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 

Sewaholic Nicola Dress, Version 2

Hello friends! I am excited to post another project. Believe it or not, I actually have 10 finished garments that I need to post; however, I haven't found the time to take pictures of them. I am hoping I can get my husband to do a weekly, or even bi-monthly photo session so I can post more often. 

Before I get into the dress, I want to vent about some shopping stress that only sewcialists can relate to. If you've read previous posts (and thank you if you have), you know that I have made some changes in my career and will be transitioning from wearing scrubs to "business casual" for the medical office setting. For several months I have been focusing my sewing efforts on my work wardrobe. However, I have also been shopping for some ready to wear items to fill in some gaps and continue to build my work wardrobe. It's been much more difficult than I thought. I've been sewing the majority of my clothes for the last few years so had been out of the department stores for quite some time. I've been very discouraged by what I've been seeing so far. Much of the clothing within my price range is just poorly made! Cheap fabric, cheap closures, ill fitting. If I shop above my price comfort zone, it is difficult for me to justify spending at least $100 for a dress that I know I could make for $30 and of equal (or better) quality. 

I made the jacket in my profile picture for about $20. It is cotton seersucker, has a partial lining, bound seam allowances and shoulder pads. I love it- need to wear it more often! I made this jacket back in 2012- however, I saw at least 3 similar jackets of equal or lesser quality for about $100 during my recent shopping expeditions. It just makes me really love sewing even more when I think about what we can do with it! Now there are two stores (one company) that I can never go wrong at: Ann Taylor and Loft. Although their price points are a bit higher, they put on some decent sales. Plus, I am willing to pay more for the quality of fabric and styles. The quality is great. I have slacks from Loft that I've had for 8 years that look just as good as when I first purchased them. 

My husband loves to cut feet off in pictures! Details that only I notice. 

Alright already, back to the dress. I've made the Sewaholic Nicola dress before. I just love the fit and the design details. I knew I had to make one for the warmer weather. 

This time I used a daisy print rayon from an Etsy seller. I bought 4 yards for $20, then buttons and elastic.

There are quite a few steps to sewing this dress but nothing that is difficult. Sewaholic offers great instructions with their patterns. 

I did not make any alterations- sewed the size recommended by my measurements. They are designed for pear shapes- yeah for my curvy hips and big booty! But if you are less curvy, you may need to adjust accordingly. I think this design is universally flattering though- with its flowy design and waist cinching.

This was another winner for me! It is easy to wear and will look great in the office- maybe with a cardigan thrown over it. 

Do you still shop ready to wear? Where do you find your favorite things? 

~Jenny

Floral Lady Skater Dress

Hard to believe almost half a year has passed since my last post! I'm happy to report that I am finished with grad school to become a nurse practitioner! This endeavor has practically consumed me for the last two years. I am excited that it is over and look forward to the new opportunities waiting for me. I will begin my first NP job in a couple of months. In the mean time, I plan on catching up on some much needed sewing and will continue to focus on items that I can wear to my future office job. Check out my work inspired capsule here. 

As usual, I am late to the party. This is my first time making the Kitschy Coo Lady Skater Dress that was all the rage when it first came out three years ago. Don't get me wrong, people are still making it. I'm just never one to jump on the bandwagon right away.  

I used a very pretty floral ponte that I purchased during a trip to Seattle at District Fabric. Coming from a place where we only have Joann Fabrics, District Fabric was a treat to be able to shop at. It is a small store with a huge variety of unique fabrics. I highly recommend a visit if you are in the area. They do sell a few fabrics online, but it doesn't compare to going to the store in person. This is one of many fabrics I picked up there. I believe it was between $6 and $7 per yard. 

The sizing of the dress was spot on for me. I made the size as recommended by the measurement chart. I added 2 inches to the length. I wanted it to hit below the knee to make sure it was work-appropriate. 

I sewed this up in one evening, mostly on my serger. It probably took me about 3 hours. The instructions were thorough. I think this would be a great dress for a novice or someone new to sewing knits. 

I got several compliments the first time I wore this. I love that it can be casual or dressed up- perhaps with a blazer or cardigan. I'm sure I will be making this one again. 

~Jenny 

Sewaholic Nicola Dress

Introducing one my my new favorite dresses- the Sewaholic Nicola dress! I was instantly drawn to this pattern. I just love the design. It is very feminine and has a 70's vibe. I knew it would fit perfectly in my Work-Wear Inspired Capsule. 

