Vogue 9240 in Navy and White stripes

Happy Sunday Everyone ! I'm so happy you stopped by because I have such a fun dress to show you

I've had this beautiful two sided cotton knit , which I bought at Mood Fabrics.com a couple of years ago when our Canadian dollar was more at par with the American dollar. It would never tell me what it wanted to be until now. As soon as I saw this pattern, V9240 , I heard my special Mood fabric calling " This is it ! This is it !!! "

The pattern...

...and the dress on Antoinette.

Details:  ( I made a mock up in a summer fabric and made an FBA  and added a bust dart to the side piece . I felt the sleeves were a little snug so I dealt with that )

The fabric is a double knit, double sided  cotton in dark navy and white.

The pattern description stated that the silhouette of this dress was fitted, so I cut a size larger and that worked for me. I don't really think this is a very fitted style however .
I used my knit sleeve for my SFD sloper and I'm a little sorry because I feel they are too loose. I first used the mini stripe for the sleeves but I didn't like the result so I took them out , turned them the other way and I like that's much better. 

This is a straight style as you can see and is not shaped at the waist. I was tempted to add back waist darts and still may .

The only changes I made was to do my usual fitting alterations and I decided to make the back all one piece . I didn't think I'd like the back as it is in the pattern. That also omitted the need to match the stripes at center back .

Here's a  closer look at the neckline.

 This is really a very simple dress to make. The mock up I made is a summer version which I'll show you when I finish it . I can think of all kinds of fabrics to use and turn it into tops too. Oh what fun ! I love sewing, don't you ? Lol.

Please let me know what you think. I'd love to see other people's version of this pattern too so if you make it , please let me know.

I have a couple of really cool things to show you another time so come back next week, won't you !

More later from

An End of Winter Outfit

                                         "Oh where, oh where has my blogging mojo gone ?
                                           Oh where, oh where can it be ? ?? "

I just had to get that out of my system ! Ang Oh My ! i just realized I published a post without meaning to that had no pictures !!! I removed it and will add the photos and repost it later in the week.

There's nothing wrong with my sewing mojo, BTW ! I have so manny things to show you but I'll start with one outfit today and show you more later.
I've got several things made that I just haven't gotten photographed yet but I was wearing today's outfit yesterday and my hubby thought I looke so nice that I decided to get those pics taken.

This is the kind of outfit that I enjoy wearing as a hostess , which I was yesterday.
Here is the shirt on Antoinette.

Don't you love that print ? it's actually a soft blue and grey mix although that's hard to tell here.And look I found perfectly matching buttons.

I love the collar.

And on me.

Now for the details.For the shirt,I used View B of Butterick 5786 but with long sleeves. Otherwise I didn't change a thing except for my usual alterations for fit.I love  both ways of this pattern and have made it a few times before.

                                              


Wow ! Is this shirt ever long . ! I can't imagine how long the other view is !
The fabric is a semi-sheer polys that is so pretty that you have to forgive it for being polyester.
It's floaty and feels so nice on.

The pants are Silhouette patterns 3100 which is the best pattern ever but I've talked about many times before. this time I used my palzzo version and decreased the flare. I love wearing these. the fabric is a really beautiful scuba knit that feels wonderful against the skin..

                                  I should have worn heels. those pants are too long for flats !!

My pics are a little washed out, darn ! This outfit looks much nicer in person . In the photos, it looks too long doesn't it ? But I love this one . I'm trying to be discerning in adding things that I need to my closet and this shirt is unlike anything elase I already have..

I have to leave for church now so more later from

My Retro Dress.

In 1967 I was in Teachers' College and I was already making most of my clothes. I made a dress that I've always remembered because I loved it so much. It was the "mod " period in fashion and this pattern was a good example of that style.I found it on Pinterest and was so excited to see it

I have a whole board of patterns I once owned and sewed and it's always such a thrill to find new ones! Small things amuse .........! 😗

  

                     

My 1967 dress was made of a sports weight cotton and was burgundy and teal paisley print. It had long sleeves , a front zipper, patch pockets and a mandarin collar.

Well, I found this burgundy, border print , textured knit and it reminded me somehow of that much loved dress. I thought I would make a tunic to wear with leggings but then I changed my mind and made an above the knee length dress to wear with tights and boots.

I love this thing !! What do you think ?

Well ! It doesn't look that great on Antoinette, I guess !

I  used a couple of different patterns to arrive at this one. Believe it or not , my dress is a combination of Marci Tilton's V 8793 ( OOP ) because I like the loose fit ,

                                          

 and Sandra Betzina's 1456

.I used the body, armscye, and sleeve of 8793 and the shoulders .neckline and  collar of 1456

I added an inch to the side seams , somewhat straightened the waist curve and lengthened it to dress lengthen . I angled to a slight A-line  as well.

I took away 5/8" from the neckline because it was too high  for me and that made all the difference. I had to lengthen the collar slightly because of this alteration.

