Inspiration...Linen Dress

 In hot weather, dresses rule.  Here is a great example:

This is the Irene Linen Midi Dress from Boden.  Price tag: $260.00.  Details:  100% linen with 100% cotton lining, machine wash, fit & flare, side seam pockets, fully lined, ankle length.

Sometimes, it is very hard to find patterns that are very close to the inspiration photos but I think this Itch to Stitch dress pattern does a fair job:

This is the Comillas Dress pdf pattern.  This dress is designed for light weight wovens.  You get a couple of versions with this pattern.

Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful. 

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Happy Stitching!

Twill Fabric...

 I was looking spring fashion and found a jacket made from technical twill.  I am sure your first thought is the same as mine "What is technical twill".  Looking at the description it is a polyester twill.  In my sesrch for technical twill, I found an interesting article about twill that disgusses the characteristics, properties, and uses of twill.  It is well worth reading to understand twill better.  Yes, it does talk about "technical" twill and it is not a special fabric.  So, the only reason the jacket was $1300 is that it had an interest cut and yeah, no similar patterns.  Oh, to be a pattern designer.  Hope you enjoy the article.  

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Gathered Waist Dress

 This dress is a perfect summer dress:

This is the Gathered Waist Dress from Poetry. Price tag: $268.00.  Details:  yarn dyed & laundered 100% linen, machine washable, long slightly long-waisted silhouette, neat collar and stand, button through, mother-of-pearl buttons, waist-seam with gathering front & back, patch-pockets on bodice, side seam pockets, short cap sleeves, shoulder princess seams on bodice, twin needle seam details.

I really love this dress.  It is so wearable.  For me, this would be a wear-everyday type of dress. Unfortunately, I could not find a pattern with the collar the same as the inspiration photo.  However, if you have a collared blouse pattern that is already fitted, you are mostly there.  Just determine where you want your waist and how long you want the dress to be. The skirt part would just need to be about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 times the waist area.  It does not need to be a perfect measurement because this dress is not tightly gathered.

If creating your own pattern is not you, then Sew Liberated has a couple dresses with roughly similar silhouettes except for that collar.

Happy Stitching!

Stash Increase...

 I found a fabric that was cute but you can not just order one piece.  You have to justify the shipping cost.  Here are the purchases:

This is the one that started it.  This is a coctail print 100% cotton sateen shirting. I purchased 2 yards with the idea of making my husband a shirt.  Care: machine wash.

This is a blue/black plaid brush shirting.  I purchased two yards.  Destined to be a shirt maybe for me.  Care: machine wash.

This is blue/white dobby weave cotton/nylon/lycra mix.  I purchased two yards.  Not sure but if it is heavy enough it would make a nice simple dress.  Machine wash gentle.

This is black/white/gray abstract geometric 100% polyester crepe.  I purchased two yards.  I will either make a shirt for my Mom or me.  Care: Gentle wash.

This is a gray/navy/alabaster cotton floral print.  I purchased two yards.  This in intended for a simple dress.

This is a red/lavender cotton ditsy poplin.  I purchased 1 1/2 yards.  This is destined to be a top.  Care:

machine wash.

This is a black/boyenberry herringbone weave ponte knit.  Not sure how much I purchased of this.  There is a least enough for a skirt.  I am hoping I can get more.  Care: Gentle wash, tumble dry low.

I think this is enough for now.  Hopefully, none of it will hang around for long.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...V-Neck Dress

 Spring is in the air.  I have been looking at my summer wardrobe and realized it is time to make a few new pieces.  Hopefully, that will occur.  Here is a dress that is perfect for our hot weather:

This is the V Necked Linen Dress from Poetry.  Price tag: $258.00.  Details: 100% linen, yarn dyed and laundered. slightly fitted and a line skirt, deep v neckline, princess seams front and back, long godets in skirt to create fullness, pockets in side seams, metal zip fastening with long cotton tape pull, center back seam.

I could not find an exact match to the princess seam type but here are a couple:

This is Butterick 6850 (also McCall's 7352). This is a princess shoulder dress.  View C is sleeveless with View B neckline.

This is Burda 6894.  It is a princess seam going into the armscye.  The flare is different in this pattern than the inspiration.

If you find a better pattern, please let me know. Hope you are inspired to create a something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!