Pivot and Turn

One of the things I realized during my trip out west is that I can sew dresses again, just very casually. I need to turn from the look I use to wear - dresses that were structured and made with tailored type fabrics using pearl accessories and pivot towards a looser more casual and funkier look.

Gaylen was wearing this Lola dress that she had modified and sewn in ponte. I loved it!

Of course it made me want one especially after checking out the princess seamed bodice, empire waist and seaming in the skirt of the dress. Gaylen omitted the bands, the pockets the little v at the neckline and she lengthened it. She wears it with a cardigan and/or scarves. It was perfect for the spring-like days in Seattle and it will work for me for spring in NYC.

She let me trace her pattern, cause y'all know I hate PDF's, and I omitted some of her adjustments to make it fit me better. Although I had to make 3 renditions to get short sleeves that would fit my bodacious biceps. It's a really skinny sleeve pattern! I did this Sunday evening while Gaylen and I watched the Red Carpet for the Academy Awards. 

There were two other dress patterns that really inspired me during the weekend.  One was this SEWN dress pattern.

It's called the Go Anywhere Dress and I found it at Pacific Fabrics SODO. I like the seaming on the pattern front and back and the pockets, though I have an idea about them that I'm going to try. I will use one of the linens I bought from Marcy for this and I will probably also make the tunic top in a ponte. Once I've finished the unselfish sewing for the granddaughter, I'm moving into spring sewing for me.

Then at the Marcy Tilton fashion show, I saw this dress by Katherine Tilton made up. I'd overlooked this Butterick pattern before but in the soft linen they showed, I knew I wanted it! Interestingly enough Niema had the pattern and no longer wanted it, so she gifted it to me.

So these are on my list for spring sewing! I'm actually quite excited now because I have a few more toppers I want to make, a vest and now these dresses. I think I've finally pivoted and turned and am finding my way!  Thank goodness!

...as always more later!