Inspiration...Sleeveless Shift Dress

 This shift dress is perfect for hot weather.  Sew it now and be ready for the season early.  Here is the dress:

This is the Lafayette 148 New York Sleeveless Cotton-Blend Shift Dress.  Price tag: $698.00.   Details:  dress featuring bust darts, pick stitching, back gore darts; approximately 37-inches long; round neckline; sleeveless; shift silhouette; knee length; back zip; cotton/nylon/polyamide/elastane blend; unlined; machine wash cold, and line dry.

Here is a tutorial for pick stitching.  As for the back gore darts, I am not familiar with that term and neither is Mr Google.  Maybe they are simply referring to the back darts that simply shape the back of the garment.  If you find some better explanation, please let me know.  

Now, I will admit that I probably would not make a white dress but that is why I sew.  Sewing allows me to pick the color and shape that I want.  Now, how about the pattern.  I generally recommend this dress:

Although New Look 8500 is a great pattern, the shape is a little bit different than the inspiration photo.  I will keep looking.

Simplicity 1609 without the collar might be a good interpretation of the inspiration photo without the collar.  This might be an A-line dress.  It is not part of the description but it could be modified slightly.

McCall's 7533 View B might be a good contender as well.  This pattern gives you a little more bang for the buck with the hem variation and sleeve variations.

This is the Style Arc June dress pattern.  This is pretty close to the inspiration photo.  It does have a slight a-line shape.  

Well, it looks like I have given you lots of pattern options for this one.  This feels like it should be a very basic dress and easy to find but it was not. Hope you are inspired to sew a nice dress.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Linen Dress

 I do love a good dress and wear them almost exclusively when it is hot.  This is dress is pretty good for the spring and fall.

This is the Heathered Elbow-Sleeve Midi Dress by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $898.00.  Details:  length approximately 49-inches from shoulder to hem, v neck with spread collar, elbow length sleeves, hem falls below the knee, shift silhouette, pullover style, linen, unlined.  For refer, the model is 5'10". 

Even though I stated spring and fall above, this might be a good hot weather dress as well because of the fit.  My first thought for a pattern was this one:

This is the just released Amarena Dress pattern by Liesl & Co.  It is not exactly the same but it has the same feel.  You can also make a top with this pattern.

To get a little closer to the inspiration photo, you might consider this pattern:

This is the Merchant & Mills Factory Dress pdf pattern.  This pattern has the collar of the inspiration.  I would think that removing the skirt portion and lengthening the bodice would be a pretty good likeness to the inspiration photo.  

It all depends on how you interpret the inspiration photo.  Sometimes small changes to a pattern can make it seem completely different.  Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Sewing!

Inspiration...Cord Shift Dress

 The weather is cooling.  It is time to think about warmish clothes.  Here is a cute little dress:

This is the Evie Cord Shift Dress from Boden.  Price tag: $110.00.  Details: corduroy, lined bodice, sleeveless, semi-fitted, side seam pockets, back zip.

This is not a very expensive dress.  It made me think of this dress by Seamwork:

This is the Knox pdf pattern.  No, it is not exactly like the inspiration photo but this was the first pattern that I thought of.  

This is the Bryn pdf pattern.  This pattern is a little closer to the inspiration pattern.  The neckline might be lower.  

Either of these patterns can be found on Seamwork by clicking the affiliate link, click on patterns, sort by dresses or search by name. 

I am an affiliate of Seamwork.  By clicking on a link and purchasing, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.  Thank you!

Hope you are inspired.

Happy Stitching!

Fall/Winter 2023 Sewing Plans...

 I really tried to get my sewing plans started early this year along with starting the sewing early but here it is mid-September and sewing has not started.  I kept my sewing plans small so that I could accomplish them.  I am a Seamwork member so I set my project goals as follows with the date ending 11/30/23:

1. The Octave Coat pdf pattern by Love Notions.  This one was planned way back in early July.  I need to get going on it.  Pattern needs fitting.

2.  The Liesl & Co Classic Shirt in a black/blue check.  This one has already changed from a shirt to a dress as I had a lot of fabric and I wanted to use it.  You can read my thoughts here.  I will need to add another shirt.  This fabric is stash.

3.  The Liesl & Co Classic Shirt in red/black/gray plaid.  It is already fitted.  I might as well use it. This fabric is stash.

4.  The Liesl & Co Classic Shirt in periwinkle/gray plaid shirting.  Gotta love a fitted classic shirt pattern.

5.  The Seamwork Piedra knit dress pattern in a gray jersey. This is a simple t-shirt type dress perfect for every day.  Pattern needs fitting.  This fabric is stash.

