Butterick 6410 a cocktail dress!

Hello all!  I so enjoyed creating 2 dresses for Elizabeth's day and night challenge seen here: day-night dress challenge 

I choose this pattern, Butterick 6410, for my night dress.  I love super simple styles like this one that you can embellish to your heart's desire!  I had fun creating this dress.

Of course, I couldn't make it as designed without some tweaks, right?

As you can see above, I installed/adhered some swarovski crystals along the upper bodice front.  They were so very hard to photograph!  This was mid-way through the final placement. I so enjoy adding this embellishment--in moderation.  I always feel like when you are embellishing a garment, moderation is key.

Here you can also see that I added a faux leather collar, cuffs, and piping along the yoke edges, both front and back.  I am so pleased with how this turned out!

I really wish it would have been warm enough outdoors to take photos, but it was so cold I just couldn't do it. 

My fabric is one of the #precious fabrics from my stash.  Both the brocade and the faux leather were from Fabric Mart.  I have been waiting a long time to use these and this was the perfect opportunity. 

I really love how this fits me.  I made my usual swayback adjustment, which by the way, is very difficult in such a hefty fabric.

I also made a FBA, and swayback adjustment.  I just love this dress.  I am going to make this pattern multiple times.  Can't you see it so many ways with so many fabrics?

Thank you to Elizabeth for hosting this challenge.  I can't wait to show you my Coffee dress!  

If you haven't seen this challenge, check out the link above!

Sue

StyleArc Eden Dress--Love!!!

Here is one of my latest makes...the StyleArc Eden Knit dress.  Can I say, it's love?  

This dress is so freaking comfortable!  It has some super fun seaming and pockets.  Normally, I hate pockets in knit dresses since they add girth to my already curvy figure, so with these being on the front princess seams, I knew they were worth a try.  

Would yo look at those pockets?  They are in the perfect position.  For reference, I am 5'7".  Most of my height is in my legs.

For this dress, I made a FBA, sloping shoulder, and swayback adjustment--these are standard for me.

Normally I don't need a FBA but I knew that with this dress to look right, I would need one.  

With the high-low hemline, this dress is super fun.  It has a rather casual vibe, which is perfect.

My only deviation from the pattern (sorry, I didn't take a close-up of it) but I made the v-neck a cross-over instead of having a center seam at the v.  Hopefully that makes sense. I also used SewkeysE stay tape at the hem edges.

Did I mention this fabric at all?  This is a cotton-Lycra mix from Stof.  This stuff is so amazing.  It is soft, holds its shape, and feels so wonderful on your skin.  I so highly recommend this manufacturer!

Thanks for reading!

What say you?  Do you have a favorite fabric manufacturer like I do?  I have this one and also Telio.  

What's yours?

Sue :) 

Simplicity 8529 by Sew House Seven

I love how Simplicity is supporting Indy pattern makers.  Here's an example of that kind of support.  This design is by Sew House Seven and while it isn't named the toaster sweater, I do believe that is the pattern it's based from. 

There is something that makes a sweatshirt dressier when you leave off the bottom band...right? 

Yes, I know, more indoor photos but it is so very cold outside today I just couldn't bring myself to go out there any more than I had to.

I used a heavily textured sweatshirt fabric from my stash.  Not sure where I got it but I am glad I finally used it up.  The gray trim is also from my stash and the color combo is perfect.

This is such an easy, instant gratification project.  

I lengthened the top by an inch, made a size smaller than my measurements called for, and made the side slit shorter by about 2 inches.

I also used SewkeyeE stay tape for the hem and side slits.  

Be aware at how roomy this is.  I wouldn't want it any bigger.  

Thanks for reading!

Sue

Some animal print Georgies!

Yep, you've read the title correctly, this is another animal-print Georgie Stretch Jean from Style Arc.  I so love this pattern and there is no way I am finished with it yet.  :) 

In case you need a refresher on what the pattern looks like, here you are!  

