I'm a Talbots Woman

Looking through the Talbot's website and flipping through their e-catalog (which I'm so thrilled I can finally see on my iPad!) I found these three looks.  Now you know I want to make all three of these looks from fabrics in my collection.  I've just got to determine what fabrics.  But aren't these pretty...especially the striped Peyton!?!  Be still my heart!  I've already changed the color of the ponte knit dress to another one...just three more projects added to my already burgeoning sewing list!


...as always, more later!

Meet Peyton ~ Final Thoughts

This was a very interesting journey.  I got three wonderful new work dresses and I've crossed another inspiration/idea off my spring/summer sewing list...so a few final thoughts...


Lining vs. Underlining ~
I underlined two of the three dresses because I've reached that stage in my life where my internal thermometer doesn't work like it use to.  I've noticed that in the summer heat that the rayon bemberg linings stick to me unpleasantly...and I mean STICK to me!  I've also had issues with the linings catching and bunching up around my hips from all the crap I lug in my too big handbags while racing to and from subway, the bus station and home.  I also noticed that the dresses I underlined wore better especially when I used a cotton batiste underlining.  So my choices are totally based upon ease of wear and not some sewing rule or pattern instruction.


Finishings ~
I'm sure that once upon a time my dress pattern came with facing pieces for the neckline and armholes.  I've long since ditched them.  If I don't insert a full lining into the dress, I always use bias binding to finish off the neckline and the armholes...and even when I do insert a full lining, I still add bias binding to the armholes.  I like this application because I like hand stitching the binding into the dress especially when I've underlined the garment.  Especially since I can hide those stitches in the underlining fabric.  This finishing technique has become part of my signature just like the lace that I add to the linings of most my dress and skirt hems.


Knock-offs ~
This is a really simple silhouette to knock off and it will work with most body types.  It can go from casual to dressy based upon your fabric choices...a really great option if you're looking for the one dress to add to your wardrobe.  So I used my TNT pattern to get these dresses and since that pattern is no longer available to help you knock-off my knock-off, I've found the following pattern:

Butterick 5706 is the perfect sheath dress if you want to make your own Peyton dress.  It comes with a scoop and v-neckline...it's sleeveless, or with short sleeves and three-quarter length sleeves.  It's also sized 8-24 and would work for many of the design changes that I make to my TNT pattern.


Wearability Factor ~
Each Peyton was made from a different type of fabric so of course each one wore differently.  To me, the cotton pique and linen versions wore the best.  The silk developed quite a few wrinkles and held them more than the linen did.  However, all three were comfortable to wear without any wardrobe malfunctions.


In conclusion, I'm so glad that I took this journey.  The dresses are so me and this has been a really gratifying sew.  I would also like to thank everyone who left a comment, asked a question, or just stopped and admired the pieces.  The compliments of fellow sewists who understand the passion that drives me to create, is appreciated so much! Lastly, pictures of all the dresses are in my Flickr album.


...as always, more later!






   

Embellished Peyton

My final version of Peyton was the most involved one because I just could not leave it alone.  I picked the black/white cotton pique fabric for the last version...

The first embellishment I planned was the white piping that I put at the neckline and armholes.

Then I realized when the dress was just a shell that it needed something down the front of it.  That's when I dug around and found this black and white ribbon for the front.  Now the ribbon was a little wider than I wanted but I folded and pressed it flat then stitched it down to the front of the dress.

Finally the ribbon tie was added because truthfully my piping at the v-neckline was woefully inadequate.  Don't know what I did but I couldn't stand the thought of removing all of that piping and redoing it.  Camouflaging it just seemed like a better way to go...and this short piece of ribbon was in the stash.  A piece that I found while digging around looking for the original black & white ribbon.

