Simplicity 1358: Knit Maxi Dress

Seems like January is the month for blogging for me! Ha. If I post one more time this year, I'll have doubled my posting rate from 2015. #lameblogger

First make of 2016!

View: A
Fabric: Poly Knit from East Coast Fabrics - Teal Peacock Print
Size: XL
Modifications: None

I bought this pattern because Spotlight didn't have the McCalls 6559 that I was really after in my size when I went shopping the other day. This looked close enough and had a few more options as well, although no bolero patterns.

Initial Assessment:

Disclaimer: The dress looks VERY different on the dress form as I haven't had a chance to adjust it to my shape/size just yet. She's very new (to me). 

• Fits pretty well straight out of the envelope.
• Weight of fabric is dragging it down further than anticipated, resulting in more bra showing than I'd like (which is none!).
• VERY EASY to sew! Would love to have a couple more of these in the wardrobe.
• Shoulder is slightly wider than I'd like
• I really don't like attaching bands that have been pre-sewn into a circle.

Changes for Next Time:

• Raise underarm by 1.5"
• Shave 0.5" off shoulder width
• Shorten dress before cutting (by 4.5")
• Take in by 1" at bust, narrowing to 0" by waist
• Attach bands before sewing second shoulder, side seams, etc.

Ideas for future makes:

• Maybe try to add an elastic waist?

Finished: 8/1/2016

Sewing Stats: Stash used - 3.0m

I'm hoping that the recent acquisition of a dress form will increase the likelihood of photos being taken (and, therefore, blog posts written). Next step is to pad it out so that it really looks like my shape. I've just finished watching the Craftsy class 'Customise your Dress Form' and am itching to get going. I've got my husband lined up this weekend for a measuring and adjusting marathon, so hopefully I'll be able to move forward soon.

Some Sewing Evidence

Well, it seems as though a lunch with gorgeous sewing friends is just the thing to bring back the UFO mojo. On Thursday of this week, I met up with some sewing friends from the Pattern Review website, Sue from quiltsewsewsue, Steph from 3 Hours Past the Edge of the World and a new friend, Emma. We had a lovely time checking out The Fabric Store and chatting over a glass of wine and lunch.

Sewing, for me, had been placed on hold for a little while as I recovered from the best birthday present in the world - a set of Expedit shelves and my husband's time, muscles and (best of all) patience. He not only bought the exact shelves I wanted, he assembled them and helped me rearrange the furniture in my sewing room. I must admit, I think I may have pushed every button he owns when, midway through the move, he realised I hadn't really thought through my plan, nor had I measured anything to see if it would fit! LOL. He should know me by now! Not to worry, it all fit and I've moved most of my stuff back in.

What I've realised now is that I have NO need to buy new fabric OR patterns, AND that I have a huge number of half-finished projects. Yesterday I headed into the sewing room, determined that I would finish at least one UFO. My DD is growing like a weed, so her pyjamas went to the top of the list.

I've been sewing this McCall's 5744 pattern for her for a couple of years now. She really loves it.

The first version I sewed for her, I used a woven fabric as recommended by the pattern. Now we use a knit.

This latest version was designed to use up some scraps. The print is a really crappy cotton interlock from Spotlight. It is one of the most 'off grain' fabrics I've seen in a long time, but DD loved the print. For pyjamas, I'm prepared to sacrifice quality in favour of cuteness. The aqua is a medium weight cotton knit (kind of feels like a rugby knit, but softer). I'm fairly certain that I bought this back in the day when East Coast Fabrics still had their shop at Capalaba - so it's OLD. The pink I got from the new East Coast Fabrics at Springwood. I've still got some of the pink cotton interlock left, but everything else has left the building! Yay! The three fabrics are all different weights so shouldn't really be used together in a garment - and if this wasn't a shameless stash busting effort, I wouldn't have. But DD likes them, so I'm happy with that.

I also made these huge on purpose. DD likes her PJs super loose AND she is growing like a weed - so I'm hoping that I'll at least get the whole season out of them.

This shot is for you, Sue. DD thought it would be the best way to show off the (unpressed :-P ) lettuce hems on the sleeves and pants. I quite impressed myself with my willingness to change overlocking threads multiple times during the construction of these.

And the mojo hasn't disappeared yet. I backed this effort up today with a new Hot Patterns top for me which has been cut out for weeks. I'll blog that when I've managed to take some photos.