Tropical Feathers Jersey Knit Maxi Dress

I did make the last McCall 3078 dress, but I haven't taken pictures because I can't get the dress onto the dress form!  Don't ask!  As soon as I can get dear daughter to take a photo I will post.

This is the last knit fabric in my get it done basket!  I am so happy to have finished all of the projects I had laid out in the basket.  Next time I don't think I will pick sooooooooo many fabrics, maybe just two or three.

But I am very happy with the outcome of this dress.  I had to decide if I wanted sleeves or not, I chose not.  Did I want this dress knee length, midi, or maxi length.  I chose maxi.  Other than that it was from a pattern that I've made so many times with the elastic waist, I think that the elastic helps with the pull of the weight of the maxi length and the heaviness of the jersey fabric.  Plus it makes me look like I have a waist!

Tropical Feathers Jersey Knit Maxi Dress



Tropical feather jersey knit maxi dress

Tropical feather jersey knit maxi dress-Twin needle-neck view

 I had to cut the back bodice with a center back seam to be able to have enough fabric for the skirt. 



Tropical feather jersey knit maxi dress-back view

 

Tropical feather jersey knit maxi dress

Tropical feather jersey knit maxi dress-back view

 I believe I'll wear this dress through out the summer, with a cardigan or a denim jacket, maybe I'll even make something to go with it................maybe!

I think $14.50 for a maxi dress is pretty good! 

 



I'm thinking of changing gears and hope to make my little nephew a quilt.  I purchased a fabric panel of Charlie Brown camping fabric late last year.  My little nephew will be getting his own room soon, so maybe this will be a good gift idea.  Also, I think changing gears will get me back my sewing mojo.

On the other hand, my sweet, Dear daughter just had surgery.  She had her tonsils and adenoids removed.  She's only 13 but she's a brave 13!  I was a nervous wreck, she was all calm.  She improving a little every day and I get to baby her one last time!

Until next time............

Bonnie

McCall's 3078 Linen Dress

I did finish the linen dress right away but the black rayon is not yet finished, just needs buttonholes, bodice attached, sleeves finished, zipper inserted and hemmed.  I thought that is was about halfway but once I wrote what was left I'm thinking I better get on it!

The linen dress came out great.  I like that the top covers my upper arms and chest very well, the length of the skirt is mid-calf.  I did wear it to Church on Sunday and received a lot of compliments.  The kids didn't like the dress at all...............maybe it's the color, or the shape of the dress......oh, well.

McCall's 3078 Linen Dress



McCall's 3078 Linen Dress-Back View


 The invisible zipper looks much better than the standard one I used in the muslin.  It turned out great!

McCall's 3078 Linen Dress-Invisible Zipper

McCall's 3078 Linen Dress-Buttons

I hope to finish the black rayon version of this dress and move onto something different.  I'm not sure what's next but I'll do a little digging in my pattern dresser.  I'm thinking maybe something with lace?

Until next time...................

Bonnie

McCall's 3078 Vintage Dress Muslin & Fabric Choices

I bought the McCall's 3078 vintage dress pattern earlier this year in hopes that I could sew a few summer dresses from it.  I better get to sewing before summer is over.... good thing summer here in Florida last F-O-R-E-V-E-R!

Today's temperature as reached 104 and it's only 8:40 in the morning! We've had a heat wave for over a week with temperatures in the triple digits. I refuse to turn our AC down any cooler during the day than 79, if we get too hot just go for a swim in our lovely 89 degree pool!  The kids say it's like bath water!

Today's temperature!

Back to sewing stuff! 



Vintage McCall's 3078 Dress




Vintage McCall's 3078 Pattern

I had to do my usual bust, waist and hip increase and I used my usual pivot and slide technique.  I think I have finally got the hang of it!

McCall's 3078 Wearable muslin

The muslin is from a bed sheet I had in storage for ages.  I usually can use a twin flat sheet for a muslin dress will little waste left over.  This muslin will be a wearable one!

McCall's 3078 Wearable muslin-back view

I have a few alterations for the final dress such as:  making the darts longer 2-1/2" instead of 1".  I think this will give the top a little more structure and won't look too balloon style.