This 'jean' has everything you could possibly want.  Jean styling but the comfort of a legging.  Need I say more! 

This time I made this in a super fun, animal printed ponte knit.

Here you can see the texture this fabric provides.  Isn't is fun? 

Oh, I digress for a minute, but those shoes are killer, right?  Here you can see more of the print and texture of the fabric.  I just love it.  To compensate for the knit versus stretch woven, I measured the stretch of each and found there were comparable so I made my usual size.  After wearing these all day, the usual size was the right decision.  I love it when that happens.  

My only alteration to this pattern was to add an inch to the length so I can wear some of the heels I have.

Thanks for reading and I so love your comments!  Do you have any pattern you use over and over again?  If so, I'd love to hear about it!

Sue 

Vogue 8825

So....ever have a pattern for years, yes I mean years, sew it up because there are so many positive reviews and then feel slightly deflated when you were done?  Welp, that was me with this dress.  It isn't that I don't like it, I do but I am underwhelmed...



This pattern has been around for a while--it is copyrighted 2012.  Many reviewers have had success with it.  And, lets just say that if you have a slim body, it will look great!

See where the bodice ends on me compared to the pattern cover?  For reference, I am 5'7".  Typically I do not alter patterns in the bodice length, except for when I make a FBA.

This dress is described as a pullover dress/tunic has front extending into the back collar, fitted, front pleated bodice, raised waist, tie ends, two-piece sleeves with barrel cuffs and stitched hem.  

So yes, the waist is raised, but with mine, I felt like with the belt, it wasn't hitting me in the right place.  So, I took it off.  I probably could have messed with the placement of it, but since I didn't have enough of the main fabric anyway, I had to make it in a black for contrast.  It just didn't do it for me.

There is a center back seam and while you may be tempted to cut this on the fold and loose that seam, I would caution you against it.  There is some nice shaping there.

I really love this fabric--it is from Stof.  It is 95 or so percent cotton and the rest is lycra.  It sews, wears, washes, and dries like a dream!

The length of this dress is just perfect for boots and such.  And that cross over bodice--it stays in place because I stitched it close with a very narrow zig-zag.  This bodice is very, very well designed. and the two piece shoulders are great as well.

Here is a shot of the barrel cuffs.  The are nice and long and support the weight and volume of the gathered sleeve.

If you look closely, you can see the stitch I use for my hems.  It is a stretch stitch on my Bernina.  I like this so much better than my coverstitch.  I really should sell that thing!  

StyleArc reprise! Cleo #2

Do you have any patterns that you so love you make them numerous times and wonder why it took you so long to make it again?  For me, this is a pattern like that.  I've made it four times already but have only blogged it once.  Why oh why?  If you've never seen the Cleo, here is a link!  https://www.stylearc.com/shop/sewing-patterns/cleo-knit-dress/#

Well, here is another version of this dress that has me just loving this pattern. In fact, I've loved this dress so much that I truly feel like a million bucks wearing it.  I was a tad bit worried when I cut this out as the print is so big and it feels a bit tropical, but honestly, I really love it when I wear it and I get compliments.  What isn't to love? 

This fabric is from Fabric dot com.  It is a Telio knit.  I simply love Telio knits.  They feel marvelous on your skin, wash beautifully, and wear terrifically...is that a word? 

For this pattern, I kept my standard adjustments of an FBA, swayback, and sloping shoulder adjustment. 

I didn't take in the front and back waist darts in this dress as I like it body skimming not fitted, if that makes sense.  You can see below the other simple modification I made.  Instead of the sewn down the center V-neck band, I made an overlapping neck band.  I like this much better than how the pattern is designed. 

I plan on making this dress many more times.  I simply feel like a million bucks in it! 

 Here you can see the stretch stitch I used for the hemline.  I used this at the sleeve hems as well. 

Thanks for reading!
Sue