Taika Dress, Named Clothing

My dear sewing friends,

such a long time I haven’t written any post about my makes. 

Every year, I would sew a new summer dress although my wardrobe is showing quite a lot of them. 

As soon as I had seen Marja’s Taika dress she had sewn as a tester for Named Clothing, I bought the dress pattern thinking of the same Atelier Brunette viscose crepe that Barbara later used for the pattern, have a look at her thorough post with beautiful pictures! However, I changed my mind using this flower print.

P

Guthrie and Ghani have celebrated their 10 years anniversary with an ecovero viscose printed with an exclusive design by fabulous Lauren in cooperation with Rachel Parker. If interested, here you can see all the details about the design:

https://youtu.be/lH6wyIWY7mc?si=G1fDa3biB3JvXJKQ

I’ve always admired Lauren’s tasteful work and couldn’t resist buying #beehappyfabric for sewing a dress.

ByHandLondon had their 10 years anniversary, too, and were celebrated by Janene @ooobop and Suzy @sewing_in_spain with the IG-challenge #BHL10years. With a post of my old Elisalex dress, I was lucky winning a 50£ price @pigeonwishes! I loved browsing all the lovely buttons and found the perfect buttons for my fabric.

I made a toile some time ago because I suspected some fitting issues with the gathering. I cut the front bodice in size 36, back bodice and sleeves in 38, skirt in 40 (toile in hip length) which went together smoothly.

I decided in shortening the bodice in upper bust height by 0,5cm because I am only 1,62cm tall.

When cutting my fabric, I cut the pieces mostly in single layers because I didn’t want the flowers being doubled and I love the result.

Seam allowances are 1cm, I topstitched nearly all the seams fixing the overlocked seam allowances for easier garment maintenance.

When sewing the skirt pieces, I realised that I had forgotten to correct the back skirt pattern pieces which I had cut out in a wrong size height 1” too short. I decided shortening the skirt front pieces by the same amount. The print being so busy, it isn’t too obvious that the waist is shortened.

Some sewists remarked that the buttonbands were gaping between the buttons, so I shortened the button hole distance from 8cm to 6cm and sewed 12 buttons.

Thank you Emmanuelle @zoubizoubisou for inspiring me to finish the dress eventually!

Hopefully, I will be able to wear the maxi dress on some sunny autumn days despite the summery print.

Pattern: Taika Dress by Named Clothing 

Size:      Front bodice 36

              Back bodice and sleeves 38

              Skirt 40

Alterations: bodice shortened by 0,5cm

              Button distance 6cm, 12 buttons

Fabric:   Ecovero viscose “Bee Happy Blooms” @rachelparkerdesigns and        @guthrieghani

Buttons: Lucid Button Set @pigeonwishes won at #BHL10 @byhandlondon @ooobop and @sewing_in_spain

It’s MeMadeMittwoch when a lot of German sewists would meet showing their memade garments. Go have a look!

Have a fabulous sewing time,

SaSa

Ellis Dress, Merchant and Mills und Lingerie-Set zur Annäherung Süd

Hello, dear sewing friends,

we southern German sewists had such a good time at our annual sewing bee last week at Würzburg. What a charming university city and we were lucky enjoying the golden autumn sun.

At sewing bees, I would sew easy projects because all the chatting would distract me easily.

I chose the Ellis and Hattie pattern by Merchant and Mills which I wanted to make since I had seen it years ago. At a fabric outlet near our home I found this cotton print showing orange leopards on a navy background.

Version Ellie features the higher waistline and french bust darts, both versions featuring decorative neck darts being fitted at bust and shoulders with a loose fit at the waist and a gathered skirt.

The length is midi which is too long for me. I will give the dress to my daughter. I guess she will love the modern length.

Pattern: Ellis and Hattie, version Ellie, by Merchant and Mills
Size: 12
Fabric: cotton print, KBC Lörrach
Alterations: armscyce taken in 1cm at shoulder point and 0,5cm at front.