This dress was underlined with white rayon bemberg lining because I've found that cottons slide better with something silky next to them.  A few stats:

Fabric ~

Black & White cotton pique 

Notions ~

22" black invisible zipper

White piping

1" wide Black & White striped ribbon

1/2" wide black & white striped ribbon

Linen bias binding

White rayon seam binding

It was a pretty involved sew and took quite a bit longer than the first two.  It also involves a lot of hand stitching...first on the bias binding that I used at the neckline and the armholes.  Second at the slit in the dress front and finally on the hem.  The best thing about the interlining is that all of the hand stitches were stitched into the interlining and not the fashion fabric.

A few more pics...

Worn with the ivory B6002 jacket

I've cut out the purple ponte cardigan but it will have to wait to be sewn because I've moved onto my version of the Lace Dress.  Since I'm pretty far into the construction process, it will probably be next...or maybe not...the purple cardigan may yet show up...

A parting shot of all three Peyton dresses...

...as always more later!

Peyton One & Two

This is the first of the three dresses that I made from the Peyton collection...and the first in the "Ye Olde Familiar" series.  I easily duplicated this dress from my TNT pattern by making a simple alteration. Instead of cutting the dress front on the fold, I folded down a v-neckline in my pattern and cut out the front with a 5/8" seam allowance.

Some stats ~
Pattern:  
TNT Dress Pattern
Fabric~
Linen floral print from Vogue Fabrics in Evanston purchased here with Cennetta & Patti
Notions ~
22" off white invisible zipper
3 yards of white cotton bias binding
2.5 yards white cotton/poly bastiste
off white rayon seam binding


Construction ~
*The fashion fabric was cut out and then underlined with the cotton batiste lining.
*The front was sewn together
*The invisible zipper was sewn into the back 3x - yes, 3x because I made a huge mistake...

...see even experienced sewists need to use their seam rippers from time to time because I sewed the back neckline to the back hemline!  Probably why I have three of seam rippers around at all times! *LOL*
*The back and fronts were sewn together and pressed flat.
*I added binding to the neckline and armholes because I underlined the dress.

*The binding was topstitched at the neckline and the armholes.
*Rayon seam binding was added to the hemline and hand hemmed.
**The dress was finished.


I leisurely sewed this together one Sunday.  I chose to make this version first because I want to make a purple ponte knit cardigan from Butterick 5760 (inspired by the one Pauline made) to wear with this dress and this dress from last summer.  So look for that soon, well right after I finish the next two Peyton dresses.


A few more pics...

Peyton #2:
This is dress number two of the Peyton Series and is the one that looks most like the inspiration dress. 

Some stats:
Fabric ~
silk tweed from the collection 


Notions ~
22" tan invisible zipper
bemberg rayon lining
tan rayon seam binding
linen bias binding


Construction ~

• The difference between this version and the other two is that this one is lined and not underlined.  
• Which of course means that there's more hand stitching in this version.  
• Otherwise, ditto on all the construction information from the first floral Peyton dress.
• Except that I also added bias binding to the sleeves instead of turning the lining and flipping.
• And I handstitched the lining to the slit at the front.

A few more pics...

These were taken at my job

As I stated before these dresses were a breeze to put together primarily because they are made using my Tried and True (TNT) dress pattern.  So two down and one more to go...

...as always, more later!

A Sneak Peek

So last night I came home to watch the Thunder vs. Heat NBA finals.  I decided to be gracious and watch hoping that the Thunder would pound Miami into the ground since they eliminated my favs...the Boston Celtics!  And as I sat in my sewing room, not only did I cheer (quite loudly I might add!) for the Thunder to roll over Miami, I also decided to start working on the next Peyton dress.


Now I say next because my first version of the Peyton dress is done.  Sewn, pressed, hanging and waiting to be worn...now the second one is halfway done...here's a sneak peek...

There's another Thunder/Miami game tomorrow night.  I'll be in my sewing room praying for the Thunder to Roll and hopefully working on finishing up the second Peyton...it calms me to sew when the basketball action gets hot!  *LOL*


...as always, more later!