Vogue 1395: The Meat Dinner Dress

Every year, Michael's family has two fancy-pants dinners together where we all go to a nice restaurant and eat (way too much), drink and be merry. They are generally scheduled around birthdays - one in April, one in October. The one this October was last night at San Telmo, an Argentinian restaurant here in Melbourne. It was a meat-fest and I woke up craving some crisp greens and tomatoes. Michael suggested we have lamb chops for dinner tonight and is still laughing at the filthy look I gave him. I like meat (love a good quality rare steak), but not to that extent - I have reduced my intake of red meat drastically in the last year and feel much healthier for it.

Anyway, I decided to make a dress to wear - I'm a bit sick of the good old sack at the moment, and feel like some waist definition. I decided I would sew a new pattern - one of the Rebecca Taylor for Vogue ones - V1395.

This is a fairly basic dress made less basic by the addition of a back overlay that extends into the ties at the waist. I was intrigued after seeing Morgan's Bee Version. Morgan is one of my favourite bloggers. I decided to use my rather precious length of rayon from Darn Cheap Fabrics that I bought after Jenny made this top out of it. The fabric is lush, but was horrible to sew for this dress. Narrow hems and slinky rayon were not made for each other and I had to unpick a lot. Luckily I made this when Little M was out, as she would now have a lot of very choice swear words in her vocabulary too. This is what I ended up with:

I made some adjustments after a muslin. I had to take 3.5cm out of each shoulder seam, beginning at the neck edge. I then added 3cm to the length of the bodice, and 5cm to the skirt length.

In these photos, the neckline looks way too high, and I admit for the first two hours I wore it, it annoyed the living daylights out of me. Magically though, after those 2 hours, it somehow settled in place and sits about 2cm lower - which is where I wanted it. I wonder what happened? So weird.

My wings. That is the back overlay being extended out, which you then tie in front (obviously). I found I had to cinch it in pretty firmly, otherwise I looked a little pregnant (which I'm not).

That's a pretty awesome tan line happening there!! I accidentally got burnt at Phillip Island last weekend. I am usually so anal about being sunsmart. 

While I didn't completely enjoy making this dress, I really enjoyed sewing something different and something that wasn't a sack. I'm not ruling out future sacks, but I don't reach for them as I used to. Maybe when summer properly hits I will.

I'm currently making a dress to wear to my sister's professional ball in two weeks. I have barely started - I have no sewjo!!! What are you sewing?

Vogue 8805 Revisited

I like to get good value out of sewing patterns, and have no issue sewing the same thing more than once. How do you feel about that? My reasoning follows that:

• If I like the style, or if the style looks good on me, I could probably do with more than one in my wardrobe;
• Patterns are expensive and I want to get my money worth; and
• If I take the time to fit and tweak a pattern so it fits me nicely I  will probably want to revisit it. 

The Vogue 8805 dress I have to show you today didn't really require that much tweaking - I just lowered the neckline by 2cm, but I did love my last version, and I've decided that this summer is the Summer of the Shift Dress.

I was also spurned on as I had a small remnant of the grey crinkle linen from Tessuti (sorry, I couldn't find it on their website) that was too small for really anything. I thought about making something for Little M out of it, but didn't think grey was her colour. 

Grey isn't really my colour either, but teamed up with this coral linen bought at Joy's Fabric Store in Geelong, I think I can do it. That coral is divine and this linen is a truly beautiful quality. It is heavy-ish but still really soft.

I wore it to work last week on one of the really hot days with my Elk wedges, Elk necklace and Elk matching earrings. Can you tell I love Elk?

This is the size 12 - the same size I sewed last year. It is looser on me now - Michael thinks I should have graded down a size through the body (the shoulders are perfect at a 12). What do you think? I'm pretty happy with it as it is, but I'm coming to realise I like quite a lot of ease in my clothes.

Back view. I really like the colour combo! I especially like that I have only used two colours on this one. So… there is my V8805.

In other news, me, Leith, Anna, and Lara are going to Sewjourn this weekend! To say I am excited is an understatement. A whole weekend of sewing, sewing-related talking, good food, and excellent friends. I need a bit of a weekend away. Life has been very hectic of late and my health is pretty poor.

Finally, my Mum and Dad visited this past weekend. On Saturday we headed into town to see the Myer Christmas windows and so that Mum could take me fabric shopping as my Christmas gift. We went to Tessuti - pictures to follow soon. We went to lunch in Federation Square where they had a maze of Christmas trees - my little babe was in heaven. The sun was shining and we all chased her round and round the maze. I took a breather on a mat while she kept going - her energy levels amaze me!!!!!!!!

Vogue 1314

Well, Leith did it again - she made a dress that I simply had to have once seeing it. This is a tricky decision - given we are mates and go out together socially it can present a situation in which we are both wearing the same thing. The thing is, I wore this dress for the first time out to dinner with Leith, Anna, and Lara at Hellenic Republic last weekend and Leith and I were wearing the same dress. In different fabrics, but still the same dress.

