Catty little dress

More wishful sewing, but I made another Lady Skater. This time I used long sleeves and shortened the bodice a half inch. The print is a little much and the knit is not the best quality. One of those "If I just spend eight more dollars I get free shipping" purchases. I think it made a great Lady Skater though. I figured if I'm going to use a bold print I better own it and wear it all over. I love it and have already worn it to work with quite a few compliments.

Here it is without the belt. It looks fine, the belt just breaks it up a bit. The waist seam is reinforced with clear elastic which I think is genius. Can I tell you, this dress is so comfortable. It is like wearing a T-shirt and no pants. How much better can it get? I love knit dresses, especially long sleeved ones.

The neckband I basted with my machine first, then serged it. I then used my twin needle to finish it off. It looks great.

The sleeves on this version has cuffed sleeves. I love how it looks and this method is so easy. These I just serged on the used my twin needle. Overall this dress from cutting to hemming took under three hours.  

I think my assistant and I have our Halloween costumes too. I could be a leopard and she could be a tiger!

Chevron Peplum Cardigan

I bought this thin knit just for McCalls 6844 last year when it was cool, but neglected to sew it up until the summer. Again, I am sewing for hope in the summer heat. Luckily my office is kept at roughly 9 degrees above freezing, so I am getting to wear some of my winter wear. Public Officials: I bet if you turned the AC up in public schools all us teachy types could probably get a raise and enough left over for ipads for all students. Yes, it's that cold. I digress, back to the sew.

This is view C. It has an open front and a high low hem. I like that more than I thought I would.

I especially like the way the chevron print acts on the drapey peplum. It seems to wrap around me.

Here is a better view of the high low hem. I did shorten the bodice to the petite size and it falls just right. I fall into the category of women with no rear to speak of, I feel like this cardigan gives the illusion there is something back there.

Overall I would call this one a win. I would also like to make it in a fleece or sweatshirt material. I got several compliments at work on it. On the other hand all Mr. Thinks He Can will say is that it doesn;t look like my typical style. I agree, but it's fun.

Cynthia Rowley sweater dress

See, I have been sewing. However, in Houston it is 100 degrees (F) and 100% humidity, so I have been locked in the air conditioning sewing winter clothes. It's like some sort of sick sewing rain dance that doesn't work and leaves me with a closet full of clothes it is too hot to wear! On to business though - I love this dress. I used Simplicity 2054, view A. The whole dress and cowl came together in just a couple hours.

The cowl is pleated and is pretty cool. I didn't know if I would like it at all, but the way it is drafted is pretty clever. The cowl itself would make some pretty snazzy presents.

LOL, this is Mr. Thinks He's Can. Seconds before this he was whining because lightening was going to strike us, hey storms cool it down around here and you have to take advantage. Then I was all, that scarf looks good on you, let's take a selfie. No more whining about lightening! To his credit there was pretty bad lightening and as soon as we got back in it began to pour. 

The dress can be worn without the cowl. Without the cowl I added a belt to give it a little shape. It really is just kind of a big t-shirt when worn without the cowl. I also made it a bit shorter that I usually do, but I figured in the winter I would wear it with leggings.

Here is the real situation. There is a pool and it is hot as heck. Immediately after this I had to take the dress off because I was going to die from heat stroke. Hopefully I can wear it next month. For the fabric I used this one from Fabric Mart. It is soft an lightweight without being sheer. Also, there is no itch factor at all. I totally recommend it. I would like a cardigan in it, so I may be ordering more.