I know I should wait until someone comes home to take these pictures before I post but seriously all I really want to do is sew. Because of that sometimes the blog post is written way before a photographer shows up...and all of that to say here are the pics of me in the tank dress (okay Rachelle!)
Hands on the hip shot
With the cardigan
Alone
Now this next shot is to answer Julie's question:
"Carolyn, I'm curious about the armhole fit of this dress. No alterations needed? Whenever I make a sleeveless dress, I get the gaping armhole because of sewing the size to fit my bust and then having an armhole too large."
I'm sure there is some alteration that you should do to the pattern to reduce the armhole prior to cutting out the fabric and sewing the dress together BUT I've been doing this "cheat" for so long that it's become second nature to me and I never even think to put it in the alterations section when I'm writing a post.
What I do is sew a deeper side seam of about an inch from the 5/8" seam allowance. This deeper seam helps to snug the dress up to the body thereby eliminating the gap that many people experience with sleeveless dresses.
Even with adding the border to the bottom of this dress it only comes to my knees so since I won't be wearing this to work, I'm okay with it...plus the daughter who judges my wardrobe the harshest really liked the color and the length...I must be doing something right! *LOL*
...as always, more later!
As you know most of my sewing is work-related. However, the three quick pieces left on my sewing list are really casual pieces. I sew alot on the weekends but I still attend family functions and get together with my friends to see a movie, go shopping or have dinner. I've been wearing the same couple of skirts & RTW maxi dresses all summer so these last three pieces (ruffled skirt, tank dress & tank top) were made to add some additional pieces to my casual wardrobe.
I chose to try the tank dress from Butterick 5618 because if it worked, I thought I could make quite a few of them out of a variety of fabrics for next summer. Our family has planned a family cruise and of course I'm thinking ahead...its hard not to since I have to hand in a check every month! *smile*
Anyway, here's garment number 2 - the Butterick 5618 tank dress on a hanger because all of my photographers are out of the house. I promise to update with some pics on me later.
Stats:
Fabric:
lightweight linen from Vogue Fabrics
Strips of print from one of the trendy rayons from Fabric Mart
Notions:
Ltwt. interfacing from Farmhouse Fabrics
cotton/poly bastiste from fabric.com
Pattern Alterations:
None. I started with a size 24 and added a center back seam to the tank dress. That was it. This is a very simple pattern to sew. So simple that I didn't even use the pattern instructions.
Construction:
After I washed and dried the fabric it shrank...quite a bit. I was already starting with a short piece and this did not help my case at all. After laying the pattern pieces on top of the fabric, I determined that I was about 3" short. So even though the front and back pieces are suppose to go on the fold, it just wasn't happening. The first thing I did was add a 5/8" seam allowance to the center back piece.
The second thing I did was to dig through the fabric collection looking for a piece of white linen to add a band to the bottom of the dress. But as I was digging, I found this blue/lavender floral print and realized that if I added it to the dress it would give it an entirely different flavor...less plain...more fun and casual like. So I pulled it to use with the dress.
Another thing, the violet linen was see thru...it definitely needed a lining or interlining. When I originally thought about constructing this dress, I was going to have a free floating lining...only connected to the dress at the neckline and the armholes.
Once I decided to add the band to the bottom of the dress, it changed my lining thoughts. I went with underlining the batiste to the fabric pieces and sewing them as one. I think the underlining deepened the violet color of the fabric too...
I added the print to the neckline (bias binding) so that it would be in two places on the dress. The armholes are finished by turning under 1/8", pressing and then stitching flat.
Finally I like the way it looks with the purchased cardigan and I have a great casual dress for weekends or Casual Fridays at work. This would have been a quick and simple sew if I hadn't had to improvise because the fabric ended up being a bit shorter after prewashing.
Now I'm working on the green dress...I'm not sure that I will finish it up today...I don't feel like rushing...so we shall see.
...as always, more later!
Monday is August 1st so next weekend I will begin sewing my 6pac collection. However, there are a few quick & easy projects still on my spring/summer sewing list that I decided I should clear off this weekend. They are:
1. Finish up the green linen dress.
2. Make a long skirt from the black ruffly fabric ala Elizabeth's using her directions.
3. Make a linen tank dress from Butterick 5618 using a violet lightweight linen to match a violet cardigan I just scored from Talbots cheap!
4. Make a tank top from the same Butterick 5618 pattern.
As of this minute, I have the black ruffly skirt finished.
Elizabeth's instructions are sooooo simple and easy to use. I wanted to make this last weekend but I didn't have the right elastic on hand...hence the trip to the Garment District this week. Here is a picture of the wide elastic attached to the top of the skirt:
The first view of the skirt was with a tank top and my flat sandals...weekend wearing...but I know that I will want to wear this to work for Casual Fridays. Here is how I would add one of my Burda cardigans and a pair of black 'n white floral cloth shoes:
and a back view:
Next up is the violet linen with a cotton batiste that I want to use for the underlining. Both fabrics have been through the washing & drying cycle and are currently laying on the ironing board waiting for me to press them so they can become B5618. Hopefully I will get all four pieces sewn this weekend...
...as always, more later!
p.s. I'm wearing a black half slip under my skirt because it is sheer and I didn't want to attempt to line this quick & easy project!!!
