Navy polka dots dress ( BurdaStyle 07-2014-111 + Simplicity 3544)

A navy polka dots dress was often on my mind. But I never seemed to find just the right fabric for a dress until last week. And now that I had the fabric that I absolutely love ( it is very soft and pleasant when I touch it, it has nice draping and I can breath in it ) I realized I don't have a perfect pattern for it. I didn't wanted to do many cuts since the dots are quite big and didn't want to ruin their flow and that limited my options.

After waiting this long for this dress I didn't want to wait just as long to find a perfect pattern so I got working right away with the patterns I already had cut on my table from recent projects and it went smoothly. Here are the puzzle pieces :

• BurdaStyle 07-2014-111 top
• simple circle skirt
• pockets from Simplicity 3544 retro aprons view C/D ( I just did view A - only needs buttons and photos )

The top is size 34 with almost no alterations. I may add the sleeve band to close the sleeve that I did for the top to the dress as well and  I didn't do the split in the back.

For the skirt I did a full circle as big as the fabric with ( 1,4m ) allowed and the did another circle for the waist so I will have the desired  length for it. The waist opening was almost twice of what I need ed but I wanted to gather it to have more volume. Not sure if such a big and gathered circle was the best decision for the print but I just love my dress to much to have any second thoughts ...

The waist is white as the bias binding and the underskirt and it has a medium width elastic band. 

The pocket are from the retro apron : 2 layers of fabric and no interfacing since I wasn't going to attach them on the grain of the skirt fabric and I needed them to have some flow as well. I just love having big pockets.
 

Now I just look at it and wandering if my dress is at least a little bit retro. I love retro dresses.

Rounding up the mini wardrobe - maxi skirt + simple jacket ( Simplicity 1699)

I have been trying to get the last of my pieces together and here are the last 2 addition to this mini wardrobe. Both are very easy and fast options : self drafted rectangular maxi skirt with elastic waistband and Simplicity 1699.

And here is the current version of my mini wardrobe:

BurdaStyle summer outfit ( 06-2014-124 + 07-2014-111)

Last week I tried 2 of the latest Burda patterns and I got some funny shorts and an OK beach top.  But I was not 100% pleased with any of them. Sure I love the shorts but they are a bit to tight and to short and the blouse I can only wear it to the beach being so transparent... So this week I gave them another go.  This time it was the other way around... love love love the blouse and the shorts get just my OK.

I tried to fix and improve everything but I am not sure all changes were good for the pants. I added the wrap panels to the back as well ( not so bad idea but it should have been somehow longer ). I wanted to add some ease but I got a crappy fit for the shorts this time. The good part is that they are a lot more conformable and easier to wear with the extra length.

The blouse on the other hand turned out just perfect. I had the inspiration to add the band to close the sleeve and now I just love the way it sticks with my hand and I can wear my hand on either of the sleeve holes. Also instead of the split in the back I did a keyhole.

 Some photos indoor : the colors are off but you can see better the shape and the drape for the blouse:

Previous pair of wrapped front shorts here.
Muslin for top here.

The Black Sea Weekened - Burda 06-2014-124 + Simplicity 1808

Last week was probably the most prolific week ever for my sewing. Getting the retro dress done along with 2 tops and a pair of shorts. It was so nice to have them ready for my weekend trip.
   The top is Simplicity 1808 that I sew last month in a bigger size for a gift ( here ). This time I did size 10 with no other adjustments. The pattern is for knit but I used thin cotton blend very pleasant at the touch ( but no stretch ) .  I am lucky my bust is not that big else I would have needed a side zipper. Now that I sew it the second time and the fabric was easy to work with I come down really fast. I don't exactly love it but I like it.

   Tho shorts were done on the spur of the moment Thursday night thinking we may go to the beach this weekend and I LOVE them.I don't usually mach fabric with the initial design but the stripes were so playful and I had just the right amount of this quilting cotton for it. I was like asking for it.  This pattern is very fitted. I normally cut 34-36 from Burda but this time I cut 40 and they still are a bit to tight. If I will do them again I will add more ease to it and maybe do the a bit longer.

 

   I think this is the 1st time I actually used Burda instructions. I was a bit weird the way they wanted you to sew this shorts. The order was not my usual way for sure but It was so much easier to work with them that way and arrange the panels in the front so I do recommend to do as they say. The only thing I did differently was to add lining to the front panel so it will still look nice if the wind blows them . 

   I really enjoyed the outfit and the patterns. It was all worth it. 

Miss Fancy Hair Dress - Butterick 5747

Ever since the PR contest with vintage patterns and old flame was alive again. I just love retro dresses so much and I wanted to make some for myself. But I didn't had the courage to do it until now. I didn't feel I had the skill to do it but I had to try. The result was way better then I dared to dream for the 1st try.

Te pattern is Butterick 5747- view A :

   All seemed so complicated and scare in the beginning. I opened the envelop a few times starting to look at the pattern pieces and instructions and then just closing it back and run away in fear...  It has a lot of pattern pieces and most of them I just had no idea where it will end up. This is the most complex project for me so far.
   But I wanted the dress so I decided to take baby steps and do one thing at a time instead of trying to figure it all out from the beginning. The pattern has the final garment measurements for each size for bust, waist and hip and that helped deciding what to trace. I just couldn't bear to do a muslin first and I have a lot of this fabric so I was ready to sacrifice it. I traced 12 for most of the pieces going to 10 at the bust line and 14 at the waist. It was not a bad call but if I ever sew it again I will add a even more ease at the waist - it is still a bit to tight.
   It took me a whole evening just to trace the pattern and then another one just to cut the fabric. I was expecting this project to last for a long time already. But the sewing was so much easier then I expected ... I didn't even notice the time passing and the dress was almost ready. The only part that is still a little cloudy for me is the skirt closing and interfacing in the front but it turned out OK. It took some time to get the buttonholes and the hem done but now is ready and I already had taken it out in the weekend.
  It feels so great to be in such a dress ( even with the little mistakes I put in it : it has a small defect because I cut a buttonhole in the wrong place - lucky is not very noticeable with the busy print ; is gaping a little at the waist line because is a bit to tight  - I should wear it with a belt ).
  All in all I am very happy with my 1st retro dress and with this pattern.

Every day - black and white T-shirt and capris

Last week I got to wear my own very comfortable cloths : knit T-shit and cotton pants. And it felt good.

The shirt was done a month ago or so and I got to wear it quite a lot already. I just love the print. It was a very easy construction just starting for an old one:

I just love it that is longer and I don't have to worry about showing something I wouldn't want to ... I used bias for the neck line and sleeve. I added some elastic and gathering to the sides:

The pants are the same as poppy pants except the length and the fabric. Th fabric is very nice woven cotton with some stretch.  The quality is lovely. I got it as a remnant for almost nothing.