6.  The Seamwork Tia dress pattern in teal knit.  This is another simple shift type dress that is perfect for every day.  Patterns needs fitting.   This fabric is stash.

I used the bi-annual Design Your Wardrobe to assist with the process.  I no longer follow through all the steps but I follow through enough that I go through my existing fabric stash and pattern stash.  I admit the first couple of times I went through the program it was a little overwhelming.  There is a lot to think about and learn.

So, that is my plan for this season.  I think that I have left myself lots of wildcard stuff so I do not get bored.  After all, I am making three Liesl & Co Class Shirts or a variation of it.  So, half of the plan should be easy to make.  I will definitely sew on other items as well.

I am an affiliate of Seamwork.  Use this link to get 50% off the annual subscription. I do get a small commission at no cost to you.  Fifty percent off is a win-win.  There is more.  Seamwork has various classes.  Some of the classes are free with the membership and some have an additional costs.  The Learn to Sew class has an additional charge.  Click the link for the class and you get $100 off.  That's a pretty good discount.  

Black & White Shift Dress...

 When back in March, I had an inspiration dress that I really loved.  Here is the dress:

The link above is for the post which gives the details on the dress.  Here is the fabric that I found:

Not an exact match but close enough to get the idea.  Yes, I am going to use the Butterick 6500 pattern.  It is already fitted, well mostly. I made changes to the armscye opening returning it closer to the original drafting of the pattern.  Here is a glance at the pattern cover:

I will not be lining the dress this time but I will be using a one-piece facing which gives a very clean look to the dress.  Since the facing is already drafted, I used this video to assist with the attaching and turning of the garment.  This video will work as well.  Two methods that both work well.  Here is a couple of places to find information on installing an invisible zipper - method 1 and method 2,  Invisible zipper is not needed for the dress but I like the invisible zippers.

Here is the finished dress:

Now, I just need some new accessories like a long necklace or a different pair of shoes.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Shift Dress

The shift dress is quick and easy dressing.  You can dress them up or you can dress them down. 

This is the Lafayette 148 New York Easton Short-Sleeved Button-Back Shift Dress.  Price tag: $498.00.  Details:  Cotton/Nylon/Spandex blend, short-sleeved, knee-length, button-back, bateau neckline, and shift silhouette.  For a closer look, check out the Neiman Marcus website.

This is a lovely princess seam shift dress.  My guess is that if you wanted that neckline, you would need to copy it from another pattern or find a vintage version.   Here's a pattern to consider:

This is Simplicity 1586.  This is closer to a sheath dress than a shift dress but you have the color blocking and cup sizing.  It does have the princess seams and they are a different style.  I think minor changes would get you very close to the inspiration picture.

If you already have a shift dress pattern fitted, use it.

Happy Stitching!

Shift Dress...

I'm still trying to beat the heat.  I'm also running a little bit late.  I picked a sleeveless shift dress:

This is New Look 6500. I've selected View D to make.  This is a fairly simple view and if I want the View C pockets they can be easily added.  This style reminds me of the basic Lilly Pulitzer shift dress.  There are a few reviews at Pattern Review.  You'll have to do a search as I was unable to put in a direct link.   Here's the muslin in a size 22:

This is sewn exactly as the pattern is.  I have removed seam allowances from the sleeves and neck.  I'm a little surprised at how well this fits.  I was actually expecting something horrible with this experiment.  Things that I see:

Fitting:
1.  Shoulder angle needs to be adjusted.
2.  Dart needs to be moved and made a bit larger.
3.  It may benefit from vertical darts in the back.  This might be done after construction.

Styling:
1.  Dress needs 3 inches added to the length plus the hem.
2.  Lower neckline by about 1/2 inch.
3.  Adjust armhole.

With the exception of length, I think the fitting changes could me made to the this muslin and then transfer to the pattern.  As far as styling, the neckline changes can be made but the changes to the armhole will depend on what I decide to do.

I'm planning on lining this dress so I went looking for on line resources (why do I have a library?).  Here's one that I found for drafting facing - all in one facing, and for sewing all in one facing.

Here's the pink dress in a Brussels Washer Linen Blend:

I did forget to mention that I lined this dress with a white cotton lawn.  Even though this dress looks a bit like a pillow case on me, I believe I will still get plenty of wear out of when the weather becomes unbearable.

I think I'm going to make one more sleeveless dress and  I might make another version at a later date.  A simple dress with sleeves is always a winner.  Here are some additional tutorials that may be of some use:

1.  Invisible Zipper Installation
2.  How to Sew a Skirt Lining to Your Zipper by Sewing Machine

I didn't do the sewing the lining to the dress.  I kinda chicken out.  Maybe on another version.

Hope you are inspired to stitch something beautiful.

Happy Stitching!