The Avenue Knock-off

I've never actually attempted to "knock-off" a RTW garment. I got the idea after seeing a woman in a local beauty supply wearing something similar during the summer. When I spied this one at Avenue.com, I just had to have my own version and who doesn't need several LBD's??

Since faux-leather and ponte knit are all the rage, I too, chose the same materials. I scored the faux leather at the American Sewing Expo from Haberman fabrics in September. The ponte is from my Minnesota trip and is the most delicious ponte I've ever seen. I think I have just enough of it left to make a cute pencil skirt.

I used McCalls 6460 for my version. I thought the "sweetheart" yoke was different enough to add a little extra interest.

Initially, the hardest part of the dress was inserting the "exposed zipper." After accomplishing that to my satisfaction, I decided to add sleeves because the husband said it looked like a funeral dress! That's where the cursing, hair pulling and "gnashing" of teeth started. You absolutely cannot ease faux leather. Although I measured the sleeve cap and the armhole opening, not even 1" could be eased.

I first added a sleeve cap dart but then realized I needed to narrow the shoulder seam. I carefully removed the sleeves, altered the shoulder seam but still wasn't happy. After being paralyzed for a couple of days with the poor fit and what to do about it, I eventually removed 5/8" from the front shoulder and armhole.

I removed the same amount from the other side by pinning the above piece to the other side to cut off the exact amount and shape.

I then had to remove the sleeve cap dart and reinsert the sleeve. I'm much happier now. Of course now the inside sleeve seam looks like it has been in combat...and lost. But there's more!

I added a lining to the body but omitted the sleeves. The pleather didn't have enough "umph" for a nice neckline. Luckily I didn't trim the seam after attaching the lining to the neckline. I removed the understitch and stitching and added interfacing to the lining yoke. I didn't want to chance adding it to the pleather. Then I added single-fold bias tap. I trimmed the seam, turned the bias tape inside the dress and finished with top stitching. I also used  fold over bias tape to cover the armhole for a neater inside appearance. Although the zipper is functional, I won't be using it. I can pull it over my head easily. As usual I narrowed the hemline by 4".

I would have loved to have photos of me wearing my latest creation but I woke up to this this morning.

When I got out of the shower for church it was even worse. I won't be leaving the house today which translate to "crappy clothes, here I come!" Here's what the finished dress looks like...

I plan to accessorize it with animal print.

Check this out

I started the day out not in the best of moods. I watched this video and it reminded me how blessed I really am. I'm back to my usual self now.

A Quick Question

How long after you make a garment do you actually wear it? What dictates how soon you wear a garment after you me it?  For me, it's like shopping. Sometimes no sooner than it comes off the machine that it's on my back. Other times it has to hang in the closet, or on the back of my sewing chair for a particular occasion. Let me know.

Vogue 1179 Remix

In case you didn't know, I love animal prints. A couple of week ago a picked up a lightweight sweater knit in JoAnns and immediately knew what I would do with it. I started with Vogue 1179.

I shortened it, made it more of an A-line and added the sleeves from Butterick 5554.

This is what I came up with.

I've paired with store bought black jeggings and over-the-knee boots. Of course you can't see the detail because of the fabric but the fabric is the star afte rall. The husband says it looks like a maternity top but who died and left him "chief of the freakin' fashion police?" It came out just as I intended. I love the super long sleeves and added an opening to insert my thumbs to kick it's style up another notch. Can you say SUPER COMFY. Love it, love it, love it.

Mission Accomplished

I finally rescued Butterick 5554 and can now move on to my next project. I still can't believe I disassembled the entire dress after making the necessary alterations and sewed it back together. I guess I have more patience than I thought. I did learn a valuable lesson about proportion and will now incorporate that when altering princess seam tops and dresses.

 

The dress is still a little conservative but it's oh so comfortable. I especially like the cuffs. They added a little more interest to the dress. I don't love the this jewelry with it but I made do.

On a Rescue Mission

I'm still trying to rescue this dress from my last post. Would you believe that I picked the ENTIRE dress apart? It's not as if the fabric was super expensive or that it has to be this particular color...I DON'T DO WADDERS!

