the two. I still had to let out the waist seam allowances by 1/4 inch on each side- 1 inch all the way around.

I am really happy with this skirt and received lots of compliments the first time I wore it. This is another one I could see making up in several prints for lots of options.

For the baby, I used Simplicity 3854 to make her dress from the same fabric. For such a little dress it was actually quite fussy! The instructions would have you finish the neckline and sleeves with bias tape. Despite the bias, I couldn't get the tape to stretch enough to lay flat after stitching. So after fighting with it, I ended up cutting a lining for the bodice and finishing it that way. I then preceded to sew the lining in incorrectly and having to rip it out- at least that one was my fault.

In the end, it did come out really cute. I love the poofy skirt! And, I made her the matching headband!

 

 ~Jenny

 

 

Sunday Sweetie

This dress is the first thing I've made my daughter. It was one of her Christmas presents but she didn't quite fit until this last week.

 

 



Simplicity 1701

 

 

I used a quilting cotton from Fabric.com. Now I'm in agreement with most of you- quilting cotton should not be used for garments. But it's a baby so I got over it! I trimmed the dress with some lace that I had in my stash. I was initially going to make the organza overlay. However, the cheap synthetic organza I got was not behaving and the dress looked better without it so I omitted it.

 

 

 

I converted the zipper closure to a button band instead. For someone who spends much of the day sleeping and rolling around on the ground, a zipper just didn't seem too comfortable. I couldn't find much info on converting to a zipper closure out there so I did my own thing. If any of you are interested, let me know and I will do a tutorial in the future.

 

 

 

My daughter is a little over 3 months now. I'm not sure how much she is weighing these days. I made the size small for 13-18 lbs and it seems to fit her well with a little room to grow. It's long on her- almost to her ankles but looks like that what the style is meant to be.

 

 

 

This was a quick and easy dress to make. The bodice is lined which gives it a nice finish. I may use the pattern for another view in the future.

 

~Jenny

Swiss Dot Top and Burda Pants

Here are two more projects inspired by my Spring/Summer 2012 wardrobe. The top is actually one I added in. I thought the floral print would work well with the color scheme and would be versatile in that it could be paired with several of the bottoms and jackets. The ankle-pants are actually a mock-up of the yellow pants in my inspiration photo. I'm still on the prowl for the perfect shade of yellow, stretch denim or twill fabric for my "real" pair of pants. I also want a pair in pink, like a hot pink.

Let's start with the blouse...

Simplicity 2892

I made view C which is sleeveless, has a pleated neckline, and waistband. I used a cotton swiss dot from JoAnn Fabrics. I spent just under $10. It is very easy to sew, spent about 3-4 hours making it up. The only change I made was to grade the waistband up one size from the rest of the blouse. I was afraid it might be too tight but turns out I probably could have got away with making it all one size.

I am very pleased with the blouse! It is nice and lightweight for the warmer weather but will work great under cardigans and jackets later on.

Next up is the pants. I used Burda Style magazine, issue 07/2010, style 103.

These are a slim fitting pant. They have a jean styling with front pockets, a front zip fly, waistband, belt loops, and back yoke. You can't tell from the pictures but there's also quite a bit of topstiching detail.

I used a black stretch bottom weight, also from Joann Fabrics. I spent about $19.

They are relatively easy to see with some knowledge of pant construction. I did have to consult some illustrated instructions for constructing the front zip fly though. I spent about 5 hours sewing them.

I like the styling of the pant. And they are a very good fit, straight off the pattern without any adjustments. My one dislike is they are a bit high waisted for my preference. They go above my belly button which isn't the most flattering fit for my shape. I usually prefer 1-2 inches below my belly button for comfort of wearing and I think they are more flattering. I know I could probably lower the rise but I don't want to fuss with it. I'll just look for another pattern with lower rise.
I don't know that I will make my colored pants using this pattern. I'm actually leaning toward a skinny fit jean pattern so that they will transition into Fall/Winter. But these are a decent, basic black pant.

Ha! I'm trying to do my amateur model pose while the little one runs amok in the background!

~Jenny

Leaving on a Jet Plane

We had a great time in Florida and as promised, I got lots of pictures! I actually had my own miniature me-made challenge as I was able to wear at least one piece of clothing that I had made on every day of the trip. And for those of you who may not know, I am sewing up garments inspired by the Cabi capsule collection, blogged about here.

So first up is my plane ride outfit- on the way out. Here, I am wearing the blue tank top and the ivory knit cardigan with jeans and flats.