Through #BRAugust2018, I got a lot of inspiration and so I made a little lingerie set, too.

Patterns: Hanna Bralette and Mia Panties, Studio Costuras
Size: XS, bralette and , panties
Fabric: lace, elastics and lining: spitzenstoffe.de and glitter pink stretch mesh: Madalynne Intimates

Have a lovely sewing time!
SaSa

Linked to sewlala.

Robe Myosotis, Deer+Doe. Vergissmeinnicht-Kleid zum MMM

Hello, dear sewing friends,

the monthly German sewing meet-up at Me-Made-Mittwoch is a good occasion to present an unblogged dress.

I didn't know what to think of the dress pattern Myosotis when I first saw it. Too girly, too maternity?

It's name means forget-me-not and it's an oversized shirt dress featuring a small v-neck with a mandarin collar and three buttons. There are two front darts and back darts but the waistline is high and rather wide.

There were quite some lovely versions popping up at instagram #ddmyosotis. In addition, I had purchased some beautiful blush swiss dot linen at our great blogger meet-up last november at Köln which suddenly wanted being a robe Myosotis!

Because I had quite a lot of the fabric, I decided to sew version A with all the ruffles. I chose to slightly downsize the top and made a size 38.

I observed that some makes had some vertical pleats at the shoulder. This is an issue I had at my robe Belladone, too. I compared the shoulder with my block and made a try by lowering the shoulder point by 1,5cm and I guess it was the correct adjustment.

I am surprised how much I like wearing this swishy dress!
After the first wash, the linen crumpled quite regularly because of the Swiss dots so I decided not to iron it. This way, I will wear it even more often.

Pattern: Myosotis version A, Deer and Doe
Size: 38 shirt and 42 skirt
Fabric: Swiss dot linen, Frou Frou
Alterations: lowered shoulder point by 1,5cm and lengthened skirt to size 46

Today, I finished another dress, this time version B.

I made the same finishes I had made for my other version, false flat felled seams (Bernina foot #71) and small hemmed seams (foot #69).

Pattern: Myosotis version B, Deer and Doe
Size: 38 shirt and 42 skirt
Fabric: crumpled linen, Garconne Freiburg
Alterations: lowered shoulder point by 1,5cm

Küstensocke and Die-fesche-Lola are inviting us for this year's sewing blogger meet-up at Hamburg! They are presenting all the other's makes at Me-Made-Mittwoch.

Perth Dress, Carolyn& Cassie Pattern

Hello, my dears!

Have you seen Carolyn‘s first pattern she launched together with her daughter Cassie, the Perth Dress? I already loved the design when last year in april, Carolyn showed her own dress in progress at IG. It features a men‘s wear inspired style with a very interesting front pleat ending at the collar stand.

When discovering the sewing blogger community several years ago, Carolyn‘s blog „Handmade by Carolyn“ was the one which encouraged me to begin sewing my own clothes. For making my first self made garments, I took the same patterns she had made and little by little finished them. Just click at the pictures to see her versions.

B4985

Burda 8497

Some years have passed and I am so glad that Carolyn met me at Me-Made-May! She would always encourage me. She had supposed I take part at IG, too, which I did. I love how spontaneously communication is possible there. But for a proper pattern review, blog posts are a better place.

I was very happy to be a sewing tester. I didn‘t have much time because of some other obligations. So I shopped my little stash looking for a lightweight drape-y fabric where I found this lightly loosely woven, drapey, muddy grey blend I had already foreseen for a shirtdress.

My fabric is not as crisp as to provide a men‘s shirt collar but I love the outcome. The collar stand is sitting quite high and the collar‘s shape is especially chic.

I made my dress respecting all the instructions. I chose the size corresponding my bust measurement. Usually, I would grade between three sizes but this pattern is providing enough hip room to just sew up one size! The A4 sheets came nicely together. There is an A0-file to send to your copy-shop, too! Alternatively, you can save money printing only the big pieces at the copy-shop and tracing the overlaying little pieces. I love that the pattern pieces are labeled with the seam allowance which is 1 cm. Very often, I would search for the correct amount of seam allowance finding it somewhere hidden in a little corner.

