Hurray!!! Finals are over and my spring semester is done!!! Boy am I looking forward to a break...free from homework for a month (until summer classes start) and free time to sew, blog, then sew and blog some more:)
Now that I have a break for awhile I can finally attack the pile of fabrics in my sewing cabinet! I can assure you that throughout the next couple of months you will be seeing a number of the things I now have time to sew. However, since I have not hit that point yet I thought I would share this charming dress with you all today that I was able to whip up during my last two lab days of my Soft Textiles sewing class at college!
Now, before I talk about how much I LOVE this dress I had to share a little of my experiences from taking this class. First, as I have mentioned before I took a sewing class this semester at college (the first of a few that are required) it was AMAZING. Now, for those of you who know (and those that do not) I have been an avid sewer since I was around 12 years old. Granted, I am not the best by far for I have seen some of the projects some of you talented bloggers create, but for me sewing is a passion and something that comes naturally.
While I find it always seems to be mindless work and I consider it my "happy place," to some people sewing is totally confusing and difficult. Thus, when you go to lab your first day of sewing class you come to find just how naturally sewing somehow seems to come for you compared to other students in your class, especially when you finish the assignment and look up to see everyone else still threading there machines!
For our final project we each had different assignments depending on our degrees. Mine was to make a sample notebook (I really wanted to make a dress). However, since I finished my required assignment early, I decided to whip up this fun wrap dress that I made from a McCalls Archive Collection M7087 reproduction of a 1960's Vintage pattern. The original dress was fashioned to have tow rows of buttons down the front with a belt, however I was inspired to redesign the pattern and make it into a 1940's style wrap dress (which proved successful).
Now, while one of my favorite parts about this dress is the fabric. I actually made this dress out of an old sheet!! Yes, an old sheet, which I will be doing more of:) Old sheets work great for making dresses because they are excellent quality, have more width than regular fabric, are cheeper (if you get them thrifted), and come in unique prints. Which leads me to another favorite part of the dress....the print and colors. I must say this dress is my inspiration for spring, from all of the colors to the many flowers variartions!! Thanks to this dress I am really loving Lavender!
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| Can you see the cute orange snail?:) |
Another reason I love making my own dresses, is because I can tailor them for my size! This dress in particular has darts in the front and back which really give it a tailored look as well as a wonderful fit on me:)
And apart from the overall success of this project and the many things I love about it, this dress is extremely versitile! It can be worn with sandals as a casual spring/summer dress or you can slip into a pair of heels and have it ready to wear to church. Besides the shoes that change its over all look, you could also throw on a simple sweater or a colored short sleeve cardigan and change the look once again. Needless to say, this dress will be getting a lot of wear for awhile and I might just have to make a sister dress for it?
Thanks to my sister for taking these pictures for me. She insisted I put a few pictures of her in this post, so
here is my younger sister Taylor (oh, and her Dauchshund Toby!
As you can tell we have a lot in common fashion wise! LOL! No, we are not alike at all but we are best friends and she is awesome!! According to Taylor she needs to be featured in more posts so you might see her face again??
Does sewing come naturally to you?
What is one of your recent projects?
Have you ever sewn using sheets?
Do you have a pile of fabric waiting to be sewn?
I use sheets all the time! I'm always on the hunt for cheap sources of fabric, and I first used a sheet as the back of a quilt. Then I next used a sheet and some lace curtains to make one of my first dresses! I trimmed it with some beads from an old necklace I found at the same thrift store. I like re-using fabric; it's more of a challenge!
ReplyDeleteI ADORE this dress! I really want a wrap dress; they look so easy and wearable! How did you draft the front to turn it into a wrap dress? I think I could try to figure it out with a few rounds of trial and error... or I could ask you. :) Yours looks fantastic!
Yay! So happy to hear about your use of sheets:) I would definitely suggest a wrap dress! They are super easy and fun to make. The patter I used was actually McCall's M7087 from The Archive Collection and the alterations were fairly simple. The dress technically was already a wrap style dress it just had a lot of buttons down the front, so drafting it to wrap and tie was super easy.
Delete-Madison
SO adorable! I love *everything* about that dress! I can't wait to see how you style it in future :) And I must say, being the lipstick lover that I am, that shade looks simply dashing on you! Might I ask what brand & color it is?
ReplyDeletexoxo,
-Charlotte
boyerfamilysingersbloc.com
Thank you Charlotte. I totally love that shade of lipstick too (it is a new one). The brand is Rimmell London " Lasting Finish by Kate" color 110. It is a drugstore brand I picked up at Walgreens.
DeleteSuch a nice, adorable dress! Great job! It looks great on you! How fun! And I love your adorable sister and the dog! Dogs are always an awesome addition to any post! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I will have to tell my sister about your sweet comment:)
Delete-Madison
Yes. To all of your questions. Well. . . I suppose sewing didn't come completely naturally, but it seemed to click pretty quickly. I have sewn several things out of thrifted sheets. One thing I recently started doing with them is using cream or white sheets in the place of muslin. It is usually cheaper than new muslin, and I can use it as lining or underlining too.
ReplyDeleteOne of my most recent sewing project is a dress that I made from some fabric that I was finally able to convince myself to purchase. I used a Butterick vintage reproduction pattern and I am actually really pleased with how it turned out. I posted about it on my blog if you want to read all the delicious details. :)
Your dress is quite lovely. Really and truly. I am quite envious of your photo taking skills. I am trying to get better at taking/editing pictures. I also have a younger sister who I am able to convince to take pictures. She doesn't mind. Especially since I manage to make something for her pretty regularly.
Great idea about the lining! I went and checked out your recent project and I love that fabric...so perfect for spring.:)
Delete-Madison
That dress is so pretty - the floral pattern is just so colorful and summery! I got my first sewing machine for Christmas, and I have to say I fall into the category of those who are absolutely befuddled by sewing machines. One of these days I'm going to take a weekend to actually watch the dvd that came with it so that I can learn a little bit more about how to use it, and maybe then I won't feel so intimidated!
ReplyDelete- Katie Forsyth, themodestheart.blogspot.com
Oh yay, a sewing machine!!! Definitely take the time to get familiar with how it works and feel comfortable with working it, but I am sure in no time you will be making some marvelous creations:)
Delete-Madison
The fit of your dress is impeccable Madison! And the print is so fun and spring-y! I would definitely say that sewing comes naturally to me. :D I started sewing when I was about 8, and ever since the curiosity as to how something is made has kept me going.
ReplyDeleteHa! A pile of fabric? Um... YES! I have way too many fabrics waiting for me to be able to sew in a year... speaking of which, I'd better sign off and get sewing right now. :)
Blessings,
Brigid
the Middle Sister and Singer
I have definitely noticed your love of sewing and impeccable talent in the field! Oh my, by all means sign off and start sewing through your like:)
Delete-Madison
Enchantingly beautiful photos and that dress, my word, what a lovely warm weather creation!
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
Sheets are all day everyday for me! Well not really but I do sew with them 90% of the time. And it's even better when they're picked up at half off day when we're at the thrift store! Your dress is adorable, the print is darling, I am a big fan of flowers :) The fit is lovely too!
ReplyDelete~Theresa
Sheets are awesome! Glad to hear you use them too:)
Delete-Madison
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ReplyDeletehttps://www.kisiri.co.za/homecoming-dresses-320
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