The perfect simple knit maxi dress and #OOTD book review

5.24.2016

The perfect simple knit maxi dress and #OOTD book review

There's a new garment sewing book out from the publisher of my book, C&T Publishing. #OOTD (Outfit of the Day) Sew & Style: Make Your Dream Wardrobe with Angela is a fantastic overview book about sewing, fabric, and design with handful of basic, customize-able patterns included. Having just spent some time sewing with less-experienced friends, I could immediately tell flipping through this book that this content is needed and valuable for anyone looking to learn to sew!

I tried out the basic skater dress bodice pattern and made a few modifications, like Angela suggests! Each of the styles can be modified with her instructions and the techniques explained earlier in the book.

Click through to read more...

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Finally, the lavender print halter maxi dress

6.18.2015

Finally, the lavender print halter maxi dress

Not until after I had designed this dress did I realize I was still trying to make the pretty lavender floral Anthropologie maxi halter from last year.

I used Simplicity 1355, which I've used several times, twice in making halter maxi dresses inspired by the original floral one. Last year, after multiple trips to the fabric store, I was never able to find a nice lavender floral fabric or anything remotely similar. So I ended up with this dress and this dress, both of which are great! but pretty different.

Then this year, I found this "famous maker" rayon fabric at JoAnn on sale. It's a great weight and texture, and I envisioned it as a maxi dress! I looked at my maxi dress-friendly patterns, and picked out Simplicity 1355 again. And... now, I realize, it ended up looking pretty similar to the inspiration!


I modified the pattern to give it some sewn-down pleats instead of the front placket opening. It ties in the back now instead. I also gave the skirt two side slits instead of a center front seam and slit.

So here it is worn out to dinner!

It's a great floral and so smooth, drapey, and fun to wear! I love this style for summer outdoor events (last year I wore the aforementioned maxis to two different weddings), and am having fun learning this pattern super well! Simplicity 1355, I recommend it!

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Dress season is coming. Black and ivory maxi dress!

4.16.2015

Dress season is coming. Black and ivory maxi dress!

I don't wear a lot of dresses in the cold weather... so I'm very happy spring and summer are coming and I'll get a chance to wear (and make) pretty dresses! I've only made one dress so far this year, as evidenced by the sad 2015 group in my dresses gallery, so this maxi is a welcome addition and great way to get me back into dress-sewing mode.

I had several yards of this fun ivory and black triangle print knit and I hadn't known what to do with it, but I pulled out Simplicity 1355 (same easy, loose summery pattern I used for this lovely maxi dress I made last September and this romper (one of the other views)). As I did for the maxi I made with it last summer, I lined it (the knit is a little sheer) and so had to tweak the construction and ignore a lot of the instructions, but it worked well and gave me a lined dress that's a comfortable, carefree one-piece outfit.

The back is cute, too.

It's easy to wear and dress up or down, or for spring vs. summer weather!

It's been so nice recently, the edgy jacket over it was only kind of necessary!

Bag: Old Navy. Sandals: Target (they come in wide online!). Jacket: Ross (similar). Dress: DIY!

I forgot how easy and fun it is to put together an outfit with a great dress as the centerpiece!

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Early fall plaid, and How to Wear DIY

9.23.2014

Early fall plaid, and How to Wear DIY

Late summer, early fall plaid... a DIY project that may be... and sticking it to the marketers in practice.

I am all about savoring every last bit of summer. Which I guess technically ended yesterday! I guess I can't keep talking about "late summer" anymore... that's okay, "early fall" sounds like a pretty nice season to be in, too.

This past weekend, we did some favorite summery things in the hot weather--a hike at the Hoyt Arboretum and Pittock Mansion, reading outdoors, grilling with the in-laws, and picking more figs at my parents' house. It still feels like summer, but I don't feel like dressing in the tropical brights and fruit prints of July, so I compromised and pulled out a summer version of a plaid--this maxi dress I made last year.

Ignoring early seasonal marketing... until it's not early anymore

As I talked about at the end of last month, I'm so tired of being told by my magazines and the stores I visit to shop for wool and plaid and earth tones, months before I'll need them, as I sweat in my tank top and cut-offs in the 95 degree heat. Seriously, it was 95 degrees on Saturday. (I actually did buy a wool hat, though. I'm finally caving since I don't think this weather will last.)

But, really, enough with the shopping for new things that I don't need right now, and hooray for pulling out favorites from last summer like this dress because the weather calls for it, goshdarnit. This maxi dress is great for summer because it has sewn-in bra pads! because who wants to wear a bra when it's lightweight cotton maxi dress weather, but I also felt pretty good wearing it in September since it's plaid. Plaid and fall are best friends, right?

Also--a DIY project that may one day be

I spotted this jean jacket at an estate sale the other weekend and was reminded that I've been meaning to buy a thrifted jean jacket and turn it into a jean vest, since those are looking pretty cute these days.

As you can see, I have not yet done that! It is 10-year-old Old Navy (does that count as "vintage"?) and I love it. And it was $1. I thought it would seem dated and weird when I put it on, but it fit really well and looked good! They definitely don't make them quite this sturdy anymore, that's for sure! Funny how I can tell the difference. I already have two jean jackets, actually, so I don't really need this one, but I like it as a jacket and I'm not sure if I should take the plunge and turn it into a vest! What's your vote?

Jacket: Estate sale. Sandals: Old Navy, wish I had them in every color. Dress: DIY, here!

So, to make it a vest or not to make it a vest?!

