Print-cess

I keep telling myself I need to make more solids for my wardrobe, but my heart FLUTTERS when I see a bright, beautiful print.

My favorite prints definitely fall into the "ethnic" category - animal prints (except cow), batiks, West African traditional prints, Middle Eastern geometric prints - but I try not to go overboard with it so I won't look too costumey.

Designers jump on and off the ethnic print bandwagon, and now they are on "Africa". I'm mixed on this, most of it I respect, then some of it I feel is overdone/bandwaggony.


...really??
Photo: Sunony.com



Huh?
Photo: nakimuli.com

ok, Nice!!!
Photo: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoboMau

My latest dress Vogue 8631, is made in a batik'y, mudcloth-y, leopard-y kinda print and I was all over this fabric when I saw it. (Yes, fabric from Joann's)

Click pic to enlarge

I like bold graphic prints too! Over the weekend I was stuck inside with a feverish baby, so while he slept I pulled out a gorgeous print and made Butterick 5496. This was a piece "marinating" in my stash for almost a year, and I was glad to rediscover it for the Butterick pattern. (Yes, fabric from Joann's)

Click pic to enlarge

Sneaky peeky at what's next up to be finished/worn... (Yes, fabric from Joann's, lol)

Yes, he's chewing on a belt. & don't judge, it made him happy.

Little Green Dress

This was my first crack at wearing all green. I have been trying to get some green in my wardrobe all summer. I was able to get my hands on a great thrifted green silk blouse, but the quest for green fabrics (locally and online) has been null. I did find a nylon/lycra piece online and I'm glad I didn't buy much of it because it sucks. I thought it would be more lightweight like rayon jersey, but it has small ribs and a polyester feel and sheen to it.

Buying solid colored knits online hasn't been great for me. While it's easy to find the printed ITY-Types -  because they are all about the same - the solids can be hit or miss. The names/weights/percentage of stretch and the descriptions confuse me terribly! I need a good knit learning resource.

I just want to find something like the I see in RTW, which is usually Cotton or Modal/Rayon 90-95%, Lycra 10-5%

Anyhow, here is the dress...



Pattern Description: Dress, mid-knee length, has close-fitting mock wrap bodice, flared skirt, contrast binding, side zipper, sleeve variations and tie belt.

Pattern Sizing:8-24, made a 14

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? same style, just with out the binding

Were the instructions easy to follow? I didnt use them since I wasnt making the binding. The instructions did include making a continuous binding which is pretty awesome I think

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like that it wasnt a true wrap. I love wrap dresses, but they always feel awkward with the opening on front skirt. This was very comfortable to wear. I also like the option of NOT doing binding. I like that look but I didnt have enough fabric. I dont like that the bodice is kind of low cut. i might add a little snap or hook to close it up some

Fabric Used: green Nylon/lycra knit. Hated it - this stuff wrinkles!!!

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:I didnt make the binding or belt since my fabric supply was low. I lined the front and back bodice (minus the sleeves)

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?If I come across the right fabric I'd make it again with the binding.

Conclusion: Cute dress, classic style that you can spruce up or down.


Next up: Another wrap dress!

Vogue 8631 in progress

Success for the Dress

I finished my Yansi Fugel knock-off! from April 4, 2007


Needless to say, I'm a happy camper. I did have a bit of "trauma" during creation. First, out of total desperation I traveled to TWO JoAnn stores to find a jersey type knit. They had some bogus 100% polyester jersey that was $12.99/yard: Hell to the naw! for that. So I settled on some cotton/poly/spandex interlock in a pretty sky blue.

Got it home and started the cut late last night and came to find out that the fabric was totally flawed, it had pilling and runs (like stockings)!!!!

I so did not see this yesterday in the store, during selection and cutting. I was extremely upset, but again, desperate so I cut around the crappiness because I luckily I had extra yardage. I am totally through with JoAnn's fabrics, the quality just sucks, although I did receive excellent service yesterday at both stores, I'll stick to their notions and pattern sales and just travel to Hancock or shop online for fabric.

Anywayz, the construction went pretty much like the KS3408 dress so it was a breeze. My only complaint is the fabric.

Stop the presses!

All projects on hold because there is a new dress I'm now obsessing over:

Yansi Fugel TravelJersey Kimono Wrap Dress.


I could not stop thinking about this dress today, and how perfect it was for so many situations - travel, work, summer concerts, looking cute at the grocery store :). So tonight I went to the lab and drafted a pattern using Kwik Sew 3408 and Simplicity 4020

Here is the progress:
Matched of the fronts of both patterns. Then I placed the tracing paper on top to trace the piece.

Did the same for the back bodice, which will be cut on the fold. Then I made sure the sleeve length matched up - PERFECT!!

Used some cheap poly knit for the muslin and machine basted the pieces together to get an idea of how it will look - AWESOME!






So far so good. I will use the original skirt, belt and neckband from the Kwik Sew pattern. I really want to get some organic bamboo knit for this dress, but I don't feel like traveling 30 miles to the nearest Hancock's. I'll see what's up at Jo-Eazy's tomorrow, before I make that trip, because I'll be making more than one if I can find the right colors - meaning a mass production sewing session, so the fabric has to be just right.

Update & Wrap Dress

It was nice breezy spring day today and boy was I cute, check me out w/ yesterday's outfit.

looking ever so happy to be getting ready for work.


Got another review for ya!!! I made this last week actually. It's Kwik Sew 3408

Pattern critique: Easy & super quick. Barely read the directions. Looks very easy to modify.

Fabric: medium weight black poly jersey (purchased from Valique Fabrics 1430 Reisterstown Rd. Pikesville , MD 21208 - let's keep this store open yall!!!)

Modifications: made the wrap belt wider

Results: this will be a staple. can be dressed up or down! can be worn w/ boots or heels or even flats.

I want to make a green or white one w/ ruffles on the neckline and at the hem in a really lightweight silky jersey. And a red short sleeved one. Bad thing is I have a short & wide waistline so I will need a belt with this instead of wearing it with just the wrap belt.



Ciao for now!