I love working with prints! I know some people struggle with them but I think I've developed a good eye for what print works with what style. I discovered this print at Joann Fabrics. It is a rayon fabric with these beautiful Fall colors. I knew in an instant that it was meant for this dress. Joann Fabrics isn't one my favorite places to shop for fabrics, but sometimes you happen to find a treasure among all the polar fleece, lol! I spent about $20 for the fabric. 

I printed this pattern as a PDF. I used to dread PDF patterns, but not so much anymore. They are instantly delivered and at a better price. I'm sure with all the paper printing and ink used, it's a wash. But I tell myself I'm doing a better thing for the environment anyway. My ritual includes putting on my favorite show, pouring a glass of wine, and taping that monster up!

The instructions and illustrations are great. I didn't have any issues sewing this up. As for fit, I sewed up the size recommended by the pattern without issue. This dress is meant to have a flow and some ease so is quite accommodating to different sizes and shapes. 

I love the end result. This will look great with heels as pictured, or paired with some boots. I don't mind the fabric belt but I can always switch this out for a different look. It's very easy to wear and will be great for long work days. I'm going to have to make the short sleeved version when the weather warms up again.

And that's probably it for 2015! I've got some other makes that I need to post but don't think they will be up before the new year. I wasn't as productive this year but I feel like everything I made was high-quality and will get tons of wear in my new position coming up this next year. And as school comes to an end this next year, I should have much more time to get back to the sewing room more often. 

Wishing everyone a fabulous and blessed 2016! 

~Jenny 

Jersey Wrap Dress

Wrap dresses are probably one of the most universally flattering styles. I've made this dress before- apparently back in 2009! I love how blogging has allowed me the opportunity to journal my makes! This is a timeless, classic style that will never go out of fashion. And I decided I needed one for my business-casual inspired capsule. The pattern is Vogue 8379.

The fabric is an ITY jersey print from www.LowPriceFabric.com. I ordered a couple of prints during a sale and this was one of them. The colors are black, burgundy, and white. I love the print- it reminds me of some of the classic DVF wraps. I spent about $15 on the fabric. 

I made one size smaller than my first attempt. I also have a serger now and serged most of the seams up. I interfaced the dress from the neck facing, down to the hem along the front edges. And I shortened this a bit by taking up a 2" hem instead of a 1 1/4". 

I think this will be a great piece in my new work wardrobe. It can be styled with different jackets and cardigans, or worn as is. 

~Jenny 

Black and White Wrap Dress

I've actually been doing quite a bit of sewing! Lately, I've been sticking to a capsule-wardrobe plan for everything that I've been making. As a nurse, I really don't put much thought into what I wear to work. It involves solid colored scrub pants in a small variety of colors and a solid, white scrub top (yes, white!). When I graduate from my master's program to become a nurse practitioner (9 months away!), I will actually have to put some thought into what I wear. I've created a sewing plan that includes a wardrobe of several pieces that can be mixed and matched with each other to give lots of variety. As I continue to post more and more items, I will add them to my capsule page, which you can click on at the top to visualize all of the pieces together. 

So my first piece, is this black and white faux wrap dress. The pattern is New Look 6097- apparently out of print. 

I used a black and white ponte knit from Girl Charlee. I no longer see this print, but they have several other options. I spent about $19 for fabric. I love the beefy hand and graphic print! 

The construction was quick and easy. I made a few design/constructions changes: 

• I wanted the longer sleeves without the extra bulk of the cuff and tabs at the hem. So I simply omitted those details. 
• I opted against the belt buckle and made a tie belt instead. I added length to the belt piece so that it would be long enough to tie. 
• I initially top-stitched the neck binding down as the instructions would have you do. It ended up looking bulky and the binding tended to flip out. I ripped out the top-stitching and hand stitched the binding down instead. This made for a much cleaner look. 
• I added about an inch to the overall length with wide hem tape. 

One change I wish I had made that I didn't was to add more length to the hem before cutting the dress out. I intend to wear this dress in an office setting and it's just a bit too short in my opinion. I wish it hit a little below the knee. It's not terribly short, but as a matter of personal preference, I would prefer if it were a bit more longer. 

Overall, I really like this dress. It's easy to wear and the wrap style is super flattering! To change up the look, it is easy to throw a cardigan or blazer on. I've shown it here with a black blazer I picked up at Target. 

