Deja Vu

 Ok Guys, today I have something completely new and something you have never seen before!  Oh wait...yeah, I remade a pattern with the same exact fabric as last time.

 

 Ok, so my pink sweater is not only super dingy now, it also has a giant rip on the boob part for some reason.  I had plans to wear the exact same sweater for the pictures, but nope, there is a giant hole in it...and it was my favorite sweater.  But, now I wont feel bad when I cut it apart and to make a pattern out of it. 

Okay, so I went to school for photography and I really toyed with self portraits for my art.  Now, the blog pictures are usually done by my husband.  I love my husband so much, but he is very detail oriented.  So, when I ask him to take pictures of the back of my makes, it takes FOREVER!  He tries to get me to do poses and things like that.  I get so irritated...I mean seriously, I just need a quick picture of the back.  So, today I was extra...ummmm...impatient and I obnoxiously was telling him how it needs to be quick-quick and he snapped a couple perfectly fine pictures, but I chose the one where I am obnoxiously snapping at him lol!  Plus it looks like I am dancing!

So, this dress is made differently than the first one.  For starters, look at the print matching on the front skirt and I made sure to center the hearts on the front bodice.  I ended up having very little fabric left to match the side seams, but that's okay...the front looks nice.  I also didn't seam every single seam like last time.  The shoulder seams and side bodice seams are finished with turned under finis  I serged the skirt seams and the edges of the facings.  I also discovered a great way to finish off the waistline. I opened out the facing and pinned the skirt on and folded the facing back over.  So, basically you have the skirt sandwiched between the facing and bodice piece.  I didn't know if it would work out so I didn't take pictures of it.  I do plan on making it again, so I will have to take a picture of what the heck I mean lol. 

 The other change I made was eliminating the cap sleeves.  Honestly, my other dress had these minimal little cap sleeves after all of my fitting there wasn't any left.  I always wear cardigans (as you can tell by my farmer's tan!) and when I wore cardigans with my last dress, it almost looked like I was wearing shoulder pads.  So, this time, I just used my french curve to trim that section off.  I like the way it sits on my shoulders much better this time.  Instead of drafting new facings for the armholes, I decided just to finish off the armholes with bias tape!  I made it myself (obviously) and I HATE ironing bias tape, so it is more like a Hong Kong Finish instead of a true bias tape finish, but it is pretty similar.

One thing I did NOT change was the dart placement.  So, I had said I wanted to shorten the darts by an inch and for some insane reason, I thought I had already done that on the pattern, but nope.  Oh well, next time I really will have to do that.  I also need to shorten the pattern by 2 inches because I didn't do that and it was a little stressful trying to fit everything on my fabric. 

So, another thing I did differently was I actually understitched my facings.  So, without the topstitching, the neckline doesn't pucker and it actually sits nice.  Side note: I actually wore this dress to a family reunion yesterday and I got a pretty bad sunburn!  This is WITH sunblock.  My face and legs didn't burn for some reason, but yeah, that's why I am like a tomato and my dress is wrinkly!

So, why did I make an exact copy of a dress?  Well, it was because I knew I would learn a lot by doing it and I did it purely for science reasons.   I didn't accidentally put a red lipstick in my pocket and then wash and dry my dress.  What?  I would never.  

........

But, seriously, it looked like I murdered someone.  I tried saving it and it didn't work so I tossed it.  When my husband came home that night, I told him about the tragedy and he was actually upset.  So, anyone who has made this dress in fabric that wrinkles will agree with me when I say that this dress is a BEAST to iron!  And anyone in my family can tell you how much I HATE ironing and also I am pretty bad at it.  So, my husband offered to iron my dress for me every time I washed it ( I know, he is amazing and no, I can't loan him out) and he spent A LOT of time with my older dress.  He looked like he lost a member of the family.  I told him I could make it again in leopard print, I have some in my stash, but no...he wanted it in the same fabric.  Unfortunately the fabric store where I bought it from ran out long ago.  So, I was browsing Denver Fabrics, and I found it!  So, I bought 3 yards of it (and some sweater knit) and when it came in, I showed him and I have NEVER seen him so happy about a fabric purchase!  So, when the family reunion invite came, I knew I would have to remake this dress for that occasion.  He was pretty happy about the dress being done and I love to wear it because I know it makes him happy.

Except that when it came to picture taking, he wanted everything to be perfect and it took forever....I love how I sing his praises and then complain.

I love you Devin!  I made this dress just for you!  Thank you for ironing my clothes, taking my pictures, and putting up with my impatience! 

Still Alive!!

That's right, I am still alive!  I have not been sewing much due to life events, but I couldn't take it anymore and I busted out my credit card and bought some new fabric and a new sewing pattern, just in time for my 7 year old to go back to school! 

As soon as she spotted this fabric on my instagram feed, she told me that was what she wanted for her back to school dress. 

I argued with her and the collar fabric, I thought it would look best with a bright pink for the collar, but she was insistent on using the dark purple.  I only agreed because I thought I would be proven right later when I put everything together....except that I was proven wrong and the purple goes really well with the fabric.  We then had this conversation:

Me: Well, munchkin, I think you were right about the purple fabric, it looks really good with the cat fabric.

Kayleigh: Well, you should use this as a lesson.

Me: A lesson for what?

Kayleigh: I just hope that you learned to listen to me when it comes to fashion.  I AM a fashionista.

lol!  Well, lesson learned. 



The pattern I used was the Violette Field Threads Ginger Dress.  I have actually used their chloe pattern before, and I only really got one good picture of it so it is unblogged and will remain so because it no longer fits her lol.  That was a good pattern too, though (FYI).  I really love this pattern company.  I always get good results from them and I enjoy the process. 

I do have some...problems with the pattern, both are probably user error, though.  So, both problems revolve around the straps.  The seam allowance in this pattern is 1/2" and they have you place the straps 3/4" away from the side of the bodice.  So, when you sew in the lining, you will only have 1/4"  left on the upper edge of the bodice.  However, I have 3/8" on the upper edge and it bothers me.  That extra 1/8 of an inch makes it look like a mistake.  The second problem I have is that the straps don't sit well.  The sit best when tied around the neck as a halter neck, but I was going to do the criss cross back, but when I did that, the straps were all bunchy and REALLY didn't sit well. I think next time I will figure out what's going on there and probably even make the straps shorter. 

All-in-all, I do love this pattern, it was so easy to put together and I think it made a really cute dress.  Obviously, my little one loves it. 

I don't know how many more times she is going to make an appearance on my blog, because she is getting to the point where she doesn't want her picture taken any more.  :(  But, I do have plans to sew up the Haven Dress in a super cute unicorn fabric for her before she goes to school.  Next is the Colette Patterns Crepe Dress again, though.  I don't like to buy clothes, so since I haven't been sewing, I have been wearing out my clothes and not replenishing them!  I don't have any clothes and I need to start sewing more!!  Plus, I've convinced my sweetie to take me to L.A. for fabric shopping once I have cut my stash down a bit.