Project Sewn Voting Ends Tonight

Please stop by and check out the beautiful sundresses everyone made for the Project Sewn link party.

PROJECT SEWN WEEK TWO

There is only one more day to cast your vote. I enetered my Boden Inspired Sundress. It is #10 in the photos...if you feel it is worthy of your vote, I would love to have it :) Thanks, Shannon

Black and White Striped Maxi Dress

 Dress: DIY (tutorial found here) similar found here, Denim Jacket(old) Polo, gold belt: thrifted, Yellow earrings; DIY

A few weeks ago I picked up this striped knit from Hobby Lobby with the hopes of making a maxi dress. I knew what I had in mind and was happy when I found there was a tutorial already written...why reinvent the wheel? So, please check out this maxi dress tutorial by Mimi G. If you haven't been to her site before...be warned- you will be there for a long time. She is an amazing seamstress and has wonderful tutorials.

While I am not much of a strapless dress person, I do tend to wear this jacket all the time and made it to wear underneath it. This is certainly more of a date look for me...as having 2 toddlers and a strapless dress don't really partner well. I worked hard at matching the stripes for the dress. In order to insure stripes that match make sure you pin it with lots of pins and when you poke the pin through the top layer, make sure it comes out in the same spot on the stripe in the back.

Then do a basting stitch and check your stripes. If they line up, then go ahead and stitch or serge the seam.

You would think with all the careful stripe matching I would have been careful while cutting...but I wasn't. My stripes aren't perfectly straight and this caused some interesting moments while sewing and using the stripe for a guide, but I think with the loose blousy effect it gets covered enough. And it was too short so I added a band of fabric at the bottom. Overall I am very happy with this dress but it isn't quite as flowing at the bottom as other maxis I have made, which makes for a little more constriction while walking. But it is cute, comfortable and great for beginners looking to work with knits.

Happy spring sewing,
Shannon

Yellow Boden Inspired Sundress

Last year my mom sent me a Boden catalog...I was in love. I saw myself wearing practically everything in there. I began ripping out pages frantically to see what looks I could try to create myself. When I came across this yellow flowered tunic/sundress I instantly loved it. 

Source: http://mysuperfluities.blogspot.com/2012/01/boden-weekly-review-roundup-lot-to-look.html- The link is no longer active on Boden's site

I found the mustard yellow fabric (Calico Print) at Joann's on sale and thought it could work. I would have loved it even more in a brighter yellow like the one in the magazine, but sometimes it easier to just use something you can find easily. 

I then used Simplicity 2696 to create the dress. I used View F with a few alterations. I lengthened the tunic to a dress length and added darts in the back to give it a little more shape. I also used the sleeves from my Schoolhouse Tunic pattern. You can see the Schoolhouse Tunic HERE, HERE and HERE. (tad obsessed...no?) Overall I am pleased with this dress. I kept sewing the front neck slit on crooked and ripped it out several times. In the end, it is still not perfectly straight but I became so frustrated I had to stop the madness and just go with it :) This makes for an easy spring or summer dress to toss on with sandals. 

Now...here's to hoping the sunny warm weather sticks around...and lots of self tanner to prevent blinding people with my pale legs :) 

Shannon

Butterick 5877: Spring Time Ruffle Top

A few weeks ago I let my daughter pick out some fabric for a new top or dress. She settled on this cute spring themed bird fabric from Joann Fabrics.

Source: Joann.com

It was on sale along with this pattern that I picked up for a $1.00.

                                                       Source: butterick.mccall.com

While I am happy with the end product I had two little hurdles in the beginning. First, I didn't buy enough fabric so I had to get some more and secondly, I mistakenly cut the large ruffle with the birds going the wrong direction...uhh, had to scrap a large junk of fabric for that mistake!!! 

Pattern Description: Butterick 5877 Children's/Girls' Top, Tunic Dress, Belt and Leggings, Pullover top, tunic, or dress has lined, back button bodice. A: ruffles, narrow hem. B:bias, self-lined sleeves, C:collar, thread loops and self belt. B and C: lower band Leggings have elastic waist and no side seams, side slits and bow tie with raw edge finish.

Pattern Sizing: Available in Sizes 2-8

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes, I used view A.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, they were very easy.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked that the pattern did not have a ton of pieces and came together quickly. The top is a little roomy but my daughter is fairly petite. 

Fabric Used:
Doodles Collection: Spring Twill Birds Green Fabric

Yellow Broadcloth for lining

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, I think this is a cute and easy girl's top and I would like to make the dress from the pattern as well. If I were to make the same top again I would use a thinner fabric so that the ruffles would lay better. 

Shannon

Aqua Wrap Top

Cardigan: DIY, Gray Tank: Walmart, White Jeans: Mossimo-thrifted with tags still on!

Early in my sewing days and pre-blogging days I made this knit wrap top. Up close there are many things I can see that I would do differently...but I tend to see that with all my sewing. I think it is a sign that sewing is an art you can always improve upon and learn new techniques, and that is one of the things I love about it. The pattern is McCalls 5241.

This top is nice for wearing long as a drape front cardigan or you can wrap it around you or tie it for a different look. The thing I did not like about this pattern is the way the shoulders fit. They sit too low...but I am pretty sure this was an early sewing mistake. Either I cut the pattern out incorrectly or I didn't make an adjustment where needed. I would love to sew this again but somehow I have lost the tissue pattern and instructions...but at least I have the pattern envelope (cause that is the most helpful part...haha).

This is a quick and easy pattern and great for beginners who are comfortable working with knits.

Shannon

KCW: The Maggie Mae Tunic

Well, it is at the end of the week, but I am finally adding some participation over at Kid's Clothes Week. Yesterday I felt the need to whip up one of these cute Maggie Mae Tunic's for an adorable little girl. My friend Bethany's little miss thing is just adorable and I thought she could use a Maggie Mae. I dug through my stash and found a vintage pillowcase with some embroidery that I thought would be super cute. I originally intended the top to be all white but messed up while cutting...I think it was a great mistake! The back has green buttons to play off the green embroidery on the front. I didn't cut the pattern out as intended on the bottom so that the embroidery would stay in tact. In doing so, I miscalculated the length a tad...but I saw it on last night and it makes for a super cute summer dress. This is my second time sewing this pattern. You can see the shirt length version here.

I hope she can get some use out of it with the warm spring weather we are finally enjoying! 

Shannon

Schoolhouse Tunic Remix

I have a small obsession with this pattern. As blogged about HERE, HERE, and HERE. So, I like to find ways to change it up a little so it doesn't look like I am always wearing the same top. 

For this remix I cut the bodice front on the fold as one piece so there would be no slit. I then gathered two long rectangles of fabric to make the ruffles. I cut one rectangle 3 inches by twice the width of the bottom hem and another one 4 inches tall by twice the width of the bottom hem. 

I used my serger to gather the ruffles and attach the two ruffles together prior to attaching it to the bottom hem of the shirt.

For the neckline I serged the raw edge and then ironed it toward the wrong side. I then stitched the hem down.

 I also put in a slit in the back neckline and used a button and elastic loop closure. There is a great tutorial for how to do that at CINO.

And I also omitted the pleats and gathered the fabric in the center front and back of the body instead. With the gathering, I do think I look pregnant without a belt on, but that being said, it will make a great maternity shirt one day! 

I would enjoy this top more if I had an elastic belt that fit correctly...I need to find that fast! Then, I will be able to enjoy this one throughout the spring :)

Shannon