One Pattern, Two Garments

I'm pretty far behind on posting about newly made garments, but have pretty legit reasons for this. From a broken dryer a few weeks ago, to a malfunctioning hot water heater, then a really leaky toilet turned whole bathroom renovation, the past couple of weeks have been a whirl wind of distractions that are necessary to take care of.

Back in February, I made a rayon challis dress using Simplicity 1810. I really loved how it turned out and knew this pattern was a keeper. I made it from a floral burst print rayon challis from Fabric Mart. (Bought about 2 years ago.) 

The pattern was easy and because it is a loose design, the belt helps create a waist on an otherwise shapeless dress. The belt is actually attached to the dress. When you sew the darts into the back of the dress, you insert the belt edges into the dart. Then when you sew the dart, the belt stays attached. I always lose belts that coordinate with specific garments, so this is perfect for me!

The other thing I liked about this pattern was the fact that the facing ends up being stitched down without hand-stitching. The pattern calls for you to put bias tape on the armholes. I created my own bias tape from the fabric. The facing is wide enough to catch in the armhole and actually helps make the shoulder strap sturdier. 

This dress is so comfortable. It is light and airy and perfect for really hot days. Wear it on a cool day with a cardigan. I loved the pattern so much I decided to make a blouse! The pattern has both dress and tunic/blouse length.

This tunic took just an afternoon to cut and sew from start to finish. I would definitely recommend it to a beginner and as seasoned seamstress. The blue ikat print rayon challis is from Fabric.com, bought about a year ago.

Now it's time to start thinking about my fall wardrobe. What is everyone else making for fall? Stay tuned for my fall wardrobe wish list and a recent fabric purchase!

Skirt Obsession and a Quick Study of Fabric Types Using the Same Pattern

Now that summer is just around the corner, I've been thinking about making casual skirts that I can wear to work. Shorts are usually a summer staple for me, but when I feel like looking a little nicer, yet casual, I go to skirts. I've been seeing knit skirts being worn around town and thought, "I can do that!" I finally found the perfect pattern: Simplicity 1616. This pattern includes skirts made from knits and wovens. I selected view B, but shortened it about 14 1/2" above the hem line. I used size 18, knowing that I might have to do some alterations depending on how the yoke fits around my hips. My hips are the hardest part to work around sometimes!

The first skirt I made is from an ITY knit print. This fun retro floral print is from Fabric Mart's retail store, bought a couple years ago.

The second skirt is made from a rayon knit print from France - purchased at Fabric Mart. (It only made it through the wholesale division, sorry!) This rayon print was more on the lighter side, but not sheer. It has a crepe-finish, along with an NYC themed print. I've loved this fabric from the day I laid eyes on it, but had no idea what to do with it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to make an entire dress from it, but when I decided I was making this skirt, I thought it was perfect! (Plus I have about a yard left that I can make a shirt or tank!)

I intentionally selected two different fabric types because I wanted to see how each laid and fit. I love ITY knits just because they are comfortable, fashionable and easy to travel with. The ITY knit seems to have a little more weight to it as well as stability/ sturdiness that the rayon knit did not. Therefore, the ITY knit snugged my hips while still hugging and flaring a bit. The rayon knit was airy and lightweight with a decent amount of stretch (I think it was 4-way stretch, actually.) But when making the yoke, I ended up sewing it about 1/2" in on the side seams because the rayon knit stretched so much and was lighter than the ITY, therefore feeling like it may fall off after a whole day's use.

Now I want to make one for every day of the week! They are so comfortable! Just pair it with a basic shirt and your good to go for work, travel, or a weekend outing! So what are my plans for future skirts? I'm going to make one in a black or gray jersey knit so it can go with a variety of shirts in my closet. I would also like to try one out of a silk knit I have in my stash. I don't have quite enough to cut the yoke out of the same fabric though. So what I am going to do is find a coordinating fabric that can be used for the yoke. Does anyone know if you can wash silk knits? If so, should I do it before I cut out the pattern? Also, if I wash it first, should I select a solid silk knit for the yoke or can I select another fabric content?