Patch pockets were a no brainer and I was done.

This was an easy make easily accomplished in a day. I really enjoyed the whole process.

I will wear this piece a lot. It will be great to wear for my Sewing Group, for church, for shopping, and even at home because my hubby appreciates it when  I go around the house  "looking cute" (his words ).

I hope you enjoyed my ode to retro . Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your support.

There will be more later from

I'm Back on Track (M 6844 + an SFD Top )

I've been getting great feedback from my Fashion Show / Sale and am planning another one for early June. My head is full of ideas for summer things that I can sew easily , but I'll get help from my sister next time. I've already hit Fabricville where there was a great 40%-40% Sale. Just look at these luscious colours !!

I had a great week sewing for my self. First I'll show you the cozy cardi I made a while back using my morphed version of McCall's 6844.

The closures are some that I found on a belt I bought at a discount store . They don't stay closed so I put tape on the back so they won't open !!

Isn't infinity scarf, a Christmas gift, the perfect  accessory ?

The fabric is a wool blend boucle knit  (Fabricville ) and is warm enough to wear as outerwear on a milder winter day. I've worn this many times already and I get lots of compliments.  This is how I like to wear it.

 I also used for this wrap.

 

The second piece I'm showing you today is a combination of my Surefit Designs sloper and Sandra Betzina's 1477 .I love this pattern but the twisted bodice accentuates the bust more than I like and I thought the lower half would work with a simple bodice and it does .

The fabric is a poly/lycra from Fabricville.

The trim is a mesh knit. I tried out the twisted neckband and it works I think

I made use of the selvedge and topstitched the cuff in place.

Instead of the bust dart , I shirred the sides . Probably should have aimed higher !!

This is an every day top or an around the house top. I don't love it but its OK. I needed a change from the things I wear all the time as most of my life is lived at home.. I wanted it to be long enough to wear with jeggings ( I don't wear leggings much ).For me that means 30 to 32 " in length. I did wear this to Sewing Group the other day and didn't get any compliments so I guess no one else loves it either . LOL.

This week, I'm having a mini sale of my wraps at my Retired Teachers meeting so I'll be making a few more but I've got a tunic/dress cut out that I'm anxious to get to . I hope you have time to sew this week .

More later from

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fashion Show / Sale a Great Sucess

Hi Everyone. I thought you might like to know how my Fund Raiser went .

Well, it far exceeded my expectations. I made a whopping $842.00 for the Food Bank !!!
And those who attended LOVED it and want me to have more. I think I've created a monster.

I ended up selling 35 of my 43 wraps , only 6 of my 12 infinity scarves and all of the hair towels I had on hand . I only charged $12 for plain wraps and $15 for those which had buttons or trim. They were very popular.

During the Fashion Show,my models were stopped in their tracks so the wraps could be touched , examined and even tried on .These were the popular ones.

 The sale took place after the show and we served coffee, tea, lemonade and sweets. We held a silent auction for this reversible cape I made for the occasion . It brought in $95.00!

We had several door prizes . The main one was this poncho, which I also made.

Both the cape and the poncho were copies of RTW garments.

The Food Bank was overwhelmed when I took them the cheque yesterday and were thrilled to know I plan another event for June.

This was a real feel good project. I feel I'm using my talent for something God wants me to do . And the Fashion Show provided a respite for people in the middle of winter.

Now I'm going to sew a couple of things for my self and I still have my red Christmas dress to show you. I'm changing it up a bit before that though.

More later from

Look What I Found !

I'm still making wraps/ponchos for my sale this Thursday but I do have something to show you today.

In the fall , I made this navy cotton knit  cardi/jacket , wore it once and then completely forgot about it until recently.

                                                 ( Oh dear. It so didn't photograph well ! )

The pattern I used is an OOP Simplicity which I've long wanted to try.

The fabric is a cotton double knit I happily found in a bin at Fabricville.

I lengthened it a bit I think andI omitted the back pleat because of a shortage of fabric and that changed the silhouette I was aiming for, but it's Ok.

I changed the style of the inseam pockets to my very favorite one layer pockets  learned from Sandra Betzina.

The raglan sleeves sort of demanded shoulder pads so I added them and that's Ok because I happen to like shoulder pads.

I finished the seams with a Hong Kong finish mostly because my serger broke and I had to but I love the look of this treatment . Please look here if you're not familiar with Hong Kong finish.

I left out the two bottom buttons because I bought the wrong number but I'm thinking I'll add them. Oh. But that would mean making another buttonhole . Hmmm. Probably won't happen. Lol.

This is great little topper for my scuba knit dress which I wore today to church.

or to wear with trousers or jeans.

                            See my cute boots !

I'm so glad to have rediscovered this piece in the coat closet ! It'll get lots of wear this spring for sure!


Next time I'll show you the cape and the poncho I made for door prizes at my sale this week . I love them both and kind of hate to give them up.

Until later