Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Challenge Accepted! Day and Night Dress Blog Tour

Happy New Year!
I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday season with the ones you love. I had an enjoyable time with my family. I have been working on my contribution to the Day and Night Dress Challenge hosted by Elizabeth Made This. 


Typically, I am a jeans and t-shirt kind of woman. When I wear dresses, they 
are usually shift or Mod style in bold prints. As my children get to big to be picked up and carried, I can now begin to expand my dress options. I have pinned thousands of dresses that I want to add to my wardrobe. When Elizabeth asked me to be a part of the inspiration team for her challenge, I was flattered and excited to have a reason to make one of these dresses.

Going into this challenge I knew I wanted to sew from my stash. I pulled a Vlisco Super Wax fabric that I bought last year and had planned to sew before buying more. I didn't keep that promise, but I came close.  I bought it in a 6-yard cut and planned to use most of it in a maxi length wrap dress. 


I chose to make McCalls 7185 in a sleeveless version of view c. I modified it by lengthening it to the floor and extending it by an additional 22 inches. The construction was pretty straightforward for most of it. I however, just about lost my mind on the waistband construction on step 20. I have mentioned before, that I have spacial orientation issues at times. It took me three times of stitching to figure out that the bodice facing needed to be flipped up toward the bodice and not down. When I figured that out, which is obvious to me now, it went along without a hitch.


A few of the dresses I admired on Pinterest had tie belts so I thought I would add one. Now that it is all made up, I don't think I need it. It is lost in the print. In addition to the tie belt, I added side seam pockets and I am so glad I did.



I was slow to make a maxi length Ankara wax print dress before now. I was worried that it would be too much of a good thing. Because the fabric is thicker than regular cotton it feels like a lot of fabric. I was also concerned that there would be too much bulk when worn. I am pleased to say if feels just right.

                         

Now that I have made this, I think it is the right balance of print, pattern and visible skin (the "girls" don't normally see this much daylight).  

      

I love this dress! It has satisfied my long held dress envy and I don't know why I waited so long.
                   
       


"I like to party and by party I mean stay at home and sew." I can relate to that quote so much. I don't have much of a night life and I have no complaints about it. I do however, get an occasional whim to have a glamorous night on the town. If I were to follow that whim, I would have nothing to wear. I welcomed the opportunity to add an evening dress to my wardrobe. 




I loved the dress I made for a friend to wear for her 60th birthday party using McCalls 7047. To satisfy my dress envy for that one, I decided to make a version for myself. I would have loved to make it in the same sequin fabric of the pattern cover and my friend's dress. The cost of that fabric and my lack of an occasion to wear the dress, I couldn't justify the cost. Instead, I found a Casa Embellish knit that is a cotton/poly/metallic blend. It has a soft drape and is lighter than the sequin fabric I used for that dress. It is light enough that I also used it as the lining for the skirt portion of the dress.



I made the dress straight from the pattern with no significant adjustments. I omitted the waistline elastic however, because the stretch of the fabric made it unnecessary. I hemmed the dress on my serger to make a rolled hem.



I really like my dress, but must admit to feeling a bit self conscious with how close fitting it is. I don't know what to do with my hands. 



I love that the cowl neckline can be worn on/off the shoulders as well as asymmetrically. 



To add a bit of pizzazz to the dress, I added a crystal belt. Now that it is photographed, I am on the fence about wearing it in real life. I think I prefer it without.

 
As I satisfied my dress envy with this one, I hope I have given you some.

                               
If I have, why not join Elizabeth's challenge today?  As a participant, you have the chance to win great prizes. In addition to that, some of the sponsors are offering discounts on their fabrics and patterns. Please let me know in the comments if you are taking the challenge.

Be sure to check our all the other participants in the blog tour for your dress envy: 


Sunday, Jan 8th: Elizabeth of Elizabeth Made This, Brittany of Brittany J Jones
Monday, Jan 9th:  Maria of How Good is That?,  Tonya of Sew So Petite
Tuesday, Jan 10th: Je’Tua of Robertswife, Meg of Cookin’ and Craftin’, Melanie of Its Melanie Darling
Wednesday, Jan 11th:  Linda of Elle Gee Makes, Tee of Maggie Elaine
Thursday, Jan 12th: Bianca of Thanks! I Made Them Sew Can You, Daniela of On the Cutting Floor
Friday, Jan 13th:  Melissa of Mahlicadesigns, Rachel of Sew Redy, Renata of Runnningnstyle, Sonja of Sewing ala Carte
Saturday, Jan 14th: Doja of Elewa blog, Judith of Judith Dee’s World, Tanya of Mrs. Hughes
Happy Sewing,
Bianca


42 comments:

  1. Great dresses, I love both. I never wear Maxi- now I want to try!

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    1. Thanks Louise! I love Maxi dresses you should give them a try!

