My Reunion Dinner/Dance Dress V1348

Before I talk about the dress I made for my 50th Reunion , I want to answer  Anne Scanapcio 's      question about the changes I made to the Silhouette Patterns yoga pant pattern when I made my jumpsuit.

.She asked how I joined the bottom to the bodice. I eliminated the waistband itself but added the amount to the pant plus 1 inch. I also added an extra inch to the bodice because I wanted it to blouson. As to what I did to the yoga pant pattern, I have a post here at Diana's Sewing Lessons on how I made the yoga pant into palazzo pants. I used the ensuing pattern and added 1 inch to the side seam all the way down. I hope that's clear Anne.

Now for my dress.

I decided that I wanted a colourful, comfortable and worry free dress for this important occasion. I call this my " Last Hoorah " dress!

 The pattern I used was  V1348. My fabric is cotton sateen bought at Fabricville.

Isn't it pretty ? It reminds me of a Monet garden with its splashes of colour.

The pattern fit really quite well and I had no problems at all in that regard. When I compared the bodice pieces to the  Princess seamed version of my Surefit Designs sloper I was happy to find it was very similar. I didn't even have to do an FBA but I did make a muslin to be sure. I cut the size 10 above the bust and 14 below that and it worked great.

I of course made a couple of changes. This is a designer pattern and it had you underlining the bodice which I didn't do. That was a mistake because I have nothing to attach the pleats to as a result. They seem fine and I'm not going to attach them the actual dress.

 Now for the big mistake I made. As I was cutting my dress out, I decided to not include the side seam pleats thinking it would just be too flared. Well I've ended up regretting that but there's nothing I can do now. I do love having the pockets though.

                                               
                                            


                                       

I sewed the facings in the traditional way and the understitching works well to keep them to the inside.

I decided to add an exposed zipper  and I love that look.

I decided to not line my dress. I don't enjoy wearing lined dresses in the heat of the summer the hang of the dress wasn't affected at all.

                              

But see what I did do  to make it extra special!

The bias trim is in a highly contrasting colour but I had it on hand and it works, I think.

 Now you think that I'll be the only one to know it's there don't you and that it must have been a lot of work and it was  but I'll probably show it discreetly to some people because it's just too pretty to keep it to myself,  don't you agree?

I used a matching lace  tape  for the hem.

My pics didn't turn out very well but here they are anyway. i just can't seem to find the right setting for my camera lately !

I'm undecided about what shoes to wear. These black ones are not very dressy but would be very dance friendly and I do so love to dance.

These nude ones are better and are also very comfortable but I'm not likely to last as long on the dance floor with them as with the black ones

. What do you think? Should I go for comfort or looks ?

So my reunion sewing is finished and I still have tow weeks to go. That is a real accomplishment for me.
I've also almost finished four  matching (more or less ) little girl dresses for our four little grand-daughters . The real cahllenge is going to be the hpoto shoot and that may take some doing so I don't know what I'll show you next week but do check in to see.

thanks so much for having a look at my Last Hoorah dress.

More later from

An SFD (Surefit Designs ) Jumpsuit

It seems jumpsuits are in for the long run. I made this one late last summer and it's such a fun piece to wear. I love it.

As it happens , at the end of July is my 50th High School reunion. I'm on the planning committee and if no one showed up, I'd still call it a success because it's been so much fun organizing the events.
Friday night the 29th is Meet and Greet night which my husband and I are hosting.

I wanted something really fun, sporty but special so I designed a jumpsuit using my SFD sloper together with my Silhouette Patterns yoga pant turned into palazzo pants.

Here's my drawing

and here's the jumpsuit. ( I love it !).

I'm so happy with how it turned out. The fit is just about perfect and I love the cut of the bottom.(pant) I used my beloved Milano rayon knit from Fabricville and it is just the right weight for this garment,

How did I make the top you might want to know ?
I simply closed the bust dart on a copy of my sloper and opened it in the shoulder area.

I also  added about an inch more to the width of the shoulder and then gathered it to fit an extended back shoulder.

                                         

 As you see in this pic I also added to the width of the bodice and drew a V neckline.I had originally planned on adding a wing collar but I felt that might make it too warm to wear on a hot July night.

I wanted the bodice to blouson a little so I added an extra inch at the waist. I had intended to sew open end darts in my original plan but that didn't work out. I added elastic to the waist and button closures to the bodice.

I managed to achieve a really good fit , thanks to my SFD sloper. As for the bottom, I've written several times about Silhouette Patterns 3400 yoga pant and what a flattering fit I get .

I'm very happy with my jumpsuit. It feels very elegant on and I think it's just the right garment for this important occasion.

I also made Jessica a jumpsuit yesterday by using her SFD sloper and  her Sil. Patterns yoga pant 

pattern. Hers is more fitted through the hips and less wide through the legs. I used the same method of closing the bust dart, opening at the shoulder and gathering to fit the back shoulder but rather than widening the shoulder I narrowed it.  I felt this was more suited to a young girl's shape. She loved it

and I needn't have worried that it wouldn't fit her because it really did! 

I love Surefit Designs! I even bought the children's kit and am busy using it to make four matching (sort of ) little girl dresses for my four little grand-daughters. It's so much fun !!! I'll be showing those next month after my son comes home with riley and poppy.

Next time , I want to show you the dress I made for the dinner and Dance evening of my reunion. It's really pretty, I think . So please come back to see.

                                                                                                                                                                       Happy Sewing from 

A New Summer Dress ... Simplicity 2404 (OOP)

I want to thank all of you who  left comments on my recent posts. When my blogging mojo lags, you make  me want to continue showing my stuff in spite of a lack of enthusiasm for the photo taking process. Having said that, I'm so glad I have you to share this week's project with  It's  one of my favorite things to sew.. a summer dress.

Here is the dress

and the pattern (now out of print ) Simplicity 2404.

The fabric is a beautiful rayon jacquard I've used before for an entirely different dress.
I had many meters of this  lovely and I even have more which I'll use in the years that follow.

I absolutely love the silhouette of this dress. It seams to skim over the body and I think it's very flattering to my figure.  I made this version years ago and it's my go to dress on a hot sticky summer day. That version was a stretch cotton poplin which is just wonderful for summer clothes.

I cut my usual size 10 above the bust and size 14 at the size seams. That was too much extra. Size 12 plus 1/4 inch is perfect for me for this one, if that is any help to anyone. I most often cut size 12 at side seams . Since this is an Amazing Fit pattern , there was no need to make an FBA but I did make , Sway Back, and Upper Rounded Back  adjustments to my pattern as I do for all my clothes.


I love the split neckline of this pattern. I reinforced the slit with heavy fusible pellon, which is necessary for it to stand up.

I used the neck facing provided in the pattern but for the armholes ,I used bias strips of self fabric which looks just fine and works so much better than facings.

Since I had lots of fabric, I took special care to match the print along center front and back. I felt so virtuous because this is not something I usually do!.

For once , the invisible zipper went in just right! This is the method I use.

I just love this dress. I have it on right now and its 's so comfy and I don't have to suck in my belly nor wear Spanx!

It's a lovely Sunday afternoon here and since I'm alone with no hubby today, I think I'll sit out on the deck before heading for my sewing room.

Next week, I'll show you the self designed jumpsuit I made for the Meet and Greet night of my 50th High school reunion. I love it !!