Ready for Spring

This winter is dragging on, and on.  It’s now mid-February and Spring is around the corner on the calendar but in Buffalo we know we’ve got at least a few months left of frigid temps.  We are in a crazy cold and snow spell- it is -6 degrees out right now, there is a travel advisory and we are hunkering down indoors.  Of course this is a time where I am on vacation for president’s day week and I actually have time to sew but my fabric stash is running low!  Thinking I’m not crazy enough to venture out just to buy fabric I decided to get a little creative with what I’ve got  I had purchased two yards of this pretty Kelly Green peach skin fabric from Girl Charlee a few months back with the idea of making a Staple dress for the spring or summer but thought it might make a great top…so I got to work.  Please excuse the pics…obviously too cold to take pics outside and these were taken by a short photographer- my 8 year old daughter!  Bad angle and pretty blurry.  Oh well.

   

I adapted the pattern to be a boxy, simple top by chopping off about 6 inches from the length.  I kept the pockets but did not add the shirring- I wanted to keep it simple and thought that given the shorter length and the busy pattern it would be more flattering without it.  I am so happy with it!  The fit is perfect, so comfortable yet still form fitting.  I can see wearing this with jeans or leggings (as pictured) and would look equally good with a cardigan…because remember- it is 6 degrees below zero outside!  This little project was just enough to get my sewing mojo back on and I look forward to the weather thawing just a bit so that I can make it back out to shop for more fabric.  Or, maybe I should do a little online shopping to hold me over!

Yet Another Staple Dress…more like Staple top

Quick and easy projects seem to be the way to go these days.  Trying out a new pattern requires time…time I don’t seem to have these days.  So, here is another tried and true pattern- The Staple Dress.  Super simple to sew up when you’ve made several already and the pattern is already printed and pieced together.  All that is left to do is cut it out and sew it up!  I’ve blogged about this pattern a few times, and have probably sewn at least 4 variations already.

I bought this fabric from Girlcharlee a while ago, I loved the print and colors but was unsure of the fabric since they had just started offering wovens and I was unsure of the weight/quality.  Its called Vintage Confetti Crepe de Chine and is available here.  It is 100% polyester, and other than the static cling that I am contending with I would totally recommend it!

It is a much bolder print than I’d normally go for, but really love how it looks paired with my everyday uniform of skinny pants, boots and a cardigan!  I altered the pattern slightly as I did in this version– cutting the dress straight across the bottom and shortening it a bit to tunic length.  I knew I’d never be wearing this without pants!

My sewing machine was not cooperating with me when I was trying to shirr the fabric so I opted to zig zag some 1/4 inch elastic to the inside instead and I love how it turned out- so much faster than shirring as well.

Amy Butler Staple Dress

Well, since I promised another blog post on the Staple dress (and I was wearing it today!) here goes…

This is actually the second staple dress I made, my first was a midweight denim fabric I scored at a yard sale for $5.  In other words; fabric I wouldn’t be upset about wasting on a muslin.  I may or may not ever wear it- but it worked for testing out the pattern and size before cutting in the fabric I really wanted to use…this beautiful Amy Butler voile (Josephine’s Bouquet in Ink).  I had been eyeing this fabric online for over a year and finally gave in and ordered it from fabric.com when it went on sale.  Sadly they don’t seem to have it anymore.  I only had 2 yards but since it is a generous 54inches wide I was able to squeak out a Staple Dress out of it.  Or maybe a Staple tunic if you consider it is way too short to wear without pants.  Or my choice: leggings.  My all time favorite staple in my wardrobe!  The leggings I mean…and I guess this Staple dress now as well!  I have worn this at least once a week since I made it last month.  Love it!

These pics were taken outside the girls swim lessons today, not the most flattering angle being taken from the height of a seven year old…but it was all I could accomplish today and I am still pretty impressed by her photography skills!  Please ignore the wrinkles, sitting outside in the grass watching kids swim isn’t a very glamorous affair therefore I did not iron it.  Not that I ever do.  Ever.  Hmm…maybe keeping my hands in the pockets will hide it.  I love these pockets and don’t know how I never sewed in seams pockets until I bought this pattern and gave it a try.  Funny that both this and my other new pattern for the the Moneta dress both have these same pockets.  Love, love. 

I am excited that given this shorter length I will be able to wear this into fall and winter with skinny jeans, boots and a cardigan.  I actually think that the shorter lenght works better for my (apple) body shape- showing a little leg is much more flattering for me.  Maybe the cheapness on my part in only buying two yards worked in my favor and will help redeem this pattern for me after all!

Jersey Staple Dress

Ok, so I picked up a print pattern copy of the Staple Dress by April Rhodes on a recent trip to Toronto…from The Workroom (love that store!)  I had been thinking about this pattern for a long time after seeing so many versions of it in the blogosphere since it was released.  So even though I may be late on the bandwagon I finally gave in and picked up a copy.

I really prefer purchasing print patterns rather than downloading the pdf but given the lack of any real great independent fabric shop in the Buffalo area I usually have to download- unless I visit a major city- boo.  Anyways, the pattern was purchased and since then I have made 4 versions- yikes.  Each time I attempted a different fabric choice to see what works best for me.  I kept wanting to try again to make me love it- but not sure if I still do.  I guess I will see once the weather changes and I can style them with boots and cardigans.  I am sure they will be great when I go back to work in the fall, just not sure if they are the greatest silhouette for my body as is.

So, here is actually my fourth version…but my first to blog about.  Using less than 2 yards of leftover Blue Denim Heather Jersey from Girlcharlee.com I sewed this up last night.  I used a light blue store bought bias tape, and made the pockets out of a scrap of mustard/cream fabric.  I have never used a woven bias tape on a knit fabric before but I think it worked out great and provided some stability to the neckline and armholes.  Unfortunately I did not adjust for the stretch of the jersey and should have sized down a size in the pattern for this fabric.  This is particularly a problem for the armholes- I apologize for the glimpses of my bra in some of these pictures- the armholes are HUGE!  Not sure I will be wearing this much until I can throw on a cardigan.  Or just don’t raise up my arms.  That’s practical right?  I am thinking I might do a post in a few months on how I style all of these summer dresses when the season changes- I am already excited about it!

 

I love how this is paired with a wide belt, the ruching on the waist doesn’t really provide enough structure or definition for me but it is super comfy.  I chose to make the drop hem version, and simply serged the hemline.  This is my favorite finish on a light jersey like this, plus I really hate hemming knits so it is a win-win.  Easy and fast as long as you have a matching thread color!

 

 

I really want to love this pattern, it fits well, is super comfortable and easy but not the best for flattering my shape.  I’ve tried it in a heavier denim fabric, a lighweight printed linen/cotton, a voile and now a jersey.  My favorite version by far is the shortened voile version I made…I’ll try to blog it soon!