Quasi Fails: Finished: Vogue 8805 and WIP: Butterick 6183

Short and sweet...

Why it took me 2+ weeks to finish this dress, I don't know. And when I took these pictures, I wanted to wear it immediately!!

I used a charcoal ponte (FM), teal ponte (FM) and a navy knit from SR Harris. I don't know what to call it. It is lightly textured on the right side and smooth and shiny on the wrong side. 

I lengthened this one a tiny bit compared to the last one:

I like the first one better. Way better. See how not good I am at color blocking on my own!?! Sheesh. I skipped the top stitching on this one too. I just didn't think it made enough impact for the amount of time it takes. Which honestly isn't BAD, but ...

I'll wear it because this dress is so very comfortable, but it isn't love.

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I was so excited to get MORE B6183 tops because it really is an awesome pattern (Carolyn at Diary of a Sewing Fanatic has fallen in love with it too). 

I chose this peachy oxford cotton shirting from FM because of the color.

I wasn't familiar with the properties of oxford. Womp. Womp. 

This fabric would have done much better as a casual button front shirt. It wrinkles when you think about thinking about looking at it. Darn it.

I sewed it as before but decided to add an exposed zipper. But then didn't love the white zipper. But then decided, eh, my hair will mostly cover it.

Then I put it on...(Note: I made the first one in ponte and the second one in cotton poplin.)

The sleeves were UNBELIEVABLY tight! Like, I cut them while the shirt was on my body. SHEESH.

So I made bias tape to turn them into cap sleeves. Really, all I need to do is bind the sleeves and neckline and hem it. I need to just get 'er done.

wrinkled as all heck...

I probably need to cut the sleeves a bit more angled.

FINALLY Finished: Butterick 6182

I started this skirt over a month ago. So hopefully I can remember all of the details!

I have been wanting to add some skirts to the wardrobe and am very happy with my B5760 straight skirt pattern but wanted some variation. It seems like what's available is either straight or LOTS of volume by way of gathers, pleating, etc. I was really drawn to this skirt after seeing a couple versions made up.

Based on finished measurements, I cut a size 16. I could have done a 16 front and 18 back. I think that'll be my default with skirt patterns, especially if I decide to muslin. It just seems to work better than futzing with the back pattern piece to make it larger or the front piece to make it smaller. We can just do whatever works, right?? :)

This fabric is a printed linen that I received (free) from Fabric Mart when I won week 4 of the Fabricista's contest. It was still quite stiff when it washed up which I thought would make it perfect for this skirt.

Once the waistband was sewn on, I couldn't zip it. I thought it was due to err, *that time* and cast it aside! A couple weeks later, I went to try it on again and it was still tight through the high hip and waist so I knew I needed to let it out a bit.

A couple more weeks passed and I removed the invisible zipper and switched it out for a lapped, and let out the side seams about 1/4" (for an additional 1" total) from the waist through about 1in above the bottom of the pocket.

Perfect.

Except...didja notice a couple weeks then a couple more? Yep, it was that time again. So now, that the skirt is all done, it is loose at the waist. Ay yi yi. I'm not redoing anything. It just sits lower than intended.

I just used this cardigan for pics...I never wear it closed so ignore the gaping

I like these pockets! 

Oh, how could I forget...I HATED THE WAISTBAND!

The pattern piece for the waistband is over 6" wide **the pattern piece is just over 6" meaning the finished width is about 2.5"**. It is a straight band. My swayback is too pronounced for that and it looked terrible. I literally cut it half. So my finished band is just about 1" wide. 

There is bias facing applied to the pocket opening which I absolutely loved. I used rayon challis for this as my fabric is quite stiff. The pocket sits so nice and flat.

My lapped zipper with slightly wonky stitching...

In the end, I just wanted the danged thing finished. I serged the bottom and catch stitched it by hand. I decided that with my fabric, that would work better than a topstitched hem.

The verdict? Meh.

I like it. As in, if I saw it on a hanger or on someone or something I would think, "oh, that's a cute skirt..." But I don't love it. 

As with most of my iffy makes, I WILL wear it at least once before I decide it doesn't work for me.

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After getting all 'woe is me' about not having much sewing time this month and barely having the energy to sew,  I made a little short term plan for July and August (yeah, yeah, I know, I will probably change those plans!)

I saw a cute dress that was colorblocked aqua/teal/navy and decided that would be the scheme of my next Vogue 8805! But I had no aqua. And Jess of Sometimes Sewist gave me some other suggestions! One was gray and I was really excited about it once I was able to get home and see the 3 fabrics together.

She also suggested white, which I wish I had a nice white ponte because that would have looked NICE. (sidenote: Now, I will have to have ONE more in white/kelly green/navy!)

It needs side seams sewn and then finishing (hems, neckbinding, hook and eye)...but I just got home after 6 hours worth of softball in 90 degree heat and I am far too tired to even think about it.

Until later!

Vogue 8805; the "It's About Time!" Dress

You know V8805...The cute little easy, breezy dress that like, nearly everyone else has sewn??

I'm sure you've seen some gorgeous combinations of fantastic pontes and linens and so on...My mind does not colorblock. I see it. I love it. I tried it and had a massive fail.

I needed a quick and easy project after the more involved dress and the dreaded culottes. I decided that in the right color scheme, this would be a great work-appropriate dress to add to my wardrobe. I don't have many of those and anticipate wearing LOTS of dresses this summer in my new role (which hopefully will come soon; ONE MORE interview on Tuesday with the company president!). It IS above the knee, BUT I think the fit allows it to still be good for work.

See that lady? I like her dress, a lot. But thought the chartreuse might be a bit much. So I went with a remnant from my cobalt V1411 pants - yay me! I have loads and loads of Maggy London black ponte and had a remnant in that taupe-y color from my NL lace/nude dress.

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Based on the intended fit (meaning, it's not body hugging; it's meant to skim), and the finished measurements, I cut a size 16, C cup.

Wait...I actually traced the pattern. YAY ME!

Once I saw the colors together I was so excited to get this one sewn up! I shortened the middle section 1" based on some reviews that I'd read awhile back.  I hemmed it 3/4" (serged and turned up) instead of the narrow hem suggested.

After basting the side seams, I took in the waist about 3/8" (so 1.5" total). I nipped it from right below the bust dart to just above the high hip. I didn't want it to be snug anywhere. There *is* a bit of a puff of fabric at the middle back but it's not terrible.

I had black thread in both my machine and serger. I sewed all of the connecting seams with black thread, pressing the seams open (they are left unfinished). Then I did the black topstitching. I switched to blue and did that topstitching. Then, I switched to tan, did the back slit, sewed the shoulder seams and did the tan topstitching. It all went really quickly this way.

I used a hook and eye as a closure. Because of the thickness of the ponte and because I didn't feel like making bias tape, I used a 1.5" wide strip of ponte, very, VERY slightly stretching it in place (flat). I then trimmed, pressed and topstitched at 3/8". I may go in and trim all of the seam allowances that were left unfinished, but honestly, it doesn't bother me. The seams that were finished (the side seams) and the hems, were serged in black.

If you're anal about that sort of thing, look away! LOL!

I had low expectations when I first decided to sew this dress. Well, it worked! :)

The outtake:

That remote is always out to get me.