Revisiting a Friend...

There are a few good things about actually losing some weight...a few pieces that I held onto now fit really well again.  I didn't actually mean to hold onto this dress, though. It just got packed in a bin and recently I found it when I went digging for a piece of fabric. One good thing about not buying so much fabric this year is looking for older pieces to use!  Anyway, I found this dress...Simplicity 3631...which I made in January 2008.

In 2008

Simplicity 3631 was a really hot pattern back in 2008. It was one of the first patterns from the Simplicity/Threads collaboration.  The jacket that was included in the pattern was made quite a few times on PatternReview. I actually made the jacket with a few changes to "corporatize it" with a matching skirt and that suit is still in my closet. 

The dress though had a slimmer shape and was a challenging pattern to fit. The black version was actually my second attempt at sewing this dress. My first one is blogged here. This post has a little more pattern alteration information in it. Honestly though, I'm surprised that I made it again because I had such a hard time getting the pattern to fit.

I rotated it out of my wardrobe a few years ago when I gained some menopausal weight. So when I found it, tried it on, I couldn't believe it fit again...guess I have lost a bit of weight!  

A few pictures...

Alone ~ now

With my favorite RTW black cardigan
back and front view

Dress with Simplicity 2958 Jacket 

circa 2011

So I just lost a favorite garment and now I've gained another one...I guess things have balanced out and that's a good thing!

...as always more later!

March Remnants

Today is March 1st and last month I sewed exactly two pieces...TWO PIECES! I haven't sewn so few pieces in one month in years...it is a little unsettling to realize how much "life" affected my passion!

1. Simplicity 3631

Yesterday, I wore the black version of Simplicity 3631 to work. I had a couple of meetings and wanted to look professional but comfortable...also it was Friday and our firm has a more "casual" dress code on Fridays...can I insert a "yeah right" here! *LOL*...and the dress/jumper was the perfect piece for the day.

However, it was the compliment that my 18 year old daughter gave me when I arrived home at 8:00 pm (Can I say that I am getting mighty tired of this...but that's another post for another time!) that really made my day! Whenever you can get a teenage daughter to exclaim that she loves an outfit, you know that you have really hit on something! Which brings me to my next point...

The Simplicity 3631 pattern is a wonderful, wonderful pattern.

I know that quite a few people have made the jacket - well there are 12 reviews for the jacket on PR and it made the #10 spot on The Best Patterns of 2007 article written by Diane Egleston - who is a friend of mine! And I have used the pattern quite effectively myself...a jacket, two dresses and a tank top have come from this pattern. I think of it fondly and probably will use it again for a spring/summer dress. I know some people have had problems with the dress but if you can get a copy made...it works wonderfully in a host of situations.

2. Fabric Accumulation

Now we all know that I have fabric issues...and of course when I'm not sewing, fabric seems to follow me home like children followed after the Pied Piper when he tooted that d*mn horn! *LOL* And lately Fabric Mart just hasn't been doing it for me...I am a little disturbed about this but maybe it's time that I show some fabric love to other internet sources! *LOL* Which is what I did last night!

I have been in love with this chocolate embroidered cotton since Ann of Gorgeous Things first put it on the site...last night I succumbed. Did you hear that Cidell, I have my piece! 4 yards cause, I want a full skirted shirt dress like Summerset's for spring! Can't you just see the embroidery on the edge of the skirt and short sleeves? Oooolalala goodness! Ann is having a sale for her first year anniversary - 24% off almost everything until tomorrow - March 2nd - so hurry over and buy something...she has AMAZING pieces!

And I placed my first time ever order with Sawyer Brook fabrics...now I've been getting their emails for years, but for some reason I've never bought anything from them...anyway, last night I bought this silk. It's called Village Stroll and it resembles the lining I did for the Simplicity 3631 jacket which had such a great impact, so 5 yards of this is coming to me.

Again, it's a piece that's been haunting me for most of the month of February. I got it to use as lining in a jacket and for a simple shell top. It will be placed with the last 5 yard piece of black wool crepe that I bought from Fabric Mart a couple of months ago. Probably won't see the light of day until fall but it will make a complete set and it made me happy!

I also picked up two rayon pieces for spring/summer dresses....

......This black and white piece

And this kewl retro 60s type print...

3. Spring Sewing

I am ready to begin sewing for spring! I think I am going to ditch most of my "List of things to Sew for Fall/Winter" and start concentrating on spring. 'Cause you know Easter is in 22 days!

Have a wonderful sewing weekend!

Obligation beat out Inspiration

I guess you can tell by the title that I decided to finish up one of my leftover garments from 2007. These are not my original sewing vacay plans. Originally I was going to immerse myself in two really epic projects but since I haven't sewn in three weeks, I realized that I wanted to accomplish some quick things to have new pieces to wear to work next week.

Since I still have a three day weekend later this month, I think the first planned epic project can be accomplished during that weekend. So as of now this is how my vacay sewing is flowing...

The Simplicity 3631 Dress:

I love the versatility of this jumper/dress in the Simplicity 3631 pattern. The tan tropical wool version made previously works well in my work wardrobe so I have plans to make it in other colors and fabrications. The second version of this jumper/dress is made from black wool crepe.

Last night I reluctantly tried on the dress shell thinking that I still had some alterations to make to it before I could add the lining. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I put the dress on. It seems that somewhere in there I did the necessary changes and the dress fits so it's ready for the next steps. Taking all of that into account, I went ahead and finished it up.

This black wool crepe version will be a hard working piece in my wardrobe that will coordinate with quite a few of the jackets I've recently made. The major difference between this piece, I mean besides color and fabrication, is that I embellished the lowered waistline seam with a black patent leather piping. I don't want each version of this dress to be exactly the same - just in a different color - so each future adaptation will probably have something "creative" done to it to distinguish it from the original.

Here's this one's stats:

Fabric:

100% black wool crepe from Fabric Mart

Lining:

Black ambience

Notions:

22" zipper, black patent leather piping, rayon hem tape.

Next up - the TNT black wool crepe pants that have been cut out and patiently waiting their turn to be constructed. More pictures can be found in my Flickr album.