Two Garments for Tamara

Tamara is home this weekend. She is spending the next week with her best friends at a cottage on the beach. We both thought that it would be nice if I made her something she could use for her beach vacation. I picked out the patterns and fabrics, she agreed with my choices  and I went ahead and had them ready for when she arrived on Thursday.

First is a maxi dress that we both love. I used McCall's 6744, View C  and I can't recommend this pattern enough.

Here it is....

The fabric is a poly/lycra. The pattern features dolman sleeves and the shoulder seams are used to form a casing  and are elasticized. I love that look and it is very flattering.

This dress is wrap style.The bodice is overlapped and basted together. The same for the skirt. The bodice is then sewed to the skirt. This makes the wrap very stable and modest with no chance of wardrobe malfunction which is one of the best features of this pattern.

The waistline seam is suppose to form the casing for elastic but instead, I used darts. For more detail, please look here at Diana's Sewing Lessons.

Tamara loves her maxi dress and looks so pretty in it ,I think!

The second garment DD wanted was a cover-up for her bathing suit. For this, I used B5815

I used a fabric that looks like a transparent, textured fish net and I think is a cotton blend.The colour is a light denim blue with white and dark blue yarns throughout. I bought it at Fabricville.

 Although very plain, this piece is surprisingly flattering on, although Tamara wouldn't let me photograph her in it.

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The sleeves are the focal point and are very pretty.

The only change to the pattern was to lower the front neckline by an inch.

I added a self tie belt for an alternate look.

We were both pleased with these two garments and I'm hoping Tamara has great weather for the next week but, given what we've experienced here the rest of the summer, it is highly unlikely.

I do hope you found time to sew this week.

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A Colour Blocked Top a la Yves Saint Laurent.

The top I'm showing today came as a result of an idea that came to me after I was in bed one night. It wouldn't go away ,so I got up, made this sketch , and then went to sleep.

The next morning , I ,of course,realized that my drawing resembled the famous designer's creation of the 60's. I googled Saint Laurent, found his Mondrian Dress, and considered copying it. However, I decided I'd try my idea first. Here it is.

I love it! Especially the yellow and green shades!

And here is the original Saint Laurent dress.

Doesn't it just make you drool?

I used Vogue 8792 as my starting point for my top , made a copy and then proceeded to draw the design on it.For all the details , please visit Diana's Sewing Lessons.

The fabric is a stable cotton knit. I made it to skim over the body rather than fitted because as I've mentioned before, that's how I prefer to wear my clothes.


I had planned on adding the neck and armhole bands to my top in black but, I ended up not liking the way that looked so I left them out.That left the neckline and armholes  a little too open. Next time I would use more of a boat neck for the neckline.

 I used facings which I carefully slip stitched to the garment so they would stay put and the stitching is almost invisible.

At the back I added a little extra something .just because,which I think is cute.

I like it with black....

and I like it with white.

What do you think ?

For fall, I'd like to copy the original in tan, black and beige, but we'll see.

Hope you found time to sew this weekend !

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Dress # 2 for Sister #1 and a Top for Moi

I'm hesitating to show the two additional dresses I've completed for my sisters as I have no modeled photos but I want to post something  I can always add pics later.

Pauline picked up her second dress this week and I was very happy with how really well it fit her. She really like this one and wore it to the morning Coffee With the Artist  event at our local library.

Here is the dress.

The pattern is New Look 6000. View A minus the sleeves. which I made for myself here.

The fabric is a medium weight striated cotton knit bought at Fabricville which I've used for several garments these past two summers and which I love. It has only a little bit of stretch but I love  the hand of this one.

I used my tested pattern ,made it one size smaller, and like for my dress I added neck and armhole bands. I made Pauline's dress closer to the body by using the front waist darts . She likes her clothes to fit closer to the body while I like mine to skim over things.

My camera battery gave out after just one pic and it wasn't a flattering one so I cropped it but you can see how well it fit. We were both very pleased about that.

The top I made for myself is Vogue 8710  .

 It's  a Katherine Tilton top which I've made before here. This time, I changed the sleeves to regular set ins and I sewed in cute little functional pockets into the seams at the bottom of the side panels..

The fabric is the same cotton knit as the dress above and my previous V8710. I made it to wear with my Marci Tilton skirt for which I've never been able to find just the right partner.

I'm working on a really cute colour blocked tunic a la Yves Saint Laurent which I'm really having fun making. I needed a creative outlet after four dresses (for the sisters)that I didn't dare change up too much. I have two more dresses and then am making stuff for Tamara for when she comes for a visit next week. I'll be quite happy to get back to the things for myself that are lingering in my head.

Hope you found time to sew this week.

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Dress for Sister #2 Silhouette Swing Dress

I'm making a series of dresses for my sisters because my own closets are bulging at the seams.

This one is for Gloria who tried on my version of the Silhouette Swing Dress from last year. Two of my sisters have chosen this design for their made-by-me dresses.

I want to point out that my version of the Swing Dress is very different from the original and if ,like my sisters, you want to make one like mine, please visit this blog post to see how I achieved this look.

Here is Sister #2 , Gloria's dress. I couldn't help accessorizing it!

The fabric is a rayon jersey that has a bit of extra weight so it drapes beautifully. With no need for a zipper,it's very easy to make and to wear.

I finished the neckline  with my favorite method....a narrow band finished with top stitching.

Like me, Gloria prefers 3/4 sleeves and we decided on a couple of inches below the knee for the length. At a slim 5'6, this is a good length for her. She was suppose to send me a pic of herself wearing the dress but that hasn't happened so I'll just show you another photo with differnt accessorie.

Gloria was so apparently happy with this dress that it did my heart good and made me realize that sharing my skills with others is important.

 On Sunday at church, I was asked to make 25 "choir scarves" and although it means hours of boring sewing, I feel surprisingly happy to have been asked!

Since I have no person in a dress picture to show you, I thought I'd show you my latest Riley and Poppy pics.                                                  
                                                          My Little Pixie

                                                             and My Little Munchkin

I have an update. My sister sent me this picture so here is Gloria in her made-by-me dress.

I hope you've found time to sew this week! More later from