MTL: Rally the Loops...

Minus the loops.

As usual, when I saw the Sew Weekly Make This Look feature a few months ago, I wanted to make the featured dress.  This time, it was the Rally the Loops Dress.

I ran out and picked up the pattern and fabric.  I wasn't really sure how I was going to do the pockets, but I was so eager to start on the dress that I really didn't even want to think about it.  By the time I got to the pockets, I decided to just do them as they were shown on the pattern.

Fabric: Tan and black synthetic blend

Pattern: Simplicity 2588

Notions: Zipper

The good thing about the design, was that I could just do the basic pattern with the smaller neckline.  I omitted the optional side tabs and went with the full skirt.  I just cut out some extra black fabric to make the black bow, that I then stitched to the front neckline.

This dress is the first of my Fall palette challenge.  I didn't put a little montage together like I did the Colette Spring challenge, but I picked out my fabrics and have pulled aside potential patterns.  Overall I hope to make:

- 3 dresses

- 1 skirt

- 1 blouse

- 1 jacket/capelet

Possibly: 1 pair of pants (Clover)

Oh, and this was Day 18 of Self-Stitched September.

Sew Weekly Inspiration

This next dress was inspired by two different areas on the Sew Weekly page.  The first, and what initially piqued my interest was the Make This Look for the Day After Day Dress. I loved the red and white polka dot fabric (which I happened to have on hand from one of my sale runs at my fabric store), and the white piping.

Second, was the unique back on the pattern they suggested, Simplicity 2180.

Back of Simplicity 2180

The open back design normally would not appeal to me.  I'm not overly modest about that stuff, but really,  how do you wear your bra? Well, I was on the fence and thinking about doing their 'normal' back, but then I stumbled upon Sew Weekly contributor Adey Lim's Plain Sailing Dress.  She used a vintage pattern that had some questionable artwork, and made this gorgeous, open-backed dress.

How cute is the back of this dress?

So, I did it.

And, I love it! 

 

Fabric: Red and white polka dot cotton print.
Pattern: Simplicity 2180, Version A.
Notions: Invisible zipper, white piping.

It's another fun summer dress to add to my collection.  Seriously, I don't know how Fall is going to compete.  I've had so much fun sewing all of these summery dresses.  And wearing a design with an open-back is so much more feasible in this wonderful summer weather.

Have you ever made a dress that had a questionable design to it, that you then ended up loving? Or still wasn't sold on even after the fact?

MTL: Lemonade at Lunch Dress

The online sewing community, Sew Weekly, has recently added a new feature called 'Make This Look.'  Every day during the week they post a store-bought garment and how you can replicate the look yourself.  A few in particular were drool-worthy to me, one being the Lemonade at Lunch dress from Modcloth.

I didn't end up following the recommendations exactly.  If possible, I wanted to use an existing pattern I owned (just to keep the dress on the inexpensive side - it would already be cheaper but I wanted to see how many pennies I could save).  I did purchase their recommended top print from Fabric.com.  I think I snatched up the last yard of it from the site.  I picked up the cotton broadcloth from my local fabric store.

To be thorough, I'm going to try doing a format similar to the Sew Weekly to keep my details together and easy to find.

Fabric: Bryant Park Blooms (Fabric.com). Used about 1 yard.
Navy Blue Cotton Broadcloth. Used about 2.5 yards
Red Cotton Broadcloth. Used about half a yard.
Pattern: Butterick 4443. I previously made my yellow eyelet dress with this pattern.
Notions: Invisible zipper.

Major differences between my version and the recommendation from Sew Weekly are the neckline shape and the gathering at the waist.  I went with the v-neck instead of the tank top, but that was mainly because I was using an existing pattern.  Also, my skirt doesn't have the gathering at the waist.  I like the way it turned out, but I wouldn't be opposed to having a version that was more full/gathered at the waistband.  Maybe one day I'll switch it out just to mix things up, but I really like the way it turned out.

Here's the original inspiration board from Sew Weekly:

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