There's Something About Pattern Testing

 I'm not gonna lie, being chosen to be a pattern tester feels good.  It feels like you weren't chosen last for whatever game it is, finally! 

I have been a Chalk & Notch fan since winning a copy of the Pony Tank back in 2017 apparently! So, when the call went out for testers for the Ivie dress, well, I couldn't apply fast enough!

This was my first version and I've already made a second.  For this version I used a cotton lawn from Fabric Mart that I bought last summer, maybe the summer before.  I made a size 22AB and I could have gone up to the CD cup bodice. 

I used my favorite method of installing side pockets, they're only on the front! Style Arc seems to have the only tutorial I can find online. The reason I use this pocket installation is that I can stitch the pocket to the skirt and it helps keep whatever you've put in your pocket from pulling your dress down. 

The only other change I made was to add a third section to the bottom ruffle and that's because that's all the fabric that I had left!  I didn't want to keep a piece that *small.* so fuller bottom ruffle! 

This dress feels a little closer fitting than I'm generally used to and on occasion I feel a bit little house on the prairie, but I love it and have worn it quite a bit this summer. 

I'm really loving midi length or what I would have called tea length growing up. Funny how being 60 and running up and down stairs all day changes your mind on how 'too short' feels. 

Photos:  Carolyn

Pattern:  Chalk & Notch Ivie

Fabric:  FabricMart

Verdict:  Winner :)

This IS My Dress

 Apparently I'm just a Style Arc Fangirl now.  I love my hope dresses, but even more than Hope - I love the Nova Midi Dress.  

It was love at first sight with my very first version, with the only changes to lower the neckline a bit more and add pockets. I wear both version of this dress weekly in the summer and I wear them with sweaters, tights and boots in the winter. 

JB and I try to take a nice vacation yearly. Since I'm not knitting as much as I once was, I try to bring a piece of fabric home from vacation. 

This past January we went to Cancun and while we had an incredibly relaxing time, I'm not in a big hurry to go back. The main reason why - it's just too far from everything. You really have to do all inclusive because there's no place to eat, except at the resort.

Anyway - I bought back this beautiful 3 meter piece of challis that was roughly $4 a meter.

There's not much to say about this dress. I mostly followed the pattern. I did lower the neckline, by 1.5" overall.

(geeze, we really need to pain that light post)

I also added pockets, I used lining fabric for the first pocket piece sewed onto the front, then same fabric for the pocket back. Due to the gathers, I did not stitch the pockets to the front skirt pieces, but I did stitch them to the waist seam.

For this dress, once I had attached each gather, I then serged the seam, pressed it up and then topstitched it. 

While I still don't like how I look in photos - please don't come at me. The menopausal weight is just weighing heavy on me currently. Do yourself a favor and find a friend who makes you feel beautiful when they take your photo.  All photos in this post were taken by Carolyn.

I am currently evaluating all of the challis in my fabric closet for more Novas. And I really, really want to make one in graduating sizes of gingham.  

Let's Catch UP a Little

 When last we met up with our intrepid heroine, she was posting end of summer sewing plans - FOR 2023!  Let's just see how that worked out, shall we?

First up: Nova - made with a challis bought in Mexico in January and sewn up in time to wear on another vacation to Mexico in November.

Second: -That pumpkin coffee print has been sewn and worn multiple times.  

Third: I believe I put this back, but I'm going to have to look. Because I vaguely remember making it, but there's no photographic evidence.

Fourth: I made the flannel PJ top, but not this linen, yet. Also, I don't really love the top, so . . . 

Fifth: I tested the Grainline Studio Alder Shirtdress in the extended sizes.  I loved making this dress.  I love the pocket construction and how fun it is (I've even used it on a few of JB's shirts) but I'm having a moment with how I look currently and I'm not in love with any of the photos. 

Sixth:  While I did make a Vali top in October and I also sewed up the beautiful red toile like fabric, the two did not come together. Look for a blog post on this dress soon.

Seven, Eight & Nine have not been touched at all. 

Ten: Eleanor did get a new robe for her birthday.  However, Gigi got a new sewing machine for Christmas and I could not figure out how to get E's monogram from my embroidery stick into the machine (still haven't figured it out 8 months later). And all her dolls got matching robes & pjs - blog post on that too