But I had to do it. I had to make Vogue 1314:

I made it in a lovely soft knit (I think it is a viscose knit) that Anna gifted me. Thank you Anna! I love this fabric.

I made the size 10 and then nipped it an extra 2cm in total along the waist area on the sides. This pattern runs big - so take note - if you make it, you'll need to size down.

I did also shorten the dress by about 5cm because I had very limited fabric. But I like this length. I think just above the knee suits me.

Apart from that, the pattern came together beautifully. The neckline doesn't gape, the sleeves are a good length. The pattern asks you to secure the gathers along the side seams with seam binding - I used rayon seam binding that I bought yonks ago after poppykettle raved about it. I love this stuff too - it is nice and soft and looks very pretty too. I got mine from etsy.

I feel like this style is a bit of a change for me, but I really like it. I feel quite grown up with a more fitted style! This dress is very comfortable too - I'll definitely be making it again, especially as I really lack winter dresses.

These photos were taken on a gloriously sunny day this week - Anna kindly came over and photographed the clothes I've made recently. I've been having such issues getting photos taken (despite having a camera/photography mad husband), so Anna was a complete lifesaver. Plus we got to have a lovely lunch together and Little M showed off beautifully being her most charming self for her new friend Anna. Anna - she hasn't stopped talking about you all week! 'When will we see my Anna again Mummy' has been her favourite question.

Well, I'm off the cut out a muslin for the fitting class I'm doing next weekend with Leith. Then I'm cutting out the muslin for an Anise jacket - there are soooo many pattern pieces - not looking forward to this!

Rebecca Taylor for Vogue 1344 - A Flouncy Little Frock

I decided to branch out recently and get some patterns that were slightly different to my usual style. Maybe I was feeling a little thoughtful, like the model of the pattern of my new frock - Vogue 1344, by Rebecca Taylor?

Isn't that pose just hilarious?

Anyway, you can't really see it in the above photo, but this a dress with a front flounce, elasticised waist, cross-over bodice and contrast sleeve cuffs.

I made it in a Liberty Tana Lawn, with cotton voile from Tessuti. It is lined in black silk-cotton, also from Tessuti.

It is probably a bit late in the season to be making a cotton frock, but I had intended to wear this to Little M's second birthday party on the 13th April. Michael convinced me it is probably going to be a little too cool for it, so it is getting worn now.

The pattern comes together well. I cut a straight size 12 and did nothing to it. Not even lengthen it. The only gripe I have with it is that I have to safety-pin the bodice closed - it is an absolute cleavage fest if I don't. I made the belt to go with it - used the same voile as the sleeve cuffs and simply interfaced it heavily. It closes with two hooks and eyes. I thought it looked a bit weird without the black belt to tie it all in together.

Look at that flounce flying around in the wind.

I really recommend this pattern - it is simple enough to sew, and doesn't require fitting given its elasticised nature. You definitely need to use a light fabric though - think lawn, voile or silk. There are a lot of tucks/pleats in the bodice and the flounce needs to be soft and light to drape properly.

So, there we have it. A cute little frock to end Melbourne's hot weather on. I am now working like a gun to finish my Sewcie Tea dress and a dress to wear to Little M's party. Luckily I finished Little M's dress and leggings a while back.

Vintage Vogue 7164: Dress #2 for the Sydney Sewing Social

Way back in December 2010 Lisa posted her Christmas Party Dress, Vintage Vogue 7164.

Well, I've been trying to source that pattern since then. I almost had it once but got out-bought on Etsy. So annoying. Finally I just buckled and emailed Lisa to borrow her copy. I should have done that in the first place. Colette also had a copy, so when she sent my pattern testing stuff, she sent me the pattern! Yay!

I mentioned earlier that I bought some beautiful Italian printed linen in Brisbane. I decided it would be perfect for this shift dress. So I made it specifically for the Sydney Sewing Social, knowing I'd want to be comfy, and that it would most likely be hot and humid.

What do you think? It is a bit different from my usual style I think. Or maybe not? Linen seems to make up the majority of my wardrobe.....

I originally had my on black wedges, new black dinosaur designs earrings and bangle, and a black bag, but I couldn't hack walking in those wedges anymore. Luckily I came prepared.

Leith took these photos en route from our hotel to the meet-up at Tessuti. I have to say at this stage we'd been on the go since 6.10am (I blame our early-rising children for this), and I was feeling a little bit peakish. But I came good after a salad for lunch and some Gin and Tonics a bit later that afternoon.

I really have to learn not to (a) slouch and (b) not stick my gut out when posing for side-on photos. 