~Jenny 

Colette Laurel in Ponte Floral

Long time, no see! For those of you who missed the first story, or want an update... I've been scarce lately because I'm in graduate school to become a nurse practitioner. I still work full-time as a nurse, and have two small children. Studying means late nights, after the kids go to sleep. I'm about half way done with my program- a little over a year left to go.  I haven't been able to sew anywhere near as much as I want to. I've started to designate one night a week to sewing so hopefully I can be a little more productive now. And blogging the projects is a production as well. Right now the kids are parked in front of the tv while I ignore their demands distracted.

 

 

I first made the Colette Laurel in an underlined black eyelet. Still one of my favorites! I love the easy shape and always get compliments whenever I wear it.

 

 

I decided to make a second one in a floral ponte knit. I got this one through Girl Charlee Fabrics. Looks like this print is sold out but they have other lovely options.

 

I won't write a full review, just click back to my first one. For this version, I added an inch or so to the length. I also omitted the back zipper (only after sewing half of it in and then realizing I didn't need a zipper with the knit-doh!).

 

 

I really like how this version came out. It's perfect in the cooler months with boots and tights. I can wear it in Spring/Summer with sandals. And I don't think I'm done with this pattern yet! It's so classic, easy to wear, and can be done in many different fabrics.

 

~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

 

 

Lovely Leaves Laurel

Eek it's been a while, hasn't it? I have recently made a big decision... to return to school! I am currently in the midst of graduate school, working toward becoming a family nurse practitioner. Needless to say, that has eaten up some of my sewing time. Although I will have to slow down, I still hope to finish 2 garments a month. I need me some sewing to keep my sanity!

 

I can't wait until it warms up a little more so that I can wear this dress! This is the Laurel dress from Colette Patterns. I love the basic shift style of this pattern. It is easy to wear but still has a feminine shape.

 

I used a beautiful eyelet with a leaf design from Gorgeous Fabrics. I really wanted the eyelet design to pop so I underlined the dress with a white cotton lining. The sleeve hem and neck are bound with black seam binding.

 

This went together quickly and easily. I sewed the size recommended by the pattern based off of my measurements and didn't need to make any alterations. The only change I would make next time is to make the dress just an inch or two just out of personal preference.

 

 

 

I really like how this turned out! The black and white contrast looks really chic! The Laurel might just turn into one of my go to patterns. I could see this worked up into many different fabrics and prints.

 

~Jenny

My Little White Dress

Shove over boys- I've got a new love in town: my little white dress! I used Vogue 8787 to create this vampy little number. I was heavily influenced my the always fabulous Mimi G's version.

 

 

For the past three years I have attempted to make a little black dress to enter in the contest on Pattern Review. Without fail something would go wrong where it just didn't turn out right and I never was able to enter. I knew my luck was turning when Pattern Review announced a Little White Dress contest. This is my year! The idea is to show the versatility of your dress, illustrating how it can transition from day to night.

 

 

After some debate I landed on this Vogue Easy Options pattern. I initially was going to do the version with the drape neck. However, I recall when I attempted a Pippa knockoff and a certain someone asking me about the diaper on my dress. When I saw Mimi's version, I fell in love with the asymmetrical neckline instead.

 

I used a white double knit ponte roma from Fabric.com. It was actually in my stash already... score! I used a lightweight white lining with just a touch of stretch from Gorgeous Fabrics. I inserted a invisible zipper in back.

 

I cut one size smaller than recommended by my measurements. I shortened the sleeves into a 3/4 length so that I could wear it in warmer seasons as well. As for the length, I ended up cutting about two inches off before doing the hem. I tapered the skirt slightly at the ends to peg it. I took the bottom of the skirt in about four inches all the way around to create the pegged look.

 

Although there are many steps, the dress is easy to sew.

 

Wearing a LWD can be quite tricky. You don't want any unmentionables peaking through. Although the dress is lined, there is still a bit of sheerness to the dress. I recommend nude, seamless underthings to minimize any show through.

 

For day, I accessorized with a denim jacket, animal print heels, hoop earrings, and a black leather clutch.

 

 

For night, I went simple with a silver clutch and heels. I opted for large stud earrings.

 

 

I love, love, love this dress and I can see wearing it on many occasions. Don't forget to head over to Pattern Review to vote for your favorites starting 02/18/14!

 

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

Little Grey Dress

This is a project that's been in my to do pile for a while. I couldn't get excited about it because I was worried about being able to pull it off. It's more form fitting than I usually go for. In retrospect, my insecurities were very silly.