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A new dress for a very hot late summer wedding

9.11.2014

A new dress for a very hot late summer wedding

Wedding attire, hot weather, the end of the bright color season... a conflict! We went to an incredible wedding last weekend and I'm so glad I came up with this maxi dress to wear to it!

Earlier this year, I was brainstorming what to make myself to wear to wedding #1 of the summer. (My ideas here.) I came across this dress from Anthropologie and loved it, and actually searched for a fabric at all similar to this (really my main criteria were big, soft floral, in cotton or silk if I could find it) and came up with nothing after at least 3 trips to the fabric store. (So I ended up making something different for wedding #1, but I still love it, and I'll keep an eye out for the perfect floral print silk crepe!!)

Source

And in the meantime - I still love the loose, natural waist, drawstring halter shape of that lovely Anthro dress! So, when summer wedding #2 came up last weekend, and when the temperature was supposed to be above 90 despite it being September, I looked around for another fabric to use to make something similar!

My mom had a bunch of extra of this lovely rose-colored textured cotton, and I thought it was a nice late summer color. And I quickly found the perfect pattern for this shape: Simplicity 1355, which I actually still had sitting out since I just used it for this romper project. I knew it was simple to make, though I hadn't made this bodice style yet or the straight skirt... but they were both easier than the romper version. (I highly recommend if you want to make a maxi dress quickly!)

I made the gathered halter version (view C) but rather than have the split in the front of the neckline and the tie end there, I just did the split at the center back and did a wider self-fabric tie. I put a vertical dart in the center front where the slit would be, to give it some bust shaping and reduce bulk.

I lined it with self-fabric since I had so much yardage, and wasn't sure how much I wanted to change the color by lining it with a lighter cotton. It ended up a little fluffy since the fabric is textured, but I do like the opacity of the color. Plus, no lining peeking out to worry about.

And the back - the original Anthro dress has a cool crisscross strap and open back, but I stuck with the pattern to keep it simple, and I think this halter style is a little easier to wear (less to fuss with!).

It was so comfortable to wear and also pretty! Maxi dresses make the easiest outfits - even just coupled with a simple necklace and the sandals I wish I could wear every day (and practically do).

Sandals, crossbody bag: Old Navy. Necklace:? Dress: DIY!

The wedding was in the Pearl district near downtown Portland, and it was so fun to be in the center of the city for a private party. Plus, the food was ridiculously good and the party itself was really just super fun. All in all an awesome Saturday!

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A major floral maxi dress for a very special wedding

8.08.2014

A major floral maxi dress for a very special wedding

I know I said just last week that I've made so many dresses in the years of running this blog that it's a little tiring sometimes to enjoy the fun of designing something new. But special occasions like the one I made this dress for are different.

I'm so happy for my oldest friend from childhood, who just had an amazing wedding last weekend! It was at a totally rustic venue up in the hills north of town, on a little lake and surrounded by big trees and shade. Seriously such a beautiful and peaceful setting, and huge guest list including people of all ages so it was a very fun, casual, happy event.

I've been thinking about what to make to wear for her wedding for a long time now, as I shared with my ideas in this post. I really loved that lavender floral Anthropologie halter, but I had the hardest time finding a fabric that would capture the mood. I seriously went to the fabric store three or four times looking for something. Eventually I gave up on the color family and gave up looking for a knit or breathable cotton, and bought the last of the bolt of this "photo print" floral crinkle chiffon at JoAnn.

I wasn't able to find the perfect lavender tropical print, but I did like the high neck halter idea from my original inspirations. I pulled out a pattern I bought years ago but have never used, Simplicity 2579 (pretty sure it's out of print). It was fun to make a style I don't do often!

I seriously bought the last of the bolt and it was quite a stretch to get this maxi out of it. So I had to piece the center front midriff panel. Oops.

On the bolt, it looked light pink to me, but then I put a white cotton under it (since I also had a hard time finding the right lining, ugh!) and it really brightened it up. Plus, white cotton is a much nicer lining for summer than anything whatever candy pink poly lining I was going to find. (And SO much easier to sew with!)

After I made it and was looking through my scans, I saw this magazine page (March 2014). Trend: "Super-Modern Florals." Yeah, I'd call my hot pink flower photo fabric a super modern floral! It is a fun, bold trend!

Oh, and the dress on me? It was great for a hot evening!

It was really special to have a new dress I made just for the occasion. Events like this don't come up all the time, so it's fun and exciting and fulfilling to make something new! Plus, I love summer events and a chance to dress up!

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How to Wear DIY: Geometric print maxi dress and summer accessories

5.16.2014

How to Wear DIY: Geometric print maxi dress and summer accessories

It's almost too good to believe that it's been so warm and beautiful this week. Sandals to work, sunglasses first thing in the morning, windows open all night... signs of summer!

It's also awesome that it's time to wear dresses on their own, out and about. No need to cover up with a jean jacket or layers underneath; it's been dress weather 100%! So I was stoked to wear this maxi dress out to the movies the other night.

An extra warm weather touch: straw fedora - instant summer!

Funny that I chose this to wear to the LEGO Movie (second run theater, all movies $1 on Mondays!)--which was delightful, by the way--the geometric print is definitely block-like! Doesn't quite remind me of Legos visually but is fun and playful.

Hat: F21 (similar). Bag: Target (similar/similar/similar). Sandals: Ross (similar/similar). Dress: DIY, here!

Are you wearing maxis yet? Planning to make any new ones this summer?! 

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