Friday Fabulousness.......summer dress

We have had such beautiful sunny days that it is hard to be in my sewing studio......but I did want a white dress to wear this weekend so I came up with this dress.  I have had this cotton batiste fabric for a while & finally sewed this summer dress.  Like my fabulous camera skills?........my beloved camera that has traveled to Europe with me is slowly dying.....now the shutter is stuck......I am looking for a new camera!



I used McCall's 6199 pattern .........this time as an overlay as this fabric is sheer.  I cut a size 12 but took in the side seams 1 inch from about the waist to the length......for a better fit. 

I also made the cotton skirt & tank top that is underneath this modern circle fabric.  I really like the hem on this pattern & it is such a easy summer dress to make with only bodice darts to sew!

A little inspiration......this dress from Oscar de la Rental Spring 2011 collection has inspired me to make a couple of white with a touch of black projects.

~ wishing you a weekend of sheer fabulousness ~



Lace Camisole uncut.........

I made this lace camisole by using the bodice part of the Butterick B5317 pattern.  I love this circle lace & I have made a skirt but I only had this little piece left so I extended the bottom part of the bodice & I gave the back a longer hem.

There really was not much else I could think of to make with this expensive fabric & I do wear these type of Cami's although this is the first time I have sewn one!  I left the edges raw & cut around the circles.



It really was so easy to sew but I did use my demin needle as the circle part of the fabric was quite thick.

Sew you later!

Baby Doll Dress

I made this baby doll summer dress from a silk taffeta fabric & with black bias tape on all edges.

I used my own simple pattern for the bodice & two layers of skirts.  I cut the first skirt on the bias & the circle skirt overlay on the grain.   I then added the top little ruffle all around.





I adore ruffles so I added this ruffle on one side & I made it by taking a piece of fabric and sewing two lines near the top & pulling to gather.  I also cut the fabric on the bias & added the black bias tape. I aslo made the matching hair band.

This is a fun easy summer dress to sew that I wear for date nights!

Sew you later!

Friday Fabulousness......pink dress

I made this dress for work using a denim cotton blend in this pale pink fabric.

I used this New Look 6934 pattern & it was easy to sew.......

The bodice was simple to put together & the instuctions were clearly written.

I added this sewing machine embroidery design on the front for a little colour & because I love to sew!

I have made this pattern twice so I think I'm done with this pattern for now.

Wishing you a weekend of fabulousness

random thoughts on a silk skirt....

This is a A line skirt I made a few months back with 2 different fabrics....I used dupioni silk for the front & charmeuse for the back.....I also made a hand sewn zipper.  I went to wear it yesterday & notice a few things......the box pleat I made in the front had come un done so this time I sewed it by hand with a few stitches at the top.  I also hand wash this skirt but notice the silk loosing its shape in the front while hang drying so now this skirt lays flat to dry.



I am thinking to line the front silk part or maybe add interface to the box pleat to keep the shape. Any thoughts for next time I sew a similar skirt with two types of fabric?

sewing side projects...........

I did a little sewing this weekend..... not on my Vogue patterns but on a couple of side projects.  This is a  sheer tunic that I made for a dinner party.  I used this chocolate polka dot sheer that I had leftover from a shawl & trim for a dress that I made a while back. 



It is a basic bodice with a ruffle made by pulling the elastic gently while I was sewing.  I used my serger for the rolled hem & back seams.  I also did a zig zag stitch on the back seams as this fabric frays easily.

I also made another maxi skirt for a girlfriend.......this is a one seam skirt with a fashion knit stripe fabric that is a cotton blend.

I used a regular stitch for the waist and a zig zag stitch for the back seam.

Sew you later!

Friday Fabulousness......a little tulle

I needed a summer little black dress so I combined two New Look patterns that I have used in the past.

I had this black eyelet cotton for a while that I had been wanting to use & I lined the dress. 

I added a little tulle on the hem for fun......and because this is a cotton dress I felt comfortable when I wore it on a hot sunny day!

~ Wishing you a weekend of fabulousness ~



Making of a Toile



This is the toile for a dress that I am making.  I can honestly say I never used to make a toile (muslin) before but since I participated in the Great Vintage sew along earlier this year I have learned the advantages of taking the time to make one.  For this dress pattern I cut to my size but as you can see I need to do a FBA as it looks & feels tight. 