McCall's 3078 Zipper

I'm not a big fan of this zipper, I'm going to use an invisible zipper next time. But would you look at how matched up the seams are for this zipper.  Nailed it!

McCall's 3078 Shoulder View

I love the should darts.  The allow extra fabric at the bust still allowing shaping at the shoulders.

McCall's 3078 Button front

Buttons from the stash, not my favorites, but they'll do.

McCall's 3078 Vintage Dress

I don't like taking pictures of myself

 

I pulled my next fabric for this pattern.  I really like the navy linen fabric from Jo-Ann's and the black is either a rayon challis or maybe just rayon floral print fabrics.  I think they both will have a nice flow to them in this dress pattern.

 

Navy Floral Linen from Jo-Ann's Fabric




Rayon something from stash



 

 

I hope to have these dresses finished up today since everyone is gone!  The kids went tubing down the river and DH had to work today.  So I finally have a day to myself!  Sewing machine here I come!

Until next time........................

Bonnie

Sleeveless Jersey Knit Rose Print Dress

I needed to sew up a quick dress to wear on our working trip to Georgia this past week.  The print reminds me of a pair of pajamas.  But I continued on to make up a easy wear sleeveless dress from a jersey knit that I purchased from www.fabricmartfabrics.com.

I used my usual TNT knit dress pattern with elastic waist.  I did make a different neckline.  A V-neck would be a nice change.  The armholes I just turned under and stitched, nothing too exciting there.

Sleeveless jersey knit rose print dress

 I decided to use a tutorial from Me Sew Crazy,  http://www.mesewcrazy.com/2013/07/easy-v-neck-sewing-tutorial.html.  I made my neckband a little wider since I was unsure of the width, it's fine but next time I may go a little smaller.

Jersey Knit Rose Print Dress-v neckline

Jersey Knit Rose Print Dress-backview

 This dress is very comfortable and will be a dress that will get a lot of wear.  It's cool for the humid and hot summer here in Florida plus who doesn't like roses?

School is out for the summer, so I'm going to have to adjust my schedule with the kids.  Dear hubby is on day shift for the next 3 months so we get to spend more time with him in the evenings.  We have a lot on our plate right now.  We have a travel trailer we had to repair/remodel that is in the middle of work, our back yard could use a few days of cleaning, the kids both have things they would like to do this summer, Dear hubby is going to school for a week later this month, my newest nephew is having his first birthday, Dear daughter is having her tonsils removed, and our oldest son and his fiancé are looking for a house before they get married in November.  I'm going to try my best to sew some time in between................

Until next time.........

Bonnie

Simplicity 7243 Aztec Print Princess Seam Ponte Knit Dress

It only took me an afternoon to finish another Simplicity 7243 Princess seam ponte knit dress.  I used an Aztec print ponte knit from www.fabricmartfabrics.com.  I matched it with the solid black ponte knit. (Even after I have already mentioned I have a lot of black already in the closet)

Simplicity 7243 Aztec Print Princess Seam Ponte Knit Dress

Simplicity 7243 Aztec Print Princess Seam Ponte Knit Dress-Side View

 Sorry for the wrinkles, I was in a hurry to take these pictures.  The dress fits very well on myself, but I think being in a hurry and the felt of the dressform pulls the ponte knit and acts like Velcro.

Simplicity 7243 Aztec Print Princess Seam Ponte Knit Dress-Back View

Simplicity 7243 Aztec Print Princess Seam Ponte Knit Dress-Sleeve View

 Pockets!  I love Pockets, even thought I never put anything in there!

Simplicity 7243 Aztec Print Princess Seam Ponte Knit Dress-Pocket View

 I used my usual Lite Steam-A-Seam 2 for the neck edge to make a smooth neck line. 

Simplicity 7243 Aztec Print Princess Seam Ponte Knit Dress-Neck View





Simplicity 7243 Aztec Print Princess Seam Ponte Knit Dress

I now have two new dresses to wear to Church this month!  I'm thinking of working on a few day dresses.  Something that I can wear to work around the house in.  Maybe sleeveless and made of jersey knit.

 

Until next time.....................