I won't go into great detail about the tank. I've actually made it before using Simplicity 2593, blogged about here. I didn't change anything except for not making the twist neckline. A funny thing about the twist on my previous top- I actually ended up removing it after the first wear! It looked so cute... that is, until I put it in the wash. The twist was just never the same and ended up looking messy despite ironing. So I took it off and continue to get a lot of wear from this top. I used a wonderful blue cotton shirting from Gorgeous Fabrics. Looks like it is sold out now. But it's very lightweight, almost sheer and breaths nicely. I spent $12 for the tank.

For the cardigan, I used Simplicity 2603. Based off of the inspiration photo, I wanted a knit with some texture to it. I came across this lightweight, pointelle ivory knit at Hancock Fabrics. And it was on sale for half off! I spent $19 on the cardigan and about 3-4 hours sewing it up. I made a size Medium (14-16). I made the shortest version that the pattern had to offer and lengthened the sleeves slightly. I was aiming for full length sleeves but apparently was not doing my math correctly and only added a couple of inches (not sure how I thought this was going to be enough). So my sleeves are still 3/4 length but that's okay. The second change I made was to fold the back neck to the inside and tack it for about 4 or so inches. I had read this on a review of the pattern and it's a great tip for this pattern. When the back neck is rolled to the inside, the rest of the cardigan has a really nice drape to it. Without folding the neck to the inside, the front of the cardigan tends to roll outward, exposing the wrong side of the fabric. Now if I had made this with a solid knit, such as a rayon jersey, I would have left the ends raw instead of doing the narrow hem. I think it would have created a much cleaner look leaving the ends unhemmed, opposite of what you might think I know. But, because this was more of a sweater knit, I did go ahead and do all of the hemming.

This cardigan is a dream to wear! The fabric is perfect for warm weather. It's just the right weight to cover up in the cool air conditioning but not be too bulky. I love the design and style and the neutral color goes with just about everything. I actually wore this with several tops from my capsule wardrobe! I would love to make this again for fall/winter out of some rayon knits.

~Jenny

Pattern Review: All in a bunch Top

Simplicity 2181

Here is one of my "everyday" tops that I talked about in my last post. That is- tops that I can pair with jeans and still look a little more put together than just jeans and a t-shirt.

This top was quick and easy to make. I used a knit that I found at Joann Fabrics. It's light and drapey, very much like an ITY knit. I can't remember exactly how much I spent but it was less than $15. The print is an abstract blue, purple and pink combo.

I like how this top turned out. The sleeve and body of the top are all one piece. I actually do prefer v-necks in my tops, I think they are more flattering. This top is a low v-neck, but with all of the fabric bunched together it doesn't gape or feel immodest.



My one gripe is how Simplicity has you construct the front v-neck. This will probably make more sense if you have sewn it or are going to. The front of the top has a center seam. The instructions have you stop sewing several inches below where the v-neck ends, leaving a slit about four-five inches open below the small band that holds all of the bunched up fabric together in the center. At first, I didn't think this was a big deal because with all of the bunched up fabric, you would think that the "slit" would stay closed. This was not the case. When I wore this the first time, I looked down at one point and noticed that the slit was open, revealing my tummy underneath. Of course I was in public too! So I promptly sewed the remaining center seam up to the bottom of the v-neck. This did not impact the finished look of the garment and made it much more easier to wear. I'm not quite sure why the instructions have you leave the slit.

Overall, this is a keeper. I think I would like to make it once more in a solid knit. The print distracts from the interesting style of the top.

Paired with the first garment that I posted to this blog- my denim pencil skirt! It's a little more snug than when I first made it but I'm just glad I can get it zipped up... LOL!

Stay tuned for a big project that I have planned. I'll be adding another tab up on top for it. I've been inspired by Lori and her Wardrobe Sewalong on her blog Girls in the Garden. More to come!

~Jenny

Pattern Review: Lisette Top

Simplicity 2059

One of my sewing goals at the moment is to sew more "everyday" tops. I love to wear jeans but I want to step it up from the same old jeans and t-shirt look. I sew a lot of dresses and skirts- which I do get wear out of, but not on a day to day basis. So you'll still see dresses and skirts sprinkled in but I hope to focus more on tops for a little while.

I really like how this top turned out. I love the simplicity of the design. It's just a basic, long sleeved top with a little bit of gathering detail in the back. This is one of Simplicity's Lisette patterns.

I totally went for Joanne Fabric's Lisette gimmick and bought Lisette fabric for my Lisette pattern! It cost $15 for the fabric. I actually really like this fabric. It's a very light weight cotton but not too sheer. And I think the geometric blue floral print is so cute!

This was very easy to sew. I think I spent about 4 hours on it, after cutting it out. I made an 18. It's got quite a bit of ease, I probably could have gone with the 16. But I think this looks good a little loose and flowy. The only change I made was to reduce the height of the sleeve cap in the sleeve. I've talked about this before- it makes it much easier to set in in the sleeve.

