Laurel Has Gone Rogue...and Sleeveless

Friends, first and foremost if you haven't seen it already head on over to the Curvy Sewing Collective, where I had the privilege of reviewing the Green Style Laurel Tunic/Dress.  Green Style has agreed to give away a copy of the Laurel pattern to a lucky gal (or guy) so make sure that when you go over to read the review that you leave a comment and enter to win!

As I have mentioned before, I am sewing some resort wear and Summery items in order to get ready for vacation.  Here is my first sew:

Those may or may not be chopsticks in my hair

I sewed the dress in a Fuchsia colored Stretch French Terry that I bought on my day after Christmas fabric binge.  It is from Fabric.com and is available here.  This fabric washed well and sewed up quite nicely.  My pictures make it appear rosy in color, but it is really the color of the fabric on their website, the yellow lighting inside my house just washed the color out a bit.

Do recognize that pattern?  Yep, it is the Green Style Laurel, with a few twists.  I kept the bodice and skirt pieces exactly the same.  But then I cut a 23 inch by 3 inch piece of the knit terry and sewed right sides together on the 3 inch sides, forming a loop.  Then I pressed it in half long ways with wrong sides together and attached it at the neck to form a collar.  Does that make sense?  Sorry that I didn't take pictures of the process!  I also added one row of top stitching around the neckline.

Look Ma, no bra strap!

My next step was to finish off the arm holes with bias tape.  I just attached the bias tape to the outside of the arm holes, and then turned it in and sewed it down.  I intentionally left the turquoise bias tape sticking out a bit as a design element, because I really liked the way it set off the fuchsia fabric.

Stretch french terry curls up beautifully, so rather than fight it, I decided to use it as a design element and let the unfinished hem curl up.  The more you stretch the edge the more it will curl.

Can you see the curled edge?

I really like the way this tuned out, and can see me making more of these come Summer.  It is perfect for lazy days floating out on the ocean!

The scooped neck line is just how I like it, and I intend to transfer it over to my TNT t-shirt pattern.  My hubby even commented on how much he liked the neckline.  I can also see me making it shirt length with vented side seams.  The possibilities really are endless when you start playing around with your favorite patterns.

Have you restyled any of your favorite patterns lately?

A Black and White Green Style Laurel Sweater Dress #SewnWithMood

Friends, there has been a lot of hub bub and rigmarole in the sewing world about knit dresses that feel like jammies, so I had to join in the action and make myself something comfy but warm enough to wear in the snow!

Ta Da!

During my day after Christmas fabric binge, I ordered 2.5 yards of this fantastic Black and White Wool Sweater Knit from Mood Fabrics.  Ya'll I love it!!!  It is heavy weight and fantastically warm.  I was a little hesitant seeing as it is wool that it might be itchy, so imagine my surprise and delight when it didn't itch not one little bit!  Though I am not at all affiliated with Mood, if you are looking for a warm sweater knit for a cold weather wrap dress, or a nice warm sweater, get yourself over there and order some of this, because they still have it in stock, and with temperatures dropping I don't think it will be around for long!

I ordered a few other goodies from Mood, but the best surprise of all came in a small zip top bag.

That's right friends...it is my very first Sewn With Mood tag.  There is something thrilling about the little things in life, and I giggled like a school girl when I found this among my treasures.

As for my Sweater Dress Pattern, it is a Green Style Creations Laurel.  This isn't my first Laurel.  Though it has not yet been lifted to pattern addiction the way their Centerfield Raglan has, it is a great pattern with lots of variation.

The Laurel is perfect for my pear with a big booty body type.  The empire waist line shows off my best assets without clinging to my liabilities...if you know what I mean!

Those girls with all the Ks in their names ain't got nothing on me!

I did make an alteration to the pattern this go round.  I decided that since I normally do a sway back adjustment on most dresses and shirts I should do something on this as well, because my original Laurel hangs a little low at the back bodice.  Since the Laurel comes with cutting lines for short, regular and long torsos, and I use the long torso for the front bodice, I just curved from the long torso line to the short torso line on the pattern.

This little adjustment made the back bodice perfect length, with no dragging or sloppiness.

I decided to hand sew the hem and sleeve cuffs, because I just don't like the way that a double needle finish looks on a heavy knit.  Plus it gave me an excuse to use some of the new gadgets that I got for Christmas (these nifty hem clips...thanks Mom!)

I am very happy with how this great Italian Wool Sweater Knit Dress turned out.  I think that it will fill a void in my wardrobe, and it will keep me warm.  The high here in Indy is supposed to be seven degrees.  So cold in fact that school is on a two hour delay because it will be below zero when the buses would normally run!  I see lots of warm ginger tea, and wool knits in my future!!

Friends, what are you sewing to keep warm as the mercury is dropping?  Maybe a long overdue Winter Coat, or some nice Fuzzy PJs?  Tell me...what is on the cutting table!?