I made two changes:

1. I lowered the armholes by 3cm and
2. I lowered the neckline by 3cm. 

I underlined this dress in a very light lawn from Spotlight. The pattern calls for this, and I was very undecided but Lisa told me she hadn't but thought it needed it as linen can be sheer. I'm really glad I did. 

This dress stood up to a breakfast out, a lot of walking, a lot of fabric and other shopping, drinks at the Clock Hotel and dinner at Bill Granger's restaurant. I think it performed well. It was really comfortable and I felt quite chic - I think because the shift dress shape is a chic one (and I was channelling those very cool line drawings on the pattern envelope) - what do you think? 

Vogue DKNY and Sydney Sewers' Meet-Up

Hi! Thanks for all your lovely comments on my Valerie top - I hope you've started sewing yours!

This post is twofold - the first is to talk about Leith's and my upcoming trip to Sydney and the second is to show you my new Vogue 1027 - the DKNY faux-wrap dress (that I've made before).

Leith and I are going to Sydney for a sewing meet-up that Christy has organised. We arrive on Friday the 8th of February and the meet-up is scheduled for the next day. Here are the details:

When: Saturday 9th February
Time: 1pm
Where: Tessuti Fabrics Surry Hills, then to The Fabric Store.

There is some discussion regarding whether people want to go The Remnant Warehouse before 1pm -- I am VERY keen.

So - who can meet us? It is so exciting to be going to an interstate sewers' meet-up!

Next up I have my new Vogue 1027 DKNY dress to show you.

You'll probably remember that I've made this before. Well, I wore my other three versions to death during my pregnancy. They were very stretched out so I put them in the Vinnie's bin during a major clean-out I had over my holidays.

For this version, I used a cotton jesry (hehehe Leith!) by Liberty. It is 95% cotton and 5% elastane. The cotton jersey is a lot lighter than viscose jersey and perfect for this type of dress as it doesn't sag and stretch out as much.

My only alteration to the size 8 was to overlap the front bodice pieces more - if I don't do this I show a whole bunch of bony cleavage (the only bony part on me!), which just isn't attractive. Plus I want to be able to wear this to work.

I love this dress - check out the twirly skirt! Little M loved my twirling and joined in the fun.

I'm busy sewing the two frocks I want to take to Sydney -- hope some of you out there will be able to join us!

Vogue 8723: The Fully-Skirted Frock

Earlier this year Lisa from Tessuti posted her amazing 40th birthday party dress. I knew when I saw it that I wanted my own to wear to the wedding in New Zealand that we went to in September. Lisa has the most amazing sartorial taste.

So I armed myself with just under 2m of 'Toffee Drops' - a satin taffeta from Tessuti, some lining fabric and Vogue 8723:

I completely forgot to get photos of myself in NZ though. Luckily however, my father-in-law's 70th birthday dinner was at Cutler & Co. on Saturday night (also our wedding anniversary), so Michael and I got dolled up and went out sans-child.

What can I say? I didn't have to make any adjustments except add 10cm in length to the skirt. I made a size 12 with an A-cup (this is one of those convenient custom fit cup size patterns). I did muslin the pattern first in a cotton.

I love the neckline of this dress. I think it frames my broad shoulders nicely.

We went for a pre-dinner gin and tonic. Yum. The food at Cutler & Co. was delicious too, and I had a lot of fun dressing up and not getting Little M's paw prints all over my fancy dress! We didn't get home until midnight though - I have to say that since becoming a Mama I have no stamina for late nights at all. I was sooooo tired on Sunday!

V8805: Colour-Blocked Dress & Yesterday's Meet-Up

We had such a fun day yesterday! We met at The Fabric Store and the Alannah Hill clearance outlet, bought some fabric, then went to the Little Creatures Beer Hall and drank some beer (or cider or champagne) and ate some chips and pizza.

Eight of us met, but by the end only 5 of us remained.... me, Lara (Thornberry), Anna (blogless Anna), Leith (Sew Brunswick) and Steph (Orchids in May).

It is so wonderful to go fabric shopping with other sewers. I recently bought an overlocker, and as I have not sewn much with knits, was able to tap into Leith's experience with knits to choose the perfect jersey. I also quizzed Steph on whether a fabric was silk or a good poly at the Alannah Hill outlet. It is also really cool to see people's garments in person and see how they move and drape - so much better than a blog photo!

Plus how fun is it to chat and have a few drinks with just women! I love it (no offence to Michael of course). I finished sewing the dress in the above photo at 11.55am - I had to leave at 12.15 to make it on time! It is made in a Liberty print and is a maxi dress - but I forgot to get photos, so my post on that will have to wait.

I also went out for dinner on Friday night with my mothers' group - again a wonderful night with fantastic women. I wore my newly finished Vogue 8805 - the colour-blocked dress that has exploded in the blogisphere.

