Simplicity 2253- Prom dress!

From the days my daughter was a little girl, when I blissfully sewed her cute little cotton dresses with ruffle prints and lace, I dreamed of the day I'd make her a prom dress.  Enter 2012....and the day has arrived. 

This was a fun journey, through three patterns, two muslins...and finally ending up with:

The pattern is a one shoulder fitted (very fitted) dress with a side zipper.  Made out of an irridescent purple shantung fabric of unknown fabric content that changed texture when touched by the iron at any heat.  Alternating inserts of a sequined mesh overlaid on the shantung added for bling.

Loved how it turned out though!   Made a few mistakes....1) made the muslin out of rayon challis, which turned out to be a bad idea...it gave quite a bit more than the final fabric, and fit nicely.  When I made the dress out of the shantung, the fully interfaced bodice was as stiff as a board, and was about 3 inches too small!!!  2) Always measure the finished LENGTH of a piece of fabric after the iron hits it..because sometimes it shrinks!!  When the first version was done, it was short- really short...so I didn't mind making it again for that reason alone!!

I learned lots...1) Invisible zippers are a piece of cake, I had never done one before and was so impressed with it! I'll definitely make more stuff with zippers now.  2) My machine (Pfaff 7570 that I have barely used the fabulous functions of...embarrassingly) does an amazing blind hem!  3) Muslins are not a waste of time, but will certainly use a fabric of similar texture next time! 

The pleated ruffle thing at the shoulder was pretty much an improv item, and the pattern says as much...it says "place it similar to the pattern envelope" or something like that, so I did.  I finished sewing this on while my daughter was getting her hair and make up done.

Here's a back view! Sorry about the pile of bricks, we're in the middle of another project right now! 

Simplicity 1806

I am so grateful to have found the "Starting at the Top 2012" sew along. I'm not a super active blogger, but I have been bitten by the sewing bug lately, needed some new tops, and really wanted to get sewing again!

I have a decent stash, and I've decided that what isn't sewn by the end of 2012- will go. I'm really working on getting things made, I hate to say goodbye to fabric! I have always had a joke that I have a fabulous wardrobe, it's just in three yard pieces in my sewing room!

Today was an awesome day, got lots done, even secured our computer network finally, but now we can't connect to it from anything but an iPad or Nook....hmm....looks like this will be a case where I call in a professional.

So, heres the sewing report, with pictures to follow tomorrow. I picked up a top pattern at JoAnn the other day that met my criteria of..no interfacing required, could be made of cotton, and no zipper required!!! Interfacing, I just don't care for, I need to study this more, I'm probably using the wrong kind, COTTON- I live where it is hot, super hot, in the summer, and I need to wear as little as is modestly and legally possible, so cotton is a must, and lastly, I hate puttin zippers in, mostly because I'm an impatient sewer and don't take the time to do it right.

I used a piece of batik cotton gauze for this top, and I made view A with the front ruffles. I cut the 16, and it needed only a little adjustment on the sides, possibly because the gauzy fabric stretched out a bit when I pressed it. I LOVE how this top turned out! The only thing is its a little low, but it will be great for weekends and vacations! Next up, the same pattern, but I believe view E out of a navy blue batik.