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Friday, July 17, 2020

Long V-Neck Maxi Dress

I follow Lafayette 148 on Instagram and this picture appeared in their feed. It immediately checked off all of my new work from home wardrobe requirements. It's loose-fitting, flowy, easy to wear and maxi length...wfh gold! 

On the days when I don't have any Zoom meetings, I just want to throw on something long and flowy to work in while sitting in front of my computer.  


If we go back to our offices in NYC, it will be in the fall. I won't need summer clothing at all. So I'm adjusting what I'm sewing again. May I state one more time - I don't really like wearing pants. I wear jeans in the winter because I don't want to be cold but if I lived in a more temperate climate, I would wear dresses and skirts ALL.THE.TIME!


To get this look I started with New Look 6340 which I've made several times. One of the things I want to do during this season is reuse some of the patterns that have been successful for me. I know we tend to be one time pattern users in the sewing community but I love a good TNT pattern. I just won't discuss my thoughts on how the one-use practice is pushed upon us by the Big 4.

Now my previous versions all used a different neckline. But luckily for me, there is a v-neck option in the pattern...so the only pattern alterations I needed to make were for length.


Okay I added a little more space to the side seams for more drama...

This maxi is made using a piece of mid-weight polyester print purchased from Fabric Mart back in the 1990's for $1 a yard. It means that this deep stash piece is about 30 years old. Also, I bought this in three colors. I gave two pieces away and this is the only one that remained in the collection. Guess it was time for it to be used!

I added an invisible zipper to the back of the dress to make it easier to step into it instead of pulling it over my head. A strip of interfacing was added to the back seams to stabilize the fabric before inserting the zipper. There is also navy blue piping added to the neckline of the dress...needed to bind that busy print off a little. The side seam pockets were also omitted.

Since this is a wearable muslin, I pressed, turned under and stitched the underarms. For my next version I will use bias binding to finish the armholes. 

A Few Pictures ~





As I said this is a wearable muslin because I needed to work a few construction and pattern alterations out. 

For my next version ~
o  I will lower the underarm seam. I traced the wrong seam line when making this version.
o  Remove some of the width of the dress below the hipline to the hemline so the pattern pieces will fit easily onto a piece of fabric without having to do a wedge insert. What I did to make the hemline work on this version.
o  A 1/2" will be added to the upper center back to give it a little more room.
o  1/4" was added to the front below the v-neckline. The bodice while wearable is tight.
o  Also removed 2" from the hemline because it was way too long.  

I would like to make 2-3 more of these because I love the comfort factor. This dress will work well in my present work from home wardrobe. If you have a copy of this pattern in your stash, I highly encourage you to pull it out and use it! 

...as always more later


  


25 comments:

  1. Lovely dress - I checked your other iterations and you have made some beautiful versions. I'm with you on reusing patterns rather than relentlessly moving onto others.

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  2. Looks great on you....the piping around the neckline is a nice finishing touch. I like your previous versions too, particularly the denim one. I have this pattern, so will give it a try. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  3. Love that color material, and the dress looks great on you. I love the effect of piping, and I am trying it myself but haven't got it right yet, it is so fiddly to do.

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    1. jennede - I wrote a blog post about adding piping to garments: https://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.com/search?q=piping+technique

      Hopefully that will help!

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  4. Looks perfect for summer living. I am amazed that you added a back zipper to make it easier. I haven’t had a back zipper in probably 30 years. I’m not at all sure I could pull one up and down!

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    1. Barbara - I know that a back zipper is a concern for some but you could add the zipper to the side seam too. I just hate slipping ALOT of fabric over my head!

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  5. I love your dress. It looks great. Congrats on using deep stash. Thanks for posting!

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  6. You make this fabric look expensive, you matched the pattern at the back seam perfectly and the piping is a really nice detail.

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  7. I really like the shape of this dress on you. I also like the chevron effect you get with that fabric. Do more of that! With your small tweaks, this one is a real winner.

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  8. That looks so comfortable and cool - that fabric is great for this, too! I love how you can "see" what will work. And the other versions are equally interesting but do not look the same at all. Sign of a versatile pattern!

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  9. Love your dress. Don't have this pattern but do have the Tessuti Ruby which I can modify as I know it fits well. Thanks for the push.

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    1. Silknmore - I think that's a simple shape and there's a bunch of patterns out there that can be used to achieve this look! Hope you get a version made soon.

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  10. Wow, I love your version so much more than the solid black in the inspiration picture. Love the touch of navy at the neckline - that's the kind of thing I really need to remember. Glad to see your beautiful smile! Hugs

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  11. Your version is so much nicer than the inspiration dress. I love how your added fullness to the skirt portion gives graceful movement and shape.

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    1. Dot - It's because I used a mid-weight polyester and the original dress is made from linen. I looked at a couple of linens in the collection but realized I wanted a dress with a lot more flow.

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  12. I like this fabric for this dress pattern! I am always impressed how you use one TNT pattern and make it look so different with each version.

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  13. Love this! This dress is a perfect use for that fabric and it looks so comfortable and flowy! It looks great for summer.

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  14. I love simple lines on a dress and I am with you. Dresses ALL THE TIME. :)
    My summer TNT has been the Trend Patterns Square Dress. I think you have this in your pattern stash if I remember. I think you would like it. (I modified mine with a v-neck - my preference for a neckline)
    Thanks, as always for the sewing inspiration and motivation!

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  15. I'm old enough to remember when my play clothes were dresses but a little too young to remember the Laura Petrie Capri pants/dress controversy...

    As far as winter goes: What about one of those insulated skirts
    https://tanitisis.com/tag/winter-skirt/

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  16. Beautiful - where can I get pattern?

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    1. Trudy - this pattern is OOP now so I would try eBay or etsy to see if you can find one.

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  17. Perfect pairing of fabric with pattern. You look cool, comfortable, and stylish! Thanks for your posts!

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  18. The future adjustments you've decided upon will make this just perfect although it is pretty nice right now. Kudos to you for great intrepretation of the fit issues. Love the edge of the piping and how it pulls it all together. Great job, Carolyn.

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  19. I can always tell when you have a winner - you beam! This dress is certainly a winner. it's beautiful, cool and flowing. Like many others, I admire your ability to pair fabric with pattern and create a fabulous inspired by garment. g

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