Sewing Dresses

25 Jan Vogue 9022

Posted at 15:45h in Mood Fabrics, Sewing Dresses, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 178 Comments

How many times have you seen a ready-to-wear garment that you KNEW you could make… if only you had the pattern? That was certainly my reaction upon seeing this Akris Punto dress, and when I noticed some similarities in Vogue 9022 to the $995.00 dress, I couldn’t resist. True, the pattern is split vertically rather than horizontally, but I was feeling adventurous, and besides, I loved the pockets. How did I do? What I really like about the Akris Punto dress is its unstructured but not too oversized nature. I have avoided kimono sleeves because they appear so large, however, Vogue describes this pattern as fitted. After making...

12 Oct McCall’s 6355

Posted at 16:17h in McCall's Sewing Pattern, Sewing Dresses by goodbyevalentino 35 Comments

Happy Monday, Everyone! What's better to spice up mundane activities than wearing a new dress? At last, an everyday dress...

08 Oct Vogue 9017 and Butterick 4856

Posted at 07:09h in Craftsy, Craftsy.com, Mood Fabrics, Mood Sewing Network, Ready-to-Wear Fast 2014, Sewing Dresses, sewing with knits, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 118 Comments

Greetings from Talbots ;) Hmmm...

01 Oct Famous Frocks Giveaway!

Posted at 14:15h in Sewing Books, Sewing Dresses by goodbyevalentino 405 Comments

The kind staff from Chronicle Books sent me a newly released book to review entitled, Famous Frocks - The Little Black Dress by Dolin Bliss O'Shea. (not to be confused with the book Famous Frocks by Sara Alm and Hannah McDevitt) What a beauty! Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly. . . . Each of these women had an influential take on the most classic wardrobe staple of all: the Little Black Dress. In this chic sewing book, patternmaker Dolin Bliss O'Shea pulls inspiration from famous LBDs throughout history—including Mary Quant's mod mini, a classic wrap dress worn by Liza Minelli, Princess Diana's smart A-line,...

14 Sep Oscar de la Renta Poppy Floral Taffeta & Vogue 1303

Posted at 09:30h in Craftsy.com, Mood Fabrics, Mood Sewing Network, Sewing Dresses, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 96 Comments

What do you get when you cross an Oscar de la Renta Taffeta with a Kay Unger pattern and a left-handed seamstress? It’s not the first time I’ve sewn the mirror image of an asymmetrical pattern and I doubt it will be my last :) I a m s o h a p p y to be sewing whatever strikes my fancy again at the Mood Sewing Network! As soon as I wrapped up the final post-wedding details, I retrieved this Oscar de la Renta Poppy Red Floral Silk Taffeta from my Mood Fabrics stash. The bright colors and cheerful design were just what...

21 Jun MoB Beginnings…

Posted at 13:30h in Craftsy, sewing bloggers, sewing blogs, Sewing Dresses, Susan Khalje Sewing Class, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 90 Comments

Mother “When are you going to start on your dress, Sarah? I’m getting worried.” Me “Today. As soon as we finish up at the lampshade store. ” …..and so after months of procrastination accompanied by some angst, I began the Mother of the Bride dress on Tuesday afternoon. It’s true, I’ve been putting it off while hoping to achieve the elusive perfect weight, shape, size etc……….. I mean what if I lose an inch in my waist after I make the dress? In March I asked for your help in finding fabric and a pattern for my Mother of the Bride...

12 Jun Theory Striped Maxi

Posted at 01:15h in Mood Fabrics, New Look Sewing Patterns, Sewing Dresses, sewing with knits, Uncategorized, Yellow by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Once again, the spirits of Marcy the Medium have influenced my fabric selection! “You need more yellow in your life,” she stated. I think I ordered the best yellow a n y t h i n g ever available, for Mood Fabrics' Theory Light Canary Striped Viscose Ponte Blend has more than surpassed my expectations! I wasn’t ready to put away the pattern from my last project (New Look 6210) quite yet - especially since the fit had been tweaked to perfection. Besides, I had set out to make a maxi and ended up with a short dress. The phenomenal drape of this fabric begged...

06 May The 30 Day Dress

Posted at 21:44h in Ruffles, Sewing Dresses, Susan Khalje Sewing Class by goodbyevalentino 141 Comments

……… also known as the Baltimore dress is completed. I had the pleasure of taking it apart again only to discover the opportunities for alterations were limited…… but maybe my 30 day investment needed little else than minor adjustments. After separating the skirt from the bodice and removing the top ruffle, I removed all of the gathering threads and started over. Most of the gathers in the skirt were replaced with darts giving me a smoother fit around the waist. I cut 14 inches of width off of the ruffle but sadly realized my new vision for the dress looked disproportionate. The decrease...

01 Mar New Look 6910

Posted at 08:14h in clothing designers, Mood Fabrics, New Look Sewing Patterns, Sewing Dresses, silk, Uncategorized, Yellow by goodbyevalentino 132 Comments

It’s the time…. of the season…. when love runs high…… That means all things wedding around here. With two twenty-something daughters, the fun never stops as someone is always getting engaged or married. Three years ago the wedding season caught me off guard and I spent a fortune outfitting everyone for wedding related occasions. Now, I’m always in the Mood for a wedding. Sewing has given me access to the world’s greatest designers in an entirely new dimension, especially when sewing with fabric from Mood! I’m wearing Carolina Herrera to the next wedding :) (check out Mood’s Carolina Herrera fabrics here) I love Carolina Herrera so...

24 Dec Vogue 8532

Posted at 07:20h in Craftsy.com, Mood Fabrics, Sewing Dresses, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 158 Comments

Santa Baby, Leave a sable underneath the tree for me…… :) While waiting for Santa, I sewed one more holiday dress, this one for a January wedding. I have never seen a Carolina Herrera I didn’t love which includes this cobalt blue paisley silk brocade from Mood Fabrics. Yum……. I was sold on the color alone until the fabric arrived. The quality of this brocade is unlike any I have seen or touched. It’s that good, and once again I found myself scared to cut my fabric. What would Carolina do? Santa baby……. give me an answer! I made a muslin from an old Vogue pattern - 8532, now...