Magnificently Marbled Knit Dress

 

It's no secret that I love bold prints and all the colors. Today, I bring you my newest make, a dress featuring stretch cotton jersey knit fabric by EttaVee for Riley Blake Designs. 

This fabric has a smooth hand and about a 50% four way stretch for added comfort and ease. This digitally-printed fabric features a multicolored, marbled swirl of colors. I chose the cream colorway of the four available offerings. 

I wanted a simple pattern to showcase the fabric so I chose Simplicity 9010. I love the batwing sleeve and draped open back.

The pattern is drafted for woven fabrics. To compensate for the stretch and weight of the fabric, I sized down and added the optional back ties.

There are no dart or seams for shaping in this dress. That adds to its versatility because it can also be worn with the drape in the back or front. 

The ties are tucked and the deep overlap is pinned for modesty.

This switch allows for full coverage at the back.

This is a fast and easy dress to make in this luscious fabric. It is as comfortable as a t-shirt, but with some added glam. I love it.

Happy Sewing,

Bianca

Making Lemonade with Liberty Emporium

Have you had a project that does not go right from the beginning? I've been sewing for quite a while. I don't very often have sewing mishaps with commercial patterns. I know what size to cut and any adjustments I need to make it right before I sew. When I saw the Liberty Emporium fabric collection by Riley Blake Designs, I immediately had a plan in mind for the two fabrics I chose. I was planned to make a mixed print tiered dress. 

I loved the dress I previously made with Liberty cottons and had planned to make a new version with a different pattern. When the fabrics arrived, side by side, I didn't think they would work like wanted. I was slightly disappointed and decided to change my plan. I switched it to make a pattern that has been in my stash waiting for the perfect fabric match.

I absolutely love the sleeves of view A of this dress! I immediately planned to use the Melton Rose F print to make it. I thought the quilting cotton weight would define the sleeves very well giving some drama to the fairly simple dress.

I made it up in my usual size and was surprised to find it was a complete disaster! The bodice was too big and where it met the skirt, stood away for my body in a very unflattering way. I showed my honest, supportive family and they unanimously decided it was an epic fail. They determined that and I looked like a pregnant mushroom! I was disappointed, but knew they were correct. 

I wanted it to work and I did not want to waste this fabric. I put the dress in timeout for a moment and decided to make a dress with the Merchant's Tree print. 

After reading Pattern Review opinions of the Cynthia Rowley, Simplicity 8264 mini dress, I thought I would have success with this fun minidress. 

I love the ruffled neckline and details on the sleeves.

My knee surgeries of the last year have finally healed. I no longer need to wear support braces that require the camouflage of maxi dresses and long skirts. My recent makes have been a celebration of that fact.

I made this dress straight from the package with the only adjustment being adding some back darts to pull in the fullness as one reviewer recommended.

I love this fun and flighty dress. The time away from the failed dress was just what I needed to rethink that garment. The sleeves are the best feature of that pattern and I wanted to preserve them. I reworked the upper bodice and took away some of the fullness of the skirt. When that still failed to satisfy as a dress, I cut the front open, finished the seams, and added some buttons to close it. These few changes allowed me to convert the abysmal dress into a coordinating topper for the dress. 

I got to salvage the sleeves I loved and make something wearable. 

I would not have conceived this combination from the beginning of this project. Now they are paired together, I like it a lot.

The work and success of the sleeve construction made it worthwhile for me to attempt to save this dress. I am glad I decided to not call it quits with this seemingly failed project. 

When you have an apparent sewing fail, what helps you decide if you will keep going or throw in the towel?

Bianca

The Season for Plaid

Fall and Winter are the seasons for plaid and I wanted to add some, in the form of pants, to my wardrobe.

When I was deciding on my plaid choice for those available from Riley Blake Designs, my heart was drawn to the All About Plaids Tartan Blue Green. I had nostalgic feelings reminding me of my childhood days. This print is similar to my grammar and high school uniforms. Girls were required to wear dresses and skirts, but much to my chagrin, never pants. This was my chance to rebel. 

Plaid matching requires a bit of time, concentration and extra yardage to get it right. When done correctly, it is always worth the effort to me. With this fabric, I did not want to make a complicated project, just an everyday pair of pants.

The no-side seam pants by McCalls is a great no fuss pattern. It consists of two pant legs and waistband facings, that is all.

