Looking Forward To Spring with Petals and Pots and a Cirque Dress

Do you have a tried and tested sewing pattern? One you return to over and again? I have an extensive pattern stash with vintage and current patterns. Because of that, I rarely remake a pattern for myself, preferring to work my way through what I have. 

The Cirque Dress, Vogue 9112, is a rare exception which I have made several times for myself and a few for friends.

Gratefully, I have had to retire my versions of the dress because of continual wear. When I saw the Petals and Pots collection by Riley Blake Designs, I knew it was time to add mixed print Cirque dress to my wardrobe.

I chose 1-yard each of Weave Mustard, Geometric Blue and Main Blue from the collection. 

Color Fun Pattern Weights available in my Etsy Store. 

This is such a fun dress with this mix of fabrics!

It gives that refreshing feel for which I was hoping.

 

The lines of the dress highlight the fabrics so well.

 

I modified the collar of the pattern so it is fully lined with a contrast that can be flipped

and folded to reveal one side or the other.

In addition to this being a fun quirky dress, it also has pockets!!!!! If that doesn't make this a winner, I don't know what does. 

 

The weather here is too chilly to get daily wear from this one dress until it warms up consistently. When the temperatures hit those characteristic triple digits, I will be ready. 

Happy Sewing,

Bianca

Mixing It Up With Liberty Cottons

Sew the precious fabric! It looks better on a body than on a bolt! This is a pledge I am constantly working on as I examine my wardrobe in potential form, also know as my fabric stash. I am at times halted by the fear of ruining the fabric or the unwillingness to lose the thrill of the possibilities of what it might become.    

The Summer House Collection of Liberty Fabric by Riley Blake Designs was a recent opportunity to turn precious fabric potential into a treasured garment. 

 

          

      The Summer House Collection Manor Tile Navy

The Summer House  Collection Feather Dance Blue 

My love of tiered maxi dresses continues with this mixed-print, buttoned bodice take on Mccalls 7834,

The pattern was missing some markings on the skirt pieces. I had to quarter the tiers before gathering and attaching them to the vnext. This issue aside, I love my new dress!

I love the play between these prints and the flow of the fabric.

I love the opportunities to  play with the print placement throughout the design. Here is a contrast cuff.

 

Here it is  rolled back with no contrast.

The collar facings and necktie add visual interest to the neckline.

The side slit in the skirt adds a bit of sass to an otherwise conservative silhouette (I moved the placement because of my occasional need for a knee brace.) 

I like that the tie can be worn at the neckline

Or around the waist for a different look 

Is "prairie chic" a thing?

I feel modern and old-fashioned at the same time. Truth be told, I am perfectly fine with that.

Happy Sewing,

Bianca

Dream Weaver Dress

I generally, without a doubt, reside in a 1970s retro vibe with a modern twist. I love the colors, the fabrics and the patterns. So when I saw the Dream Weaver collection by Material Girl quilts, I knew what I had to do! Put on the song  by the same name by Gary Wright (psst, go listen then come right back), and hit my stash to find a pattern to play with these fun prints.

I chose to use the Diamonds design in the peach colorway.

                        

I found it was perfect to pair with this vintage Simplicity 6392 dress pattern from my stash.

I was drawn to the pleated maxi skirt and simple back detail. 

I love it but made a few modifications. The pattern calls for patch pockets but, I didn't want to interrupt this beautiful print.  I inserted them in the side seams instead. The waistline on the pattern had generous ease and was looser than I liked. I reduced the ease by creating a casing and inserting 1/4in elastic into it. This pulled in the fullness.

 I also opted to keep the bodice on grain for visual continuity.

It wears well on it's own or dressed down with a bit of denim.

 Dream big friends!

Happy Sewing,

Bianca

Reversible Kantha Jacket

Happy New Year! I hope your year is off to a happy and creative start. I have enjoyed the holiday season and a refreshed after a relaxing time with my family. I was gifted a set of  Kantha blankets  from my mother-in-law for Christmas that has kick-started my creativity.  

You can  read about this Indian stitch craft here and in a few books here. I love the look and feel of these textiles and have contemplated trying my hand at the slow-stitch process. With my schedule, I decided pre-stitched fabric was the way to go for now.  The set I received included 5 throw blankets in various colors and prints with options on both sides.

As is my default when I touch textiles, I knew I wanted to wear them! I reached way back in my stash for Butterick 5224 with an eye to make view B.

This is a 2-hour pattern, but I made it in 6! Choosing my print layout and coordinating the 2 throws required took the bulk of the time as did my modification for reversibility. 

I went back and forth to get it just the way I wanted with the bold green and yellow swirls prominent. 

The deliberation was worth it to have a completely reversible jacket.

 

I love that the second side is a bit more mellow with stripes as the focal point.

The reversibility is achieved by flat felling the seams. I stitched the seams, trimmed one seam down to 1/4in. and folded the larger down, to encase the smaller. I then stitched close to edge. 

I double-folded the hem and stitched it down so there are no raw edges on the sleeves and lower edge.

I cut the facings along the edge of the blanket to preserve the hanging threads of the original blanket.

I cut the size medium on this and like the ease and structure of this jacket. There is definitely room to size down if you make this one.

My year is off to a fun and colorful new start. I hope you can say the same!

Happy Sewing,

Bianca