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.

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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