I think I might make a couple more of these during the next winter/fall season. I think this would be really cute and cozy in a flannel print too. I like the sleeveless dress also included in this pattern and will try to make it for the warmer seasons that are coming up.

~Jenny

Pattern Review: Floral Blouse

Simplicity 2599

This pattern has been reviewed at least 50 times on Pattern Review so I'll save you a long review. It is a "Best Pattern of 2010", and for good reason!

I initially bought this fabric at Joann's for a vintage look I was going to make. I think the floral print screams vintage, in a cute way. And then I decided that vintage sewing is just not for me. Eeek... I know I'm gonna get some flak for that last statement but let me explain! I follow a lot of your vintage inspired blogs and I think you all look amazing. I love to admire all of your vintage looks and how you pull the looks together. However, I've tried the vintage thing and I've found that it just doesn't work for me. I don't think I have the creativity that others have to incorporate the vintage looks into my wardrobe. Plus I've found that the sizing is quite different and I don't have the patience to deal with the fitting issues. That being said, I've got a modest collection of vintage patterns that I will be downsizing so keep an eye out for giveaways in the new year!

So back to this project- the print fabric cost me $9.75. It's just a polyester print from the Simply Silky collection.

This top was very easy to make, I think I spent about 3-4 hours sewing it, not including cutting it out.

As far as alteration, I cut a size 18 with a 'B' cup. I found that this pattern has quite a bit of ease though. I ended up doing 1 inch seam allowances on the side and the top is still a little big for my preference. I think next time, I will cut out the 16 or maybe even the 14 and I think I will still have plenty of room to slip this on.

I finished the inside seam allowances with bias tape, a la Amanda. She always has impeccably finished garments inside and out. I think one of my New Year's resolutions will be to take more time finishing the seam allowances- it really does make a big difference!

I really like how this blouse turned out! It's a perfect top for wearing under a jacket with the ruffles spilling out the top! I can see myself making several different versions from this pattern- I could use dressy tops that are good for layering!

~Jenny

Pattern Review: Simplicity

This is actually my second go around with this pattern. I made view B back in 2009 and reviewed it here. I was hesitant to make the maxi length because of my petite stature. However, I took the plunge and am glad I did. It is one of my current favorites.





Pattern Description: Misses' knit dress in two lengths with bodice variations. I made view E.

Pattern Sizing: This pattern comes in sizes 6-22. I went back and tried on the other dress I made with this pattern and found that it fit very well, even with my post-maternity body. So I stuck with a 14. What this means- the pattern runs large.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes!

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were very easy to follow. I did not find the errors with this view as I did on the other version.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? This is a "Best of 2009" pattern for a reason. It is easy to sew up. It has great lines and is very flattering for any body type. I love the neckline on this view. I like the bodice gathering and waist definition. No dislikes.

Fabric Used: Rayon jersey. Cannot remember where I got it- was in my stash.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I had to shorten the length by 5 inches. The only other thing I did was change the way the neck band was sewn down. I hand sewed the facing in place. The pattern has you edge stitch the neck band which catches the facing in place. I found that hand sewing it down created a much neater look.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, this one is a keeper!

Conclusion: Another great version from this pattern!



~Jenny

Pattern Review: Simplicity

It's a scorcher today... I think it got up to 95 degrees! And it feels almost as hot inside as it does outside. This top would have been perfect for the sweltering heat. This one is almost a wadder... I will wear it as a p.j. top so it's not quite hopeless.



Pattern Description: Misses' knit dress, mini dress or top. I made the top.

Pattern Sizing: Sizes 4-20 are available. I cut a 16.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Pretty much.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, the instructions were fine. It's actually a fast and easy top to make.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I think what drew me to this pattern was the faux henley style. It's simply just a rectangle shaped piece sewn over the center front with buttons sewn on top. I think it's a cute touch. I also like the back- it's almost a racer back which is also very cute.

Dislike- do not like the side panels at all. In the pattern photo, it looks like this panel is almost hidden, like it folds inward. Well, on these shapely hips they do not. They look like chicken wings and they accentuate instead of flatter one's curves. I know... it's probably not THAT bad, but I don't like it!

Fabric Used: This bums me out because I really like the fabric. It's a clearance bin find at Joann's. I scooped up the last of the bolt for like $2.00 a yard. It's a knit in pink and gray stripes with metallic thread running through it... so cute! Unfortunately, I probably won't wear this one for anything other than a pajama top.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: The only alteration I made was to go down one size than recommended.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I really like the shape of this top other than the chicken wings. So I will make this one again, but do away with the side inserts. If you are pretty slender, give it a try with the side inserts, they may look more flowey than they do on me.

