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.

Things that Carolyn Taught Me

This past weekend I had the most fantastic visitor.  For those that don't know - I know Carolyn - Diary of a Sewing Fanatic - and I have for years. We originally connected on a now defunct sewing board and the first time I went to New York (2008) - we met up, hit it off and have been fast friends ever since.  Every single time I go visit my daughter - I get together with Carolyn.

Last weekend - Carolyn had the opportunity to come to Seattle and attend the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup.  I offered to take a day off work (oh the hardship) and offered up my spare bedroom.  I picked her up on Friday and drove straight through the city to my house.  I could have stopped at Nancy's Sewing Basket or Stitches or District Fabrics as I drove though the city, but I opted not to.  Saturday we went to Expo and Sunday we sewed!  (I have posts planned to tell about Expo and the sewing space re-do so it works for 2.)


One of the things on Carolyn's do to list was to help both me and JB with taking blog photos.  I'm sure that after last weekend - my photos will continue to improve.  Basically - the main take away - if it's uncomfortable, you're doing it right.  I have a mantra running through my head now, stand up straight, shoulders back, suck in my gut, move a little bit, smile, laugh, talk, look down, look up - don't be stiff, frowny or in a hurry.  You won't us up all the digital!

So this dress is a repeat.  You've seen it before - it's Vogue 8944 and it's made from a very spongy green scuba knit that was bought in New York at Metro Textiles after The Princess' wedding.  It was the second piece of fabric bought during that trip that's been sewn up already.



The dress had been worn, but it had a horribly gaping neckline.  I put it on to show Carolyn why it was downstairs and she took the back armholes in.  I took that in and then I put elastic in the neckline using the tip from Debbie.





I had an amazing time with Carolyn.  I can still see fault with myself in all these photos - but I had a great time taking them and they are much, much better than what I usually get.  Fashion model I am not - but now I'll hear Carolyn in my head and do better and hopefully with a few more outfits I'll start to feel more comfortable.  Thanks friend!  

Vogue 8944 - Again with the Catchy Title!

 Hey - I made a new dress!  

This is Vogue 8944 and the fabric is a great ponte that Kashi of Metro Textiles talked me into.  If you've been following this blog for long - then you know I don't wear a lot of solids.  For whatever reason - I feel big as a barn in solids.  Anyway - I was going to pass on this fabric, but Kashi and JB talked me into it.  

This dress had it's problems.  I cut it out according to my measurements. A straight size 22.  I did not trace all the pieces - what was I thinking?  I traced the skirt pieces - front and back because I was making it in a knit and didn't need a center back seam in the skirt and I did need to lengthen the skirt - I added 3" and put in a 1.5" hem.  The pattern calls for a 5/8" narrow hem, so I took a bigger hem than called for - but I think it suits this fabric.  I also made a sway back adjustment to the back bodice and made up a sleeve length (I cut at the lengthen/shorten line).  The sleeves are even - I'm not standing straight.

Anyway - I put this together with my serger and topstitched the seams per the instructions.  Got it all done and it was too big.  Enough that when I went to show JB even he noticed.  That was Sunday night - after spending my weekend sewing time going to Costco, doing laundry, starting the flannel pants factory, and working on the circle skirt project - I wanted to make something for me!  Something new, quick and easy.  This dress felt like it should fit the bill.  So - I hung it up and went to knit.  

On Monday - I decided to finish it so I could wear it to work today.  First - I took it in, 2" at the bust on both sides (yep - that's 4" smaller!) tapering to nothing at the hip and out to the bottom of the sleeve.  The fit is much, much better.  

Notes for next version:

• Cut the shoulders at a size 14 width
• Cut the sides at a size 18: width
• Cut the center front bodice just slightly off the fold
• Add just a bit more length to the skirt

And this is how I wore it to work - with a skinny taupe belt, a cardigan purchased at Target, and a pair of boots.  I also wore the locket that Beau bought me for Christmas last year - I love this locket!  I have to say - all in all - even with it's flaws - I really like this dress.  The skirt is flirty and feminine without being too full.  Even in the solid - I didn't feel huge.  There will be more dresses from this pattern.  
In fact - the next version will be color blocked with 2 solids and a print.  Oh - and with the leftovers of this fabric?  (Yes, I bought 5 yards of the fabric I wasn't sure I wanted.  I have recently figured out that I can get a dress and a magic pencil skirt for one [or both] of my girls from 4 yards.)  I bought the paprika patterns Jade Skirt - because of this post on the CSC.

I have big plans for the long weekend that's coming up - big plans I tell you!  Flannel pants, color blocked dress, pencil skirt, another Violet and another Odette (which is cut out).  I also have a Myrtle cut out - but I'm not loving the fabric, so who knows.       


And for Nessa - here's a posterior for posterity.