There are quickie instructions which would probably have been sufficient for me but I sewed after the detailed instructions and I loved the little diagrams. Usually, I wouldn't use the burrito method, but I sewed the yokes following the clear instructions without any problems.

I love the sleeves fit. Usually, I would sew the shoulder point of my sleeve cap 1 cm forward which I didn't do here. I can lift my arms without any problems. The final pattern has got shorter sleeves.

The stunning front pleat is shaped by the clever closure. Only two button holes and a good placed button allows easy dressing and a surprising result. You have to like a buttoned collar stand though.

Pattern: Perth dress, Carolyn+Cassie Pattern
Size: 38
Fabric: loosely woven cotton blend, Tandem Bühl
No alterations.

I received this pattern for free to test it and I am probably biased concerning Carolyn which I admire so much (you have surely seen that she makes her shoes, too?!) but I have described my own opinion. Other pattern testers have made lovely colorful versions, just have a look at IG #perthdress!


I can't wait winter taking leave. Someone should say to him that it's spring time, no need for snow! When one day we already had warmer temperatures, I was able to wear my Perth dress. So comfy but chic!

Want to see makes of other women at RUMS?

Have fun,
SaSa

Kobe dress and Mito slip dress, Papercut Patterns

Hello, my sewing friends!

https://papercutpatterns.com/collections/sakura/products/kobe-dress-top hinzufügen

when Papercut Patterns released their Sakura collection ("cherry blossom") last year, I was so delighted by the lovely style that I wanted to make all of the patterns.

The Kobe dress is a loose straight cut dress featuring an interesting pleat and cut out detail at the back. I sewed it at our annual south German sewing bee at Würzburg last fall. I used a slightly transparent silk crepe of my stash.

Although I would always grade between three sizes, here I cut a straight size XS. I had read that it falls rather large.

I made no changes at all and didn't shorten it. I made French seams and bound the neckline with self fabric bias binding by hand. I didn't make a button hole but sewed the button shut at the back. I made a simple belt, too.

The back is cut out up to the bra back band. Because of my transparent fabric, I was likely obliged to make the slip dress, too. The Mito dress has to be bought additionally.

https://papercutpatterns.com/collections/sakura/products/mito-cami-dress

I used a dens dark chocolate brown silk crepe of very good quality. I changed the construction slightly and seamed the bodice lining by hand including the bodice's and skirt's seam allowances.

I made these pictures freezing outside. The slip's silk is clinging at me. Maybe this will be better without tights?

I can't wait wearing this outfit all day at warmer temperatures.

Pattern: Kobe dress, Papercut Patterns
Size XS
Fabric: Ombré silk crepe, Tandem Bühl
No alterations

Pattern: Mito dress, Papercut Patterns
Size XS
Fabric: dense silk crepe, René Lézard
No alterations.

Have a look at the others' memades at Me-Made-Mittwoch and have fun!

SaSa

Lieblingsteil 2017

Dear sewing friends,

maybe you have read my previous retrospect post of my makes 2017. Today is our first meeting of German sewists at MMM, themed "favorite make of 2017".

One beloved dress I had forgotten to mention: my Lilli-Malvarosa dress. The fabric is super soft with a lovely drape and it is wearable from fall to spring. I had already made two summer versions of this great pattern by Pauline Alice which I adore.

I had forgotten today's meeting but actually I am wearing the Lilli-dress quite now.

Today's host Claudia of bunte kleider  is showing her top pattern Eliana which is by Pauline Alice, too. She has sewn several lovely versions. Thank you so much all of you organizing our meetings at MeMadeMittwoch!

Have a look at the others' top garments at Me-Made-Mittwoch and enjoy!

SaSa