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Color Blocked Vogue

 My favorite form of social media is InstaGram.  I follow loads of people - mostly people who sew, a few dogs and both of my kids, the new "boy".  I find IG to be a fantastic way to be inspired, get instant feedback or just share something pretty.  My 'real' life is too busy for twitter and I just don't care for facebook - so, IG it is.

Way back in October - Neemie posted a photo of a beautiful dress she made inspired by a dress Carolyn had pinned.

My dress was inspired by Neemie's pin!  I literally ran out and bought the pattern and then started rooting around in my stash for fabric.  My stash does not contain a lot of solids - but that section is growing.  I've had this conversation with many people - and for me - dressed head to toe in solids I feel like a barn - like there is just so much of one color coming at you.  I know many of you disagree - that one color head to toe is slimming - but I don't feel it.  So I tend to shy away from it.

This dress started wit the print and then I added the solids - both of which came from the stash - actually nothing new was bought for this dress with the exception of the pattern - Vogue 8944 and I've now made it twice with 1 or 2 more versions playing in my head.

This dress was done - but for the hem when Carolyn arrived.  She hated the coverstitching I had added - so I picked it out on that first day.  The white and the red are both doubled as they were a bit sheer.  The sleeves are a single layer of fabric as is the skirt.  I've added pockets to this dress.  Who am I?  I used to hate pockets!!

The dress was quickly finished on Sunday morning and then we went out into the yard to take photos.  Carolyn really is an amazing coach - while I'm still amazing self-conscious - it was quick and easy to get through these photos - and it took no more time to take all of these than the 4 quick crappy photos I generally get from hubby.  All of the photos of this dress where taken by Carolyn. The real test will come when we try to get photos of the new dresses.
In Homage to Mary 


I really do like this pattern - it's quick to make and works in various fabrics.  The green scuba knit version is a bit 'stiffer' and the skirt is fuller.  This one is flirty.  I do wish the back was cut up - and I will do that in a future version - because there will be more.

Alterations between this version and the first?  I pivoted the center front of the top front piece about 1/4" off the fold line at the seam line.  I hope that make sense - I should have taken photos.  Basically, I overlapped the 2 bodice pieces at the seamlines, then marked 5/8" from the top on the upper bodice piece and then drew in a 'place on fold line' starting at 1/4" at the 5/8" mark and tapering to nothing at the waist seam.  I realize that changes the grain slightly - but I don't care - it took care of the gaping at center front that I was getting without having to adjust anything else.

Getting these 2 dresses finished with Carolyn's help, going to expo with 4 other fabulous ladies, running into others and making new friends, along with these great photos and the tips have really sparked my urge to sew.

16 comments :

  1. What I love about these dresses is that they both look so different! No one would suspect that they were made from the same pattern. As for the pictures, you and JB can do this! Just remember to have fun and look for good backgrounds for the pictures to highlight your beautiful garments.

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  2. lovely! i like the color/pattern combination.

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  3. this is lovely! i really like the color effect of the top :)

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  4. I really like this dress on you!

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  5. Lovely dress and great photos -- I especially love the last one. I have given up on my husband taking the photos, now I use the self-timer. For me I am slightly less self-conscious, and somehow all his photos of me are supremely unflattering!! I hope your husband does a better job:)

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  6. I love love love this dress on you!! And your photos look great!! I have the same problem with my stash, it's pretty much all prints. I like the compromise you have made here by mixing prints and solids, and the colours you chose look really great together. I can't wait to see more versions!!

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  7. I love this dress on you and the pictures, too. I totally agree with you about fb and twitter.

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  8. Looks great! I need to try this pattern again with a print too.

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  9. That dress is a cute combination of solids and patterns. If you don't feel good in solids, you never will look good in them, because how you feel shows through, in my opinion. I like the lines of that dress; the combination of style and color block make it a winner! I'm glad you found inspiration.

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  10. I haven't quite got the hang of Instagram yet - so I am please that you are still posting here! Lovely dress!

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  11. Beautiful lady! Although you always look gorgeous, you look particularly stunning in these photos. I love your dress, too, and the color and pattern combos. Do you have a tripod? That really helped me to get better photos. The ones from my husband are never as good... the tripod allows me to take my time.

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  12. Hi! I just found a whole bunch of new blogs to follow, so it's my first time visiting!

    I particularly like the whole red back piece, it's a great surprise and makes a lovely balance all over with the other blocking pieces... I would have been ummming and ahhhhing over that or ages, but you've done a great job!

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  13. Love it and that super- cute photo of you looking up and to the side!!

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I appreciate you coming to see me. It may take me a bit to publish your comment - but I will get to them by the end of every day. If you leave a way for me to get back to you, I will. Thanks for taking the time to comment and share your opinions. g