Silky Fall dress- Simplicity 3914

I started this a few days ago and completely it very quickly, as I have made this pattern before. I really like how the bodice fits and the boat neck. The black cotton is starting to fade a bit, so it seemed like a good time to make a new one. 

Cost: pattern, (free); fabric $1; zipper ? second hand maybe 25 cents?

 My fabric is this lovely striped silk I bought at the fabric hoarder's estate sale. I really love the colors and thought the strips would go nicely with this pattern, which is designed for stripes.

 I don't usually do tea-length for skirts, but I like it on this one. I gave it a deep hem, but I cheated a did it on the machine. It still looks great because the line of thread goes through the black stripe! Win! However, I didn't measure the skirt before I had my moment of genius, so it is longer than usual.

 Look how billowy the fabric is!

 I had a nice kelly green zipper for the back.

I am in love with this dress. The sleeves are small and fit under a sweater and it is pretty and light. Plus, it will match all of my black tights. I'm excited!

Next, next up: A dress for ME

Well, in case you can't tell from that title, I am bored with making Andrew's coat and am dreaming of future projects for me. He is too giant, it's like flopping around a huge blanket trying to do top-stitching. Also, the welt pockets are looking waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

less than stellar. But I have no more fabric, so whatever. Hopefully it will not be terribly noticeable.

I am going to remake this pattern, Simplicity 3914, which I made about two years ago. I love it, with the contrasting stripes. It is perfect for the striped silk I got at that estate sale awhile ago. 

Soon... soon.... I would say I am just past half-way on Andrew's coat. Hopefully I will finish it by Friday. 

Simplicity 3914 - Black and White Day Dress

Due to the fake-hurricane Ida, I got a three day weekend- a hurrication (hurricane + vacation, everyone uses it, I can't claim I made it up). I already had gone to Jo-Anns the weekend before, so I was ready to sew.

This is the fabric, a black cotton with wavy lines of tiny circles in white. I thought it would be perfect for the pattern, which is for a striped dress with stripes in 2 directions.

The pattern is Simplicity 3914, for a cute dress with short sleeves and a full skirt. The pattern is undated, but it looks very 50s- early 60s to me. The girls on the front have pig noses and are pretty scary. If you love the pattern and are insane, you can buy it here for $55. Yikes. I made an 11, which is for a 31'' bust. I was afraid it would be too tight, but it has a nice ease. It's perfect for a work dress. The pattern calls for 4 3/4 yards, but I bought 4 and it was fine. Luckily.

Sewing up the pattern was fast and easy. I am proud that I set the sleeves in perfectly, since that is the second time i have ever done set-in sleeves.

My only caution: I thought the darts looked overly long, and I was right. I had to pick them out and shorten them. It created a 80s Madonna cone-boob look, which was very ugly. So if you make it, shorten the darts.

I wish it had pockets, but since it is a three piece dirndl skirt, I don't know how that would work. Oh, also I made the sash from view 1 and 3. It looks nice.

(The dog trying to ruin my picture)

All in all, a cute dress! Plus, I probably made the whole thing in 3-5 hours, including cutting. it was really easy. And that includes an hour sewing the hem by hand inf ront of the tv.