 

 

I made a mistake while sewing this but it turned out to be a happy mistake. I cut out view B which has the sleeves. However, the instructions for view A appear first. I was zoning out and totally followed the instructions for view A, making this into a sleeveless dress. I'm actually glad I did though. I think the sleeveless version has a more classy, sheath shape that I like.

 

Butterick 5672

 

I used a wool jersey for the shell and lined it with a tricot knit. I read many reviews before beginning and took note that many people omitted the lining and the zipper. I inserted both for a few reasons:

 

• Although the wool content in the jersey is low, my sensitive skin still gets the itchies from it.
• The jersey is on the thinner side so lining it gave the dress a more substantial weight.
• In my opinion, lining a garment looks better than facing the edges, or hemming them.
• Yes, it's a knit dress but if I didn't insert the zipper, I'm sure I would have popped the waistline stitches by trying to get it over my head and shoulders- especially since I ended up taking the sides in a bit.

I cut my typical one size smaller than the pattern recommends. The Big 4 always has too much ease in my opinion. As I sewed, I did some test fittings and ended up sewing a 7/8" seam allowance along the sides to eat up some more ease. I'm glad I did. It took the dress from being on the frumpy side, to body-con in no time.

 

The dress went together fast and easily! It's a great option if you need a new dress in a flash. The pleating along the waistline is great for camouflaging a bit of a tummy if you need.

 

My hubby's comment: "you look stunning"!  

 

~Jenny

Striped Maternity Dress

Another quick and easy maternity dress! This time I used McCalls 6612- NOT a maternity pattern. However, because this is a knit dress, it accommodated my swelling bump without adjustments.

 

I used a blue and green jersey I purchased at Joann Fabrics earlier in the Spring. You can't see it very well in the photo but there is a thin metallic thread running between each stripe which is a nice touch. I spent $22 on fabric.

When sewing garments made for knits with the Big 4, I usually go with 2 sizes smaller than what is recommended by the envelope. However, I only sized down by 1 size below my PRE-pregnant measurements and this worked out well.

The dress is fast and easy. I finished the neckline with seam binding- which was the only change I made.

I am really happy with this dress. It is comfortable and easy to wear- yet you still look a little more dressed up than typical maternity casual RTW. When I wore this out the first time, I received several compliments from friends. I was also stopped by a stranger who told me she was looking for cute maternity wear but couldn't find anything and wanted to know where I got my dress from! Another plus is that this will still work next year when I'm not pregnant!

~Jenny

Mod Maternity Dress

Have you ever ordered fabric online that was absolutely fugo when you got it but you were too lazy to return it? That was this fabric for me. It has sat in my stash for several years. It is an ITY print that I had purchased online (I don't want to say where because it really wasn't their fault). It just wasn't what I had expected so I told myself I would make some pajamas out of it one day so it didn't go to waste.

 

While browsing through my pattern collection, the fabric spoke to me when I came to Vogue 1179. I thought the dress would look really fab in a mod sort of way made up with my pink and black nightmare fabric. And I think it does!

 

 

 

The pattern is another non-maternity design that still works great for The Bump. Mine is 19 weeks at this point. I didn't make any alterations to the fit. In fact, I cut my usual 2 sizes smaller than the pattern recommends based on my pre-pregnancy measurements. I do this for almost all knit designs by the Big 4 pattern companies because, in my opinion, they allow too much ease for knit pieces.

 

 

 

The dress was super easy to make. I think I whipped it up in less than 2 hours (not including cutting). I made some minor changes to the construction. Instead of a narrow hem on the arms, I finished these with seam binding. Also, the instructions would have you sew one side of the collar to the dress, then press down the seam allowance on the other side and hand sew this in place. I suppose this would make for a very clean look but I found it much easier to just fold the collar piece in half with wrong sides facing and sew it all to the neckline at once. I then did my faux- overlock stitch using my standard machine to finish the edges. No one knows the difference from the outside so this was a good time saving move for me. Also, I was worried the dress might be too short because The Bump tends to hike things up a bit. So I did a 1 1/2 inch hem instead of the 4 inches the pattern allows.

 

 

 

I'm very happy with this dress. I received several compliments the first time I wore this. It's very comfortable while pregnant- and it's another one that I can wear after pregnancy too.

 

~Jenny

A Pair of Sundresses

This isn't really sewing... it's cheating. But after seeing the always stylish Mimi G's version, I knew I had to have one... or two.

