One Pattern 2 Ways

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I AM IN LOVE!  

I've had this McCall's 7348  pattern for a few years, but recently pulled it out when I decided I wanted a quick make for Mother's Day.  

Yes! I made it the night before!  

Why do we do this to ourselves?  This time my excuse is that I was buried in Prom and Graduation makes!

But, I'm so glad I decided to make it at the last minute!

Why? 

Because I didn't have time to go through ALL of my stash to find a piece large enough in a color I wanted to wear.  I knew I had 6 yards of this coral ITY knit that I purchased years ago from the warehouse we affectionately call "2121".

I made view D with the sleeves from view C. 

It came together very quickly! 

I did not need to make any measurement adjustments at all!  

That is an anomaly - as I usually have to make fit adjustments on commercial patterns!

I did all of the construction on my serger.  I didn't have thread in this beautiful coral color, so I did what I normally would do...I blended a few colors to make it work!

Before I added the sleeves, I got out my heels and tried it on!  

I WAS IMMEDIATELY IN LOVE!

I walked around in it about 10 minutes!  

Yes! There is absolute joy in sewing for yourself!

  This was one of those moments!  I loved the fit, the flow, the drape and how it made me feel!

  

I added and hemmed the sleeves finished the neckline. 

But my serger decided it did not want to do a narrow hem, and I needed to get some sleep, I decided to leave the bottom raw.  

I cleaned up my slightly imperfect scissor cuts with my rotary cutter and I was done! This was my first time doing a raw hem.  I'm still not sure how I feel about it!  Time (and fabric type) will tell if I do it again.

This top/dress even looks good on the hanger! 😍 Look at that drape!

SEW!

I made it again! 

I bought this beautiful ITY from Vogue Fabrics earlier in the spring. When I saw it, I had no idea what I'd do with it, but after making the coral piece, I knew it would work for the pattern...and for another special occasion...my Grandheart's Graduation!

I laid it on my cutting table to take a look at the direction and area of the print, because I knew I'd have to "mirror" the pattern to insure the print matched.

I laid out and cut the back piece 1st.  When I attempted to lay out the front piece, I realized I did not have enough fabric to use in the same direction as the back.

Sew, I flipped the direction of the front pattern piece. After moving it around a few times, I decided that I wanted the smaller print at my neckline and the solid black at my waist.

Again, when I tried in on, I was in love with the outcome!

I really love how this print drapes on my body!

  Sexy!  I can say that, right? 

Again I used my serger (4 thread set up) to construct this one.

Of course, things don't always go as planned when making garments.  

But I'm happy that this time it only running out of thread on the spool of thread I was using to hem it.  I only needed about 3 more inches of stitches to finish it.  Sew out came a new spool and I finished it!

No raw edges on this one!

I narrow hemmed it with the lighting bolt/wobble stitch which stretches with the garment...no future popped stitches!

Finished the neckline and added my label!

I am happy and proud to say that my dress/top was featured by

 Judith Rosalind of the Instagram @sewover50 hashtag...which has over 12, 000 followers! 

This was quite the surprise and an honor!

I actually don't know which I like better, the back or the front!  I do know that I love the way I look and feel when I wear it!

And...I've taken a few orders for it!  Of course not in the same fabric!  LOL!

Sew!

I am definitely making another one! 

How often have you used the same pattern to create a new look by simply switching up the print and/or fabric?

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Day and Night Dress Challenge

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Elizabeth Farr from Elizabeth Made This is conducting a Day/Night Dress Challenge. 

Although this is the 3rd year for this challenge, this is my 1st time participating!

I know, I know...fewer challenges this year, she said!

But...I couldn't resist!

This was a mostly no-sew challenge for me!

The challenge was to pull a dress from our closet that we've not worn or hadn't worn in ages and create 2 pieces to wear with it...or create/add accessories! 

Sew I did! I altered my dress and added accessories!

I made this self-drafted black knit dress in 2007 for an event I was going to with my daughter.
  I made it full length and made a red shawl to wear with it.

Then I gained weight, but I still loved the dress and the knit fabric - so I kept it!

For the challenge I thought of this dress and pulled it out hoping that it fit now!  It did! But it was much too long and I didn't want to wear it as a maxi.  Covering my entire body with black is not a good look for me.  I need and love color!

Sew...I cut it shorter and left it a about 3 inches longer in the back.

 That was my only sewing for this challenge!

For my Day Look, I added my McCalls 6802 cardigan from my Online Sewing Class and my "go" boots.  I call them my "go" boots because they serve me well in the crazy Illinois winters. 

But for those of you who know me...you know I couldn't stop there!  

For my 2nd Day Look, I added my favorite infinity scarf and switched my boots for booties!

 I'm not sure which one I love more...the dress or the cardigan!  But I do obviously love gold! 😍

On to My Night Look!  

Same dress, but this time with the oh so popular McCall's 6844 peplum jacket (which I believe is now out of print).

I also switched up my jewelry and added my booties!

All of the jewelry I'm wearing in all of the looks is from my friend and sew sister Chandrika Hayes at Divinely 5 Styles - click here to see her unique pieces. 😎

For my 2nd Night Look, I simply switched to black pumps!

This was a fun challenge!  

The real challenge was bringing all the pieces together for the photos!  LOL!

Did you participate in this challenge? 

If so, I hope to see your creations on Instagram or in Elizabeth's Blog!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Godet Anyone?

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Godet: 

A triangular piece of material inserted in a dress, shirt, or glove to make it flared or for ornamentation.

Not only did I enjoy making this top, but I really enjoyed wearing it!  I wore this to a friend's 

surprise graduation party last weekend.  

I wish I could have worn higher heels, but age and aches prevents that more often than not! 😁

The pattern is Butterick 6248 and has a few variations to select from.

I've had this pattern for about a year or so.  I initially bought it to make view B with a super lightweight sweater knit, but still haven't decided what to do with that fabric. 

I ended up making view A because I've been stuck sewing in my dining room while roof repairs were being done.  I needed instant gratification! And I got it!  

I purchased this fun ITY print from Vogue Fabrics during an expo.  I have no idea which expo and as I went to several last year.  The pieces were sold in 2 yard pieces and I'm glad that I bought 2 pieces...4 yards.

                                                Can you believe I didn't hack it!  Hahahaha!

Check out that godet!

It extends from the back/waist to the hemline. For some reason, I always worry that I won't get the godet right, but in most cases I do.  Then I'm always surprised.  I have no idea why I worry!  They are so much fun once finished.😄

And of course, there was some print matching to do.  Although I'm not 100% happy with it (thanks to distractions during the layout), I think it turned out well overall.

I will definitely be wearing this top a lot and am already planning to make another one...maybe stripes or a floral with some sort of hack. 

What do you think?