One of the reasons I think I wasn't liking it is because the proportion of the center front piece, relative to the side panels, was much too narrow. My making a 1" FBA to the side panels was the problem. I went back and reduced that one inch from the side panels and transferred it to the center front panel. It made a huge difference. At least I think so. I also raised the neckline 1".

I don't feel so much like it's a "skunk stripe." The color is terrible in the photos immediately above this paragraph and simply has to do with the camera. The actual color of the brown is like a Hershey's chocolate bar.  (Had to switch to a different camera because the battery died.)

I added the "faux" cuffs for some additional style. Still needs a hem. I'm still not in love with it but I like it a whole lot better than I did before. It needs a good pressing also. I'm struck by how conservative this dress looks when it's on me. I don't even have any really "skanky" brown shoes to add extra pizzazz. It is comfortable so that's a plus. The solid is ponte de roma and the contrast in a miscellaneous knit from Vogue Fabrics. Here's a close-up of the contrast fabric.

There are very few reviews of this dress on Pattern Review.com but one sewer did touch on the issue of the center panel being out of proportion after altering. I don't know why I didn't check the reviews first! Of course I'll be back later this week with me wearing my "Rescue Mission" dress.

Butterick 5554

As usual I'm late. That's right I didn't jump on the color-block trend when it first appeared. I had to let it settle in for a while. I've only made one other color-block, Vogue 1329, and thought it was a huge success.
I decided to tackle another one. Today I altered, cut and sewed Butterick 5554 (I almost never do it all in the same day).

I am not in love with it. I do like to be in love with the clothes I make. I decided to switch it up a bit and still don't like it. I don't know if the silhouette is wrong from me or it's the fabric or what. The husband doesn't like it either.

Of course I want to salvage it. I think I like it better with the solid sleeves.

On another note. This is what I wore today. Another McCalls 6566 top. It's now my favorite! The skirt was made by me as well. Do you think it would be too much to ask my photographer to wait until I'm smiling instead of catching me when I look like I've sucked sour lemons!

Really? It looks like I'm trying to fly but is a good shot of my outfit.

Is there a reason he felt the need to snap a picture while I was checking out the scar from my knee replacement? I am desperately in need of a new photographer!

Faux leather and houndstooth

It's seems faux leather and houndstooth are all the rage this season. I've always been a houndstooth fan and leather never goes out of style. I scored 3 yards of stretch pleather from Haberman fabrics at American Sewing Expo in September. I'm not sure what I'll use the rest of it for but added it to McCalls 6566 and came up with this great faux-sweatshirt top. The pleather and ponte de roma were the perfect mix.

I paired this top with an absolutely fabulous ponte de roma that I picked up in Minnesota last month. It is the best looking PDR I've ever seen. It washes up nicely and has great recovery. No worries about my skirt getting "butt-sprung" from sitting. Click here for the instruction on how to make the skirt.

Now I'm off to work on my next project and "yes," it does involve using black fabric!

It's a miracle!

That's right a miracle has occurred! My cutting table went from this:

To this. Boo-yah!

I even cleaned and dusted my sewing machine, table and the surrounding areas!

Of course this miracle will be short lived because I'll be starting a new project later today!

McCalls 6566

I have finally found a pattern that I can call a TNT t-shirt. It too less than an hour to stitch up. In the beginning, I added a "cheater" FBA by adding 2" to the center front and gradually "trued" it to the side seam. Big mistake. It looked horrible. I woulnd up removing that 2" as well as another 2" to give it more of a "high/low" look. Now I absolutely love it.

This was my wearable muslin. I used Slinky that's been in my stash forever! It may not look like much to you but I'm going to be able to pair this with so many skirts. If I change the jewelry and shoes I can totally change how this top will look. I've already made it using Pleather as the front overlay--In black of course! Here I'm wearing it with the leather skirt I refashioned either earlier is year or late last year. I snapped these photos as I was running out to church this morning. I've got to work on getting better photos with my tripod!

I scored the super cute shoes at Payless for a mere $14. Faye says I'm everyday fabulous which means I don't need designer goods to look AWESOME. Thank you Faye!

BTW please click on this link and tell me whether something is missing. Based on the instructions, I don't think that would help me find the grain at all. I know what she means but I've been sewing for a billion years and can easily recognize the lengthwise and crosswise grain. I think it might be totally misleading to a beginning sewist!