Conclusion: Love the henley and racer back style. Hate the muffin top holders!




~Jenny

Pattern Review: Simplicity Skirt

First of all, thank you for all of your kind comments on the last outfit. I might be hallucinating but I could have sworn that there were more comments and some of yours have gone missing. I just wanted to assure you that I have not removed any of them deliberately. If you have removed them yourself- that is of course OK if you chose to do so. Just didn't want to hurt any one's feelings. Silly computers!

Also, I have decided to go by my real name from now on in my blog instead of my pseudo name. I have confirmed that most of you are not psycho stalkers and are in fact sweet ladies who I consider friends within the sewing community. You must finish reading the post, or skip to the end to see the name:)

These are some fun pieces. I realize that a skirt suit can age oneself instantly. I will probably wear the pieces separately.


Pattern Description: Misses' jacket with front, collar and sleeve variations and skirt. I made the jacket with the v-neckline and three quarter length sleeves. I also made the skirt.

Pattern Sizing: This pattern is available in sizes 4-20. I made a 16 for both pieces.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, very much so.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I found the instructions to be fine. As with other Project Runway patterns by Simplicity, the instructions jump around quite a bit depending on the "designer details" you are adding. For example, there are two pocket variations you can do, or three sleeve variations. So if you are very dependent on the instructions, you must pay attention to which details you are doing.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I thought that this was a very spring time looking combo. I like the three quarter sleeves of the jacket and the unique pockets. It's difficult to see from the photos but the pockets kind of have a bagged look to them. I also like the shape of the skirt... it almost has a tulip shape. No dislikes here.

Fabric Used: Both pieces of fabric are from Joann's. I used a loosely woven tweed that cost $23. I love the weight- it is really light and breathable. It is a bit difficult to sew with because it does stretch as it hangs. I should have let the jacket hand over night before completing the hem. I didn't and it dips in the back- something I need to go back and fix.

I used a stretch poplin for the skirt. Don't have the receipt for this one, but it had to be under $10.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I went down my usual one size from what the pattern recommends based on my measurements. I put in an invisible zipper on the skirt because I just like the clean look of an invisible zipper. If you haven't done so yet- I highly recommend an invisible zipper foot for your machine, it's worth every penny!

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I could see making a different view of the jacket from this pattern. I also really like the skirt- could make a few more for the warmer weather.

Conclusion: Great separates that look good together or with other pieces. I love the skirt- it's so simple to make and looks great with a tank and sandals! I do recommend this pattern to others, with all the different variations, there are lots of possibilities!




~Jenny (the gal formerly known as Byrdie)

Pattern Review: Simplicity Jacket

Sorry to keep you waiting! I finally have pictures of this outfit. If someone could come up with a camera that gives you perfect lighting, takes off twenty pounds, and gives you the perfect facial expression- I would pay a pretty penny for it... lol! I could not make this outfit look good indoors or out on camera. Maybe it's the hot pink color... I don't know. I'm still not satisfied with the pics but I give up!

Pattern Description: Misses' dress with knit bodice and jacket or vest.

Pattern Sizing: Sizes 6-22 are available. I made a 16.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes!

Were the instructions easy to follow? I found that the instructions for both the jacket and the dress were fine.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The jacket- I really love all of the details of the jacket. The pockets are really cute. I like the sleeves with the banded hem. I like the loop and ribbon closures.

The dress- I love the shape of the dress. It almost looks like a ballerina style dress. I love the banding along the neckline and arms. I also like the back- it comes in like a racer back.

I don't have any dislikes.

Fabric Used: For the dress, I used a hot pink jersey knit from Fabric.com. It cost me $10. I found that the knit was just a little too thin for my liking. Next time I make the dress, I will use something with a little more weight.

For the jacket, I got a navy linen blend with metallic threads in it. That cost me $6- it was on clearance at Joann's. I really like the metallic in the jacket- the pictures don't do it justice.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I shortened the dress by about 1-2". I did not put in the pockets. I did put in the zipper but I find that I could have gotten away without it because of the 4 way stretch in the knit.

I did not make any changes to the jacket. The one thing I would change if I make it again is to lengthen the arm bands. I find that I have to do this for any garments with arm bands because I do not have pencil arms. Sometimes I forget to make the adjustment. It looks OK, but would be better lengthened.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I definitely want to sew the dress again. I could have this dress in ten different colors- I love the style and it is perfect for warm weather dressing. I also like the jacket a lot. I think I would like to make it in a tan or gray khaki next time so that it has more versatility. Yes- I would recommend both pieces.

Conclusion: I love this outfit- I wore it out to dinner with my hubby for his birthday!




~Byrdie