Simplicity 3745

Well this has been on the backburner for a LONG while! This is Simplicity 3745:


Remember back a few months ago when I posted the bodice section?


I was disgusted with my topstitching so I threw the whole thing into the UFO pile. It's been staring at me ever since. Just to refresh where I was on this pattern...I used a rayon challis I've had in stash forEVER (Shannon has the mint colorway in this!) and added contrast bands using a lightweight Asian cotton print. I cut a straight 18 and added a bit extra at the side seams of the bodice piece rather than do an FBA. I also omitted the zipper so that this was a pull-on style (hey, it's kimono sleeves with a full & flowy skirt. No zip required!)

When I was pinning the skirt onto the bodice last night, I realized (when I was on my 2nd to last pin) that I forgot to add the contrast band into this seam! Doh. So rather than unpin it all and stitch up the band/attach the band/repin...I omitted the band instead. Cheeky, I know.

After I got the dress stitched together & tried it on to check fit & length...I discovered that I loved the length of this dress AS IS. But I still had a whole section of the contrast cotton to add a 2-3" band at the bottom! I threw leg-phobia-caution to the wind and omitted that too!!

Here's the finished dress on me (at an odd angle, but the camera is on the porch swing!)



Here's the neckline a little closer up. It has a tiny bit of ripply stuff going on, but that's to be expected with this type of kimono fit in my experience. And it's not enough to fret over at all. It also has something to do with the slightly heavier band fabric, I'm pretty certain.


The print doesn't match up neatly at the bust seam, but you know... I don't even care. It's a crazy allover oval print, and with those pleats and the gathering, and the inverse scooped V at center front...no way I was ever going to match it up.

Here's the hem...I just serged it. I might turn up a teeny tiny hem (scant 3/8") later. But only if I get brave and decide I'm not too old for leggings. Otherwise I'm going with the serged edge hem rather than make it any shorter.


And that's it! I have one more UFO I should finish up, but I have SO many things I want to make before I go on vacation, including a Collete pattern or two, and this J Stern Designs top:


I mean, seriously! How stinking cute is this?? Be sure to click for a larger view. The credit for this find totally goes to the also Stinking Cute Debbie Cook for turning me onto this pattern line. (You can see the whole line at J Stern Designs.) I'd also like to make about a bajillion BWOF knit tops for my hot, Arizona trip which is fast approaching.

Tonight I'm on my way to the G-man's 8th grade promotion program! Here's a little Marvin Gaye to see you off on this quite beautiful evening...

Mercy Mercy Me...Have a listen!

holy crap.

Uh...yum?

amazing.

If you weren't watching Oprah on Monday afternoon, then make a special trip to youtube to see Charice.


Her first single is Note to God, and it is breathtaking. Prepare to be speechless at the gigantic voice that comes out of this tiny girl...

(I'd link to the video, but the first two I tried to link to
have already been pulled.
Just do a search! It's inspiring!)

Favorite Things Prairie Girl

My yellow bird Prairie Girl top is finished! Ifinished serging & hemming just in time to race outside for pics before the sun went down. Barely.


I guess I like it well enough to wear it, but to be honest, I'm not totally in love with it. Truthfully, it kinda reminds me of a scrub top. (albeit it a fancy one.) It fit pretty well with minimal work out of the envelope, with no FBA on this version! And the bustline fits extremely well. No gaping in the neckline whatsoever! This is a really crappy picture, but I think you can tell how smooth the neckline lays against my chest:



I started with a size 18 and added some extra length at the bustline seam and some extra at side seams for "insurance". I ended up removing all of the length plus some, and all of the "extra" at the side seam too. The under bust seam was WAY too low...it was at my waist at the side seam! I had to remove alot from that seam, and I did so just by basting a deeper seam allowance, then checking the fit before stitching.

This little top has optional ties, and it pulls over the head. I definitely added the ties because I didn't want to emphasize the boxy, scrub top appearance. I can't decide if I like the ties or not though. They seem to pull at that seam and make me feel maternity-toppish. Ugh.

I like the idea of a pullover, cotton top in theory. Dangit. I do think I'll make it again in a softer fabric, maybe a voile or maybe a lawn like a Liberty. Still debating the length too. I'm kind of into longer tops these days, but this one might need a deeper hem. It's hitting me at the widest part of my bum. Yay.

Here's a saucy arms pose:


The sleeves fit great! Overall I'd say I'm pretty happy with the pattern. I think if I were happier with my figure then I'd be ecstatic with it! I'm not so happy with the bod these days. I'm surrounded by people who look wonderful but are dieting and it confuses me & makes me think there's something wrong with ME because I'm not on the diet bandwagon.

And yes, I know this makes me a little looney. I can deal.

As for my top, I think it will have to sit in the closet for a few days and marinate.

You know, these aren't the greatest pictures. I've screwed up the settings on my camera and I'm getting mighty aggravated! I can't get the resolution correct. Grrr. Well, there's that and try taking a self-timed photo with this going on:


Camera hog. :P

yawn.

I spent the weekend sleeping...and now it's FREAKING MONDAY!!!

I think I have a virus. I'm itchy all over my chest with a scaly rash. And did I mention sleepy??

I forced myself out of my comfy recliner (green hand me down recliner, how I love thee) and stitched together this top from Favorite Things:


It's the Prairie Girl, and I've had it in my pattern stash for several months.

This version by Spool has captivated me since they posted it back in the fall.


I'm using this yellow bird print. I really wanted to use my blue colorway of the Amy Butler peony fabric above, but I can't find it. Where does 3 yards of Amy Butler fabric hide, anyway?


Note that I am still on my yellow kick.

Need to hem & finish inside seams and this one's finito, so hopefully I can snap some pics before I lose light tonight!