Another Dress...

I know I'm suppose to be working on a jacket.  I know this!  But somehow when this lovely piece of fabric arrived in the mail on Saturday:

It begged to be sewn up right then and there...no hanging out on the couch...no hanging out in the fabric closet waiting it's turn to be made up.  No it demanded to be sewn last weekend.  So that fabric plus this inspiration picture:

Became this:

First I need to thank Nancy Erickson for such wonderful customer service.  I saw the fabric on her site, The Fashion Sewing Group, and sent her an email late (and I mean late!) Tuesday evening.  She responded in like 15 minutes.  We then traded a couple more emails during the day on Wednesday (which took longer than needed because I was at work and not that attentative to my fabric needs) and Thursday the fabric was winging it's way to me.

Some stats:

Pattern:
TNT Dress Pattern

Fabric:
2 yards of an acrylic/wool blend

Notions:
black ambiance rayon lining
22" black invisible zipper
3 yards 3" black lace
3 yards black trim

Construction:
The most important thing was to get the plaids to match up on such a short piece.  I ordered two yards and probably should have ordered 2.5.  I just hate all the extra that's left over when I do that.  So, it was make it work time...with some careful cutting and plaid matching, I got the main dress pieces out of the fabric.  I was happy that there was enough fabric left to make the sleeves the length I like, as well as cut the pockets on the bias ala the MK inspiration dress.

The fabric is really soft and ravelly.  Not only were all the seams serge finished but the shoulder seams were sewn with a some seam tape to help stabilize them.

Fusible knit interfacing was added to the center back seam allowances so that the fabric there would be stable for the invisible zipper insertion.

And I added a black trim to the pockets and sleeve hems...ala Nancy.  

When Nancy was corresponding with me...she graciously sent me a picture of the dress she made with this fabric and the accompanying article.

I "borrowed" the pocket pattern from the Vogue jacket I just cut out and placed them lower than normal on the front of the dress ala the MK inspiration dress.

All of the trim was handstitched to the pockets and sleeve hems and the entire dress is lined except for the sleeves.  Of course, there is a little lace on the hem of the dress lining...

...wouldn't be my dress if it wasn't there! *smile*

One more view of the front...

...and a back view.

I know I should have been working on my jacket and I have no idea when I'm going to wear this dress since it's so darn cold here now...as well as snowy! *sigh*  But it was fun to make and it's one more idea crossed off my "To Be Sewn" list!

Finally a parting shot:

Whenever a camera appears, The Little Prince needs to be in the midst of the action!  His favorite word besides NO! is cheese...*LOL*  Just ignore the way he's dressed...my daughter said she couldn't get him out of the shorts and it just wasn't worth the effort!

...more later!