 

Bonnie

Simplicity 7243 Tan Chevron Princess Seam Ponte Knit Dress

I'm back to sewing my tried and true TNT dress pattern.  I tried to mix and match a few of my ponte knit fabric for a new dress.

First Choice: Solid brown with chevron print = "no, didn't like"

Ponte knit fabric

 Second Choice: Black with chevron print = "Better, but I have so much black already"

Ponte Knit Fabric

Third Choice: Tan with chevron print = "Liking a lot"


Ponte Knit Fabric

 I use a vintage clothes dryer to hang my cut pattern pieces to keep them organized and since I cut two dresses out at once, it keeps the pattern pieces separated.

Organized pattern pieces

 When I sew with ponte knits, one of my favorite tools is Lite Steam-A-Seam 2 in 1/2".  I use it to fuse sleeve hems, neck bands and sometimes the hem of the dress.

Lite Steam-A-Seam 2

 I snip every inch or two on the paper of the steam-a-seam so that it will curve around the neckline.  Then I finger press it onto the fabric before using the iron.  Peel off the backing then turn the neckline and finger press again to make sure there are no wrinkles.  Once everything looks ok, I'll press with the iron and stitch down.

Lite Steam-A-Seam 2 neckline ponte knit



Pressing Steam-A-Seam 2 onto neck edge

 Neckline turned down and finger pressed.



Ponte knit neck edge turned down lite steam-a-seam 2

 Neck line stitched and finished.



Ponte knit neck line stitched

 This dress goes together so easy.  I love that I can mix and match prints and solids and that it's so comfortable to wear.

Simplicity 7243 Ponte knit dress

 Of course any dress with pockets is a great dress!



Pockets!



Side View



Back View



Pocket Close-up

 This is probably my 5th version of this dress and I don't think that I will ever tire of it.  I have a million options in my head for this pattern.

Simplicity 7243 Tan Chevron Princes Seam Ponte Knit Dress

 This dress only took 1 yard of the Deep Almond Ponte Knit and 1.25 yards of the Chevron Ponte Knit.  The fabric totaled $10.42 + $1.00 in notions for a total of $11.42! That's not too bad for a great fitting one of a kind dress!



$11.42 Ponte Knit Dress

I have a second dress cut out ready to sew, I am hoping to get to it before the weekend so that my sewing area is clear and cleaned before I start my next project.

Until next time...................

Bonnie

New Look 6104 Dress

Believe it or not, I finished this dress last Wednesday but it took me a week to sew on 10 buttons!  It's funny how life will get in the way of a small task that turns it into a week long saga of button sewing.

I was really excited about this New Look 6104 pattern because of the kimono style sleeves and the length of the skirt but since I'm super curvy the button front can be a little of a problem.  This one is not too bad but I will wear it tomorrow as my dress of the day and I'll let you know if this curvy girl can wear a button front dress.


New Look 6104 Dress Pattern

 I instructions were easy and the constructions was very simple.  I had to do my usual FBA and add to the hipline of the skirt.  I used a cotton textured fabric from my stash pile as just a muslin but it is wearable as a day dress.  It's just a little too busy for me to wear it out to the grocery store......

New Look 6104 Dress-Front View

New Look 6104 Close-up

 I'm hoping that once I wear the dress with correct undergarments that you won't be able to see the front facing pieces.  The fabric is not sheer but light.  Great for Florida summer wear.

New Look 6104 Dress

 I had changed my serger thread to black right before starting this project and I didn't want to change it AGAIN so I just used my pinking shears on the seams.

New Look 6104 Dress-Back View



New Look 6104 Dress-Inside View Construction

 I give this pattern a 4 out of 5.  It gets pluses for ease of construction and minimum pieces and the use of only 3-1/2 yards of 44" wide fabric.  I do love the neckline and the kimono sleeves and the length of the skirt. 

On the other side, I'm still not sure of the button front.

New Look 6104 Dress

I do not know what is next on the cutting table.  Dear Hubby bought me a new bed yesterday so I have to clean out the bedroom to make room for delivery on Monday.  I am also meeting up with my Mother this weekend for lunch for Mother's Day.  There just isn't enough hours in the day!

Until next time......................

Bonnie