2 New Dresses: McCall's 6884 and Vogue 8904

I'm so happy with these two!

I'm not 100% sure I'm going to finish the contest but no matter, I am off to a great start for my casual summer wardrobe!!!

I first attempted V8904 December 2014 (here). It was a disaster.

Mostly due to the fabric but I've lost enough weight that the size I'd originally cut fits much better now.

I got the striped jersey awhile ago and it felt a little too heavy at first for this pattern. The front and back are a basic tank dress and then the shingles (4 front and back on this view) are added. That is quite a bit of layering. But once I started working with it, it proved to be a nicely behaved jersey. Bonus - the edges don't curl after cutting. Score!

I cut a size 16 with no changes. I cut the front piece out and then the shingles. I marked the underlayer by folding up the paper and then making a dotted line with a fabric marker.

The shingles are the same front and back. Sooooo I was cutting everything right side up, single layer and cut out ALL of the back shingles. Also right side up.

When I went to attach the back shingles I realized my error. DOH. I had to eek out those additional layers and just barely made it! WHEW! But that meant not having the 3/4 sleeves I envisioned.

I attached the shingles on the sewing machine and then basted front shingles to front and back to back. I then serged the side seams.

I made no attempt to stripe match but it seems it went okay. Score!

I am very happy with the dress! Very happy!!! 

McCall's 6884 has been made a couple of times before and just makes me super happy. It's only time consuming because of hemming the fronts but otherwise it's such a quick project with lots of bang for the buck IMO.

I cut a size 16 as per usual for this pattern. I added black bands to the neckline and armholes after deciding to go with a colorblocked option.

Remember a couple years ago when this striped/floral print was huge?! I managed to snag 2 yards of this nice ITY from Fabric Mart back in summer of 2014 and have been hoarding it. Well, 2 yards was not enough for a maxi dress! But 18-month sewer me didn't know that :)

I was all distraught and was going to go with a short option when I remembered the version I made here. Ahhhhh I can use solid black and that'll be awesome!!! 

I absolutely ADORE this dress! I am certain this will be a go-to option this summer!

My posture is so bad. I swear my side seam isn't that crooked (on the bodice) but POSTURE!

I just love the floral print over the black & white stripe

Little bit of a split there! :-O 

LOL! But it isn't open or doesn't open very high when you walk.

Love. Love. LOVE!!!  I will probably make another one and add a couple of inches to wear it with heels. 

FabricMart Reader Sew Along and a Quick Departure

The FabricMart Fabricista challenge is in full swing! I decided to sew along this week and create something a tiny bit out of the box for me :)

A PR member posted a color blocked version of M6884 earlier this year and it was so pretty! I've thought about it ever since but wasn't sure I could pull it off.

I knew I wanted to use ITY and had a few 'fall' colors on hand. I was going to go with teal, navy and gray but remembered that I made my last V8805 dress with that combo...and I wanted to save my gray jersey for something else. Going through the piles I found this white slubbed knit that I'd used for my M6841 drapey top. I decided that would work!

I made no changes from last time except to shorten the sleeves and lengthen the ties...and then completely screw it all up.

hahaha!

Somehow I put both ties on the same side. I didn't even realize it until the dress was done. And I was confused.

WAIT.

We have to back up a bit more. I serged the side seams and went to put it on and...huh? Whaaaaa?

It is a mock wrap. I hadn't encased the wrapped fronts into the side seam allowance. After unpicking serger stitches I got that straightened out. And then went to put it on and was all confused about the ties. But there was no.way.on.earth. I was unpicking those seams again. The ties are super long and super stretchy and I figured it wouldn't matter much anyway.

I think I need to go back in through the very upper body and nip it in a tiny bit. Last time I sewed 3/8" seams and so I did the same this time, but I've lost a bit of weight and it just looks baggy right below the armpit.

I didn't really like it and just went lazy and used steam a seam lite to hem it. And then went back and topstitched the hems with the teal thread (which pops really beautifully on the navy!) and took quick photos (I thought my deadline for submitting was Tuesday). After looking at the pics it really grew on me! I look forward to wearing this one this fall!

And because I didn't add length, I will probably always wear it with tights because it feels short.

I hope I win the reader prize!!! From the site:

This week's prize pack will be a copy of Successful Serging by Beth Baumgartel, a pack of 400 quilting pins (which are also suitable for garment sewing!), and two Kwik Sew patterns - #3766 and 4081. 

KS4081 kinda has my name written all over it!

And a departure from current sewing plans...

I tend to browse my favorite store sites for inspiration...and cool cardigans! I came across this cropped moto jacket at White House, Black Market. It's only $40 (marked down from $98), so I *could* just buy it...but I have loads of black ponte and a Lekala pattern!

I might keep the Lekala collar because I think that makes it more versatile with different necklines. And initially I thought I might leave off the sleeve zippers because it's a one-piece sleeve and how could they be in the "right" place? Well, the sleeve is very oddly shaped. I think they've accounted for that so maybe I'll baste it in and see how I like it.