 

 

I have to admit, after being exposed to the vast variety of quality apparel fabrics that are available online, I've become somewhat of a fabric snob. I do still score some fabric finds from time to time at Joann Fabrics, but more often than not I just go there for my notions and patterns. They have carried these pre-shirred fabrics for years. I've never given them a second look because they usually have a more juvenile appeal in length and print. However, this season they have introduced a maxi length version in some great prints. Last time I checked they had four prints available in this length. They are a bit pricey- but you really don't need much in yardage. You just need enough to wrap around your body with a few inches extra for straps. In the end you still get a bargain compared to a shirred maxi dress that you would find in the RTW stores.

 

So I cut the width four inches smaller than my high bust measurement. Then I sewed the back seam using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. This makes for a circumference that is 5 inches smaller than the high bust. It is comfortable to wear without any slippage.

 

I had to take up the hem about 3 to 4 inches. I'm 5' 4",  so even taller girls can get a maxi length dress with this fabric.

 

Each dress took me about an hour to complete.

 

 

I have worn the blue and green version out once and received tons of compliments, even from strangers! Not bad for an instantly gratifying project that's practically sewn for you already. Plus- this is totally maternity appropriate. There is plenty of volume in the midsection to allow for a growing belly. Mine is 15 weeks in these pictures.

 

~Jenny

Maxi Tank Dress

Sorry for the long silence over here. My last project (not blogged) left me defeated and sucked up my sewing mojo for a few weeks. It's dull and boring so I don't feel like blogging it.

 

Although the temperatures can't decide if it's Winter or Spring around here- I'm jumping into my warm weather sewing.

 

 

 

 

McCalls 6559

 

This dress was super fast and easy. I think it took me about 2.5 hours after cutting it out. There's really nothing to it. Just 2 pieces and minimal seams.

 

I used a jersey from GorgeousFabrics.com. Unfortunately it looks like it is sold out. I love the pretty earth tones in the print.

 

I made view D, the version pictured on the model. FYI... the envelope is a little deceiving unless you are good at paying attention to details- which apparently I am not. I assumed all of the views had the slight racer-back style which is what I had wanted. However, only upon closer inspection did I realize that it is view E and F that have the racer-back. I didn't even notice this until I had it all sewed up so there was no point in going back.

 

The pattern instructions would have you do a narrow hem on the neckline and arms. Whenever I attempt this on knits, it does not turn out well for me. It ends up looking sloppy and homemade. Instead, I finished these edges with seam binding.

 

I cut one size smaller than the pattern recommended- my usual adjustment. I did have to cut about 3 inches off the length to avoid stepping on the hem. My one complaint is the neckline ends up being a little too wide and/or low on me. When wearing a normal bra, I had to constantly hike up the dress so my bra wasn't showing. I will need to wear a tank under the dress to remedy this. Just something you may need to consider if your bust is on the smaller side.

 

Overall, I am happy with the finished dress. It is easy to wear, comfortable, and looks great!

 

Don't forget to checkout the Shabby Apple Giveaway! It is open until the end of April.

 

~Jenny  

 

Jungle Boogie Dress

 

 

At first I was Jungle Crazed. Then I had a case of  Jungle Fever. Now I want to do the Jungle Boogie! I hadn't intended on making a trilogy of animal prints but after the first two, I figured three is always better.

 

 

 

I used McCalls 6278 to make this little number. I had stumbled upon this stretch cotton sateen fabric from Fabric.com and knew it would be great in this color block dress. I used a stretch black sateen for the solid color and white Ambiance lining, both from Fabric.com as well. I spent about $40 to make this dress.

 

Although the dress was tedious to make, it was relatively easy. You see how the black fabric comes down in points on either hip? Those could present a challenge to some. The pattern instructions would have you attempt to sew this inset all in one seam, pivoting at the corners. This is what worked for me: sew one straight edge up to a point. Take the dress out, repin the next edge and sew from where you just left off to the next point, and so forth. It really was much more easier this way and created those nice sharp edges. The pain in the neck part: the lining is cut from the same pattern and so must be pieced together in the same way as the body. It would be much easier if the lining had it's own, basic pattern pieces in the shape of the dress.

 

 

 

I am happy with the end result. This dress is a little more form fitting and short than I usually go for but it's fun to wear. The hubby loves it! By the way, I did not make any alterations to size or length. If you are taller than 5'4", check out the length of the dress on the model. If you want this to be longer, you will need to add some length.

 

 

 

~Jenny