Black drape dress

I needed another black dress to wear to the 

art theater the other night, so I sewed this 

easy McCall's 6069 pattern.

I used a heavy ponte de roma knit

that feels luxurious to wear.

I did a few mods by having the back

drape more than the front,

as I had made this dress a few years back 

& was forever pulling up the front 

bodice gape.

I also added about 2 inches to the

sleeves.

An easy dress to sew but took me about 4 hours rather

than the 1 hour the pattern claims.

I like this style with the inseam pockets

but I always belt it as

it looks too frumpy without it!

Sew you later!

Little Black Heart Dress

I have been surprised and excited that my Femme Capelet has been a success!  I sewed this capelet only for me but I have had women stop and ask where I purchased it, and when I told them I made it they wanted to purchase from me!!  I also have come to realize what a powerful marketing tool the internet is and have had orders for my capelet on line.  So I have been busy working full time and sewing the orders at night.  I enjoy making this so this is a bonus that I can sell something I enjoy doing!!  In the midst of this its that time of year when my husband and I are invited to dinners and parties.  I needed a little black dress and came up with this design.  I like hearts and the colour hot pink so I combined these two for this dress. I used a heavy crepe satin for this dress.

Here is my mini tutorial for making the heart cut out back.   I first cut out a heart template from white tracing paper.

then I cut out the interfacing for around the heart at least 1 inch bigger all around using your template as a guide and then cut out the center- I used a light but next time I would use a medium weight interfacing.

Measure where your heart goes on your bodice piece and cut out.

 Do the same for the lining.

 Iron on facing to wrong side of lining.  (My ironing board is white so it looks like a whole heart but it actually the cut out.

Pin right side of fabric and right side of lining together.

 sew together

 turn right side out and press well

 this is what the lining looks like

 and the fabric

 Sewingadicta has a great blog and I used her tip and cut the lining for the bra on the bias.

 I had to hand sew the cups to the lining

This is the bodice I designed!



I also added inseam pockets using the left over cut out hearts 

 Place pockets about 3 inches from waist

 sew together along seam

 fold pocket over and press and pin skirt together at seams

 sew seam but do not sew pocket together (leave opening)

 Now sew pocket together around curves (not down the center)

 its done your inseam pocket!