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  2. Your dresses turned out great! They are both beautiful!

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  3. Wow, you killed it! Both looks are amazing, but the wax print dress is just stunning!!

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    1. Thanks so much Meg! I really love that one too. :) I will make another for certain!

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  4. You look adorable in both of them! WIN WIN!

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  5. That night dress is KILLER! Sorry to hear you feel self conscious in it. On the plus side, you look amazing!!! Totally and completely.

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    1. Thanks so much Ebi! My husband REALLY likes it so it is all good! I just may never wear it in public ;p

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  6. FABULOUS! Loving both of these dresses.

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  7. Both dresses are beautiful and you look gorgeous in both of them. I adore the printed dress though. I do like the changes you made to it and I do like the tie belt.

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    1. Thanks Tomasa! That one is my favorite and I can't wait to make another with the belt!

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  8. WHOA! Oh gosh...but you look amazing! That wax print dress is truly making me a little jelly, LOL. It's fabulous! Your night dress...also fabulous...but yes, I'm picking the blue dress as my favourite!

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    1. I am not surprised by your choice Sue! We love bold colors and prints! :) I am glad to give you a bit of envy; "turnabout is fair play"!

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  9. You look so great on both designs, they are amazing! After seeing you rocking this style, I have to try a maxi dress myself.

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    1. Oh Daniela, do make yourself a maxi dress you will not regret it! Thanks so much!

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  10. I'm loving your evening dress!! Very chic! No belt, for my tastes, but maybe a floaty jacket to help with the self consciousness! Va va va voom!

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    1. Thanks Cindy! I love the idea of a floaty jacket!

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  11. I thought your night dress might be the same pattern you used for your friend. When I saw it on her, my first thought was, this style would work perfectly for Bianca. I'm glad you got your own pretty version! I really like the wax print dress too. The scale of the print really is striking as a maxi dress. I think it's the scale that makes fuller styles work so well with it even though it's not as drapey as a softer fabric that you might normally use for a full style. Well done, and thank you so much for all of your hard work in this challenge!

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    1. Thanks so much Elizabeth for inviting me to be a part of this challenge. I would not have made these otherwise and would not "met" some of the other makers. You have done a great job with this challenge and you can count me in next year.

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  12. Do you make anything that you don't look STUNNING in? WOW! Both dresses are so awesome! Well done!

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    1. Sue, you flatter me! Thanks so much. I will encourage you to type "cutout jumpsuit" in my blog search bar to get an answer to your question. :P

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  13. WOW. They look great on you. This maxi style suits you.

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  14. You have 2 beautiful dresses! Great work Bianca.

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  15. These fabrics are just. WOW. I love the patterns you used - these really are stunning!

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  16. I'll always champion wax prints and the print you chose is bright, bold and colourful, a very lovely choice! The dress itself is even more lovely! But your night dress is the one that made me stop and stare! You look beautiful in it! Such great style! And I'm jealous of your hair! Keep sewing! You're amazing!

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    1. Thanks so much Doja! I love my dresses, but yes, I was having a great hair day! :)

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  17. Both of those dresses are absolutely gorgeous! I want to make the evening dress but I don't have anywhere to wear it. I'm really thinking about your day dress though. I never would have been enticed by the pattern cover but your version is perfection!

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    1. Thanks Peggy. I don't have a place to wear my night dress either! Luckily, it is a fast one to make so if you have an event come up it, you can make it.

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  18. Oh honey, you need to get over being self-conscious and flaunt that evening dress. You look fabulous in it. But in truth you would still be a knockout wearing an old feed sack.

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  19. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  21. That wax cotton dress is gorgeous! Good for you for trying it in a heavier fabric. You're my inspiration to try the same pattern in a stiffer poly blend. I love the way your skirt stands out at the waist. I'm hoping mine will do something similar.

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  22. "Refreshing perspective, thanks for sharing!"

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  23. "Really enjoyed reading this, thanks!"

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  24. This is why I love the internet, great content like this!"

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