I was so extremely tired... Little M is getting more teeth

I made it in linens, all from Tessuti. I love the printed linen on the bottom -  it is so lush.

I made a size 12 with no alterations except for lengthening it 6cm. It hangs nicely and is comfy.... but is not quite as sack-like as I imagined - do you think I needed to go bigger?

I don't really have much to say about this dress. It comes together very easily - I think it would have been a few hours including hand stitching. I made some facings for the neck as I didn't want visible stitching that would be created from using the binding the pattern suggested. I hand stitched the sleeves and hem so the topstitching on the neckline would have been out of place.

We're planning another meet-up soon, with a fabric and pattern swap. Who is keen? I am!!

Metallic Linen - I Love You - V8721

It has been over a month since I last posted! And I am very behind in commenting on everyone's blogs too - but I have been reading and enjoying everyone's projects. So much has been happening ... Michael has been away a lot, Little M is running around everywhere, I've been working, and I've been sick constantly with chronic sinusitis. Yuck.

I have however completed my metallic linen V8721 jacket. I feel very glam in this jacket. It isn't really suitable to wear in Melbourne at the moment, but I had a girls' weekend at the Sunshine Coast in Queensland two weeks ago with my mum and sisters and I wore it to dinner then.

As I mentioned in my last post, the fabric is a lurex-coated metallic linen that has been enzyme washed from Tessuti Fabrics.

So.... I don't really have anything to add from the Rasberry Linen version of this jacket. I did however taper in the side seams a smidge - effectively taking the jacket in approximately 2cm on each side. I think this fit is better and more flattering than the Rasberry Linen.

Little M was being very naughty and trying to stand up in her swing - too adventurous!  

I taped the roll line on the collar again, and added slim shoulder pads too. I actually had to trim these shoulder pads - they were a little bit too long.

What do you think? Can I 'do' the whole metallic jacket trend?

The only real thing I have to add here is about working with a fabric that is lurex coated. Firstly, when I pre-washed the fabric, I did it by hand, and very gently. Usually I just bung fabric in the washing machine for pre-washing. Second, while this fabric is a linen, I couldn't have my iron on the linen setting in case I melted the metal fibres. So I had the iron on the 'wool' setting and used one of Michael's hankies (clean of course! :-) as an ironing cloth.

This seemed to work well - I was so paranoid about wrecking my lovely fabric. I really recommend this gorgeous fabric - it is a heavy linen, and so easy to stitch together. For the lining I used a coordinating viscose lining -- I forgot to get photos of the lining, but there is nothing new from the last one!

I also made little M a pair of Rae's Big Butt Baby Pants. These pants are designed to fit a nappy underneath - they have an 'insert' in the bum area - sort of like a triangle. I made them from a scrap from my Rasberry Linen jacket and a 0.5m remnant of cotton seersucker from The Fabric Store. It really is too cool to wear them at the moment, so she is wearing some leggings underneath to keep her beautiful chunky little legs warm. I'm really happy with the pants and have a few more pairs planned.

Doesn't she look so sweet?

I'm making another pair of pants for myself at present - what are you all making?

Rasberry Linen Jacket: V8721

Do you all read Erica B's blog? She's pretty inspirational - her sewing is amazing. Recently I saw her version of Vogue 8721 in hot pink linen, and immediately wanted one. But I wanted a metallic-y one... so I took myself of to Tessuti and bought the most amazing lurex-coated linen that has been enzyme washed. 

Before I cut into my precious metallic linen though, I wanted to make the jacket to check the fit and make sure it looked ok with the tailoring changes I made. So I bought some linen from The Fabric Store that was on sale, and made a 'test' version - that I fully intend to wear!

First I cut a medium, then quickly did a calico version with just the main front and back pieces. It was much too big for me, so I cut my fashion fabric as a small, grading to a medium at the shoulders only. I have quite broad shoulders.

The only changes I made - which aren't really changes, more like additions - were to tape the roll line and add slim shoulder pads. My first time using shoulder pads! It was very easy - I used a tutorial found on Casey's blog.

I love this jacket - and it was simple to sew. As Erica B said too, it is a boxy style, so there is no need for millions of muslins.

I don't know why the lining looks so puckery there, it doesn't in real-life. The only part I don't like is that on one side (see the top picture), I've got a bit of a lump where the top of the jacket hits the middle bit. I think I mustn't have trimmed it enough... so I'm going to unpick it and have a look at it tonight.

So.. what do you think? Should I go ahead and make it in my lovely lurex metallic linen?

P.S. - thank you for the b'day wishes on my last post - still can't believe she's one!

P.P.S. - work is going well, though Michael is away overseas - went to America for a week, came back for four days and has now left today for Italy for two weeks. Doing everything by myself while working is verrrry exhausting. I ended up with a stomach bug and mastitis again - which began on the day Michael arrived home last week! Send energy thoughts my way please!!