This fabric is similar to the one I am using for my dress that I got on sale for less than muslin would of cost here in Vancouver.  I bought 10 meters & have been using it to make most of my toiles.

This is also a "easy" pattern....but I have found out the hard way that sometimes it is not so easy for me.  When I make a toile though I have no surprises and the sewing goes smoothly because I have worked out any pattern issues & have sewn it at least once.

This top is my own design that I drafted on white tracing paper and I made this toile...........you can see the shoulder seam needed to be taken in & if I had just blindly sewn it together this project would of ended up in a pile of garments to be fixed!  From this toile I ended up making a top & a dress.

I will also be making a toile for a Vogue jumpsuit that I want to sew but have not yet found a similar fabric to the matte jersey that I will be making it in.  Do any of my awesome followers who followed me here to my new blog url.........(btw ..thanks it meant a lot to me)  have any suggestions for the toile fabric or can I use a inexpensive knit/poly fabric?

Sew you later!

Friday Fabulousness....DKNY Vogue 1250

I must of have been living under a rock these past few months because I did not know there were so many fabulous versions of this dress in blogsphere!  I first saw this dress on Tany's sewing blog & I thought it would be a easy first Vogue pattern for me to make.   I was having problems with the shoulder seams so I googled Vogue 1250 and sooo many talented seamstresses have sewn this dress.    No one seemed to have my newbie problem though......but once I re read the instructions.....I got it!  I agree that it is an easy dress to sew.  I used this Electric blue jersey knit that is the same colour as Betty's gorgeous jumpsuit as inspiration.

This pattern has only 3 pieces........I cut out a size 12.........

I used a zig zag stitch......

I also read that some had left out the back neck facing & used other methods.......but I used the facing and was pleased that it turned out well!

I was lazy and did a zig zag doubled rolled hem.......

When I first tried it on.....I was not happy with the way the front fabric kinda rolls & droops across your middle but my critics (3 daughters) say that it looks fine & the "husband" really likes this dress.  I am wearing it tonight out to dinner with him.  I will sew this again but with a matte jersey or rayon jersey blend.....I have limited fabric selection near me and have to trek out to the suburbs to even find matte jersey and even then there were only 3 colours to choose from.  This dress took me around 3 hours to make including cutting out the pattern!

Here are some links to this dress that I found:

Erica B.

kimsewsilly

sewingfanaticdiary

adrienneslittleworld

themahoganystylist
kadiddlehopper

Wishing you a weekend of fabulousness............

Vogue Affair

Thought I would show you some of the patterns I am sewing..........Vogue.......

I just bought this matte jersey today to make this jumpsuit........it might be a little above my sewing skills.....but I am going to try!

I have started to sew this cowl style as my first Vogue pattern.....I was inspired by Tany's version of this dress.  I will be using this Electric blue jersey knit fabric for mine....... inspired by Betty's gorgeous colour of her jumpsuit

I also want to make a wrap top of this tiny polka dot knit......so I will use one of these patterns to try and modify it.

Lastly.....to go with the wrap top.....I want to make some high waisted shorts (with the buttons) with this pattern in black Ponte de Roma.

What are you making this summer?



Red, White & Blue



Hi There......

This is my first post to share with you under my new blog name........I love dressmaking and this my little spot in blogsphere to share my dressmaking creations with you......hope to inspire you if not just to give you something a little different......as my designs are not always on trend nor are they the same as everyone elses........as I like to mix it up!

This dress came about by me looking for fabric for the making of a skirt for our Canada Day celebration........there was a limited selection of fabric but there was an abundance of red, white & blue fabric!  This fabric was at the back....... high up peeking through for me to see these gorgeous flowers............I love florals and I loved this bold fabric.



This fashion knit fabric was perfect for a summer dress I was thinking of.......

a pattern from McCalls 6199.....an easy dress to make.........



this pattern has bust darts for the fit and it hangs loose at the sides.....hem the raw edges & your done......

I wear my dress with a belt and because it is a knit fabric and I was tired I did not hem.....I will see how this wears and then make hems if needed!

I will be linking this up to my Fave Parties!

sew you later!