The simplicity of the pattern means the plaid only needs to be matched at the inner leg. It's a great pattern for those hesitant  to try plaids for fear of getting it wrong.

The fit is easy and relaxed and the fabric is comfortable. The cotton is slightly lighter weight than standard quilting cotton so it falls nicely without being stiff. 

   

These pants fill a hole in my wardrobe and I love that they pair easily with my other memades.

If you have been reluctant to sew plaids because of the complexity of matching, don't be. Start with a simple pattern, fabric you love and go for it.

Happy Sewing,

Bianca

He Says "It's Equally Important for Boys to Support Girl Power!"

My family enjoyed watching the NBC show Making it. We watched Amber Kemp-Grestel  and enjoyed her progression through the series. Little Miss loved her hair and loved seeing someone who looks like her. When I saw that Amber had a new fabric collection with Riley Blake Designs, I was excited to be a part for the blog tour hoping to surprise Little Miss with Mama and Me outfits.

I chose: Girl Power Put Your Hands Up, Multi

and Girl Power Put Your Hands Up, Pink

When the fabric arrived, I excitedly shared the prints with Little Miss and we began to plan our outfits. Little Man entered the room and was immediately drawn to the Hands Up, Multi fabric. He is usually indifferent and stunned me when he asked for a project for himself. Little Miss sweetly smiled and told him he may want to reconsider because the collection is called "Girl Power". Without missing a beat, he said he was cool with it because, "It's equally important for boys to support Girl Power." 

With a joyfully  bursting heart, Little Miss decided to give him her fabric for this project. She declined my fabric choice in favor of a "Mama and He" collaboration. (I am so proud of these little people.) He decided on a button-up shirt with a front pocket. I used a vintage McCalls 2394 pattern for him. I cut the front panels first, then I used the side seam notches to align the striped pattern for the back. I took care so the print continues around his body. 

   Geometric Rainbow Pattern Weights 

I also took special care to match up the print on the pocket so it almost appears camouflaged.

He is nine and loves all things superhero. The idea of bursting out of his shirt for a quick change appealed to him. I opted for plastic snaps instead of buttons and buttonholes.

For my dress I went for a super casual lazy day style. It is the same pattern I used to make my plunging On Safari dress with a few modifications.

I made the sleeves three-quarter length with no elastic casing. I added side-seam pockets and chose a grommet lace-up front with contrast ties for modesty.

As with his shirt, I took special care to align my print so the stripes continue around the body.

I omitted the back zipper because the neckline was wide enough to go over my head. I also added back darts to pull in the fullness a bit while keeping wearable ease. 

We love our new outfits and I am so proud to call this kid mine. 

We love our mommy and me outfits! 

                       

  He gives me much hope for the future.   

         

Happy Sewing,

Bianca

Zebra Blush Bliss

 

I know what I like and what I don't like, but I am always open to changing my mind. Animal prints have for years been firmly in the "don't like" category. There is no logic or rationale behind that assessment, just a preference. Recently however, Riley Blake Designs released some new animal print collections that made me radically rethink my thoughts on them. My previous post showcased my new dress using "On Safari" where my new obsession began.

I am really excited to see that Mimi G designed a new fabric collection with Riley Blake Designs. Her fun animal print collection includes knits and rayon challis in fun and unexpected color combinations. 

Of all the options available, I chose the Zebra Blush Rayon with an eye to make a maxi dress using a vintage pattern. 

I decided on Mccalls 4765 which has been in my stash for many years waiting for the perfect fabric. I love the maxi-length, neckline detail and front ties for shaping. I chose to make view A with a modified sleeve from view B.

I loved the original dress design, but found it impractical for my day-to-day life. I decided to switch it up to make it more casual as a front-split tunic. This simple modification only required leaving the front open below the waistline and finishing the raw edges.

I added an elastic casing to the hems of the sleeves instead of the cuffs suggested by the pattern. These felt a bit more relaxed and sweet, perfect for the color and drape of the luscious fabric. 

I love this piece! The fabric makes me happy and the modification to the ordinary pattern feels fun and fresh. 

Is there a fabric, technique, or style you have been reluctant to consider? Do you have a hard and fast rule against it or just a vague preference, like I did? What's it going to take to have you rethink it? I hope you do and love the result like I do!

Happy Sewing,

Bianca