I have been so sick for a week. Every day I feel like I might be getting better but have a few hours where I just want to go lay down. I had signed up to test the Tuileries Dress before I got sick and was able to sew it up yesterday.
It sews up in a couple hours and my daughter loves it and the in-seam pockets. See all the other tester versions here.
Updated to add: I used the last bit of anchor fabric I had from this dress. It's up-cycled fabric and a bit sheer so I wish I had lined the skirt also. This pattern fits true to size for my gal (currently a 4T). Not much room to grow and not too small, but it's comfy. She wanted to wear it all day, even to nap in... I said no. I didn't make any variations to the pattern except I cut up the center back of the skirt and made a seam in which to help strengthen and attach my zip. Speaking of zips this is probably the best invisible zip I've done and I was a sewing zombie that day.
I tested the Endless Dress pattern for Jocole a few weeks ago. I had the thought to use a great velvet but the store was out by the time I went shopping so I used some fabrics in my stash. These fabrics at one point were bed sheets and curtains, now look at them! I love that there is a hint of peachy pink under the lace and my little one just loves the dress period!
It's called the Endless Dress because you can make SO many variations of the dress. Check out this Jocole blog post to see just what I mean! And check out this inspirational album to see what others have done. I myself want to make a chevron version and one out of a gold polka dot print for spring/summer.
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Pattern Description: Endless Dress from Jocole. A classic style dress with a peter pan collar, empire length or waist length bodice. 3 sleeve length options, and tunic or knee length skirting.
Pattern Sizing: I made the 4T and it was a good fit but in the future I'll add a sash or ties in the side seams to bring in the bodice sides just a bit.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done with it? Yes.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
They were. And she has great illustrations to go with. On the 4t I would add another button close to the waist seam but otherwise it's a great pattern, and definitely a great place to start and let your imagination run wild... might make an Annie dress for my daughter for Halloween.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
The pattern is great and there are so many variations that I want to sew it again and again. The collar itself came together really easily and other testers commented on how much they liked the collar instructions. Also there are snap instructions if you prefer snaps to buttons (for back closure)... so really it's just so great.
~ ~ ~ Risa ~ ~ ~
Hi all,
I have so much to post about... but most of my free time is spent sewing. I have a couple "tips and tricks" posts coming up and my first ever pattern release. I'm excited! Make sure you become a follower so you don't miss out on anything.
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I had sewn up this dress before we moved, but the hem was too long and crooked. So I had to finish it up when we got to the new place. I love it!
I love thrifting. There I said it, now we can move on. Sometimes when I go to the thrift store I find nothing and sometimes I make out like a bandit... this was one of those bandit times. I found this bed sheet fabric and had to have it for "something." While perusing pinterest I came across this dress and knew my fabric could be replicated into something similar.
To turn my fabric into this dress I started with Simplicity 2599 for the shirt and sleeves. That pattern has markings for an elastic waist so it was perfect. I cut my shirt off 1" past the markings and drafted an A-line skirt pattern for the skirt with the top portion as large as the bottom of the shirt pattern. I seamed them together and then used the seam allowance for my elastic casing. First time doing that and it won't be my last.
For the sleeves I used this tutorial to convert my sleeve pattern into a tulip sleeve. The sleeve stuck out too much for my small arms so I took it in an inch or so underneath the arm... next time I would leave out the seam allowance when drafting the tulip sleeve.
I also fully lined the dress and sleeves so I wouldn't have to pair a slip with it. I finished off the bottom with a blind hem. It was my first time doing that and it went well enough that I then fixed the hem on a pair of my husbands dress pants.
I've been using re/up-cycled laces for some of my wedding dress creations. Well I had a teensy bit left over and wanted to make something for myself.
I've been having fun with the new feature on pinterest where you can search your own pins and so I typed in lace and searched my pins. So many fun things came up but I was thinking I needed to make a boxy top that I could pair with colorful skinnies and maxi skirts.
I always find inspiration on pinterest... don't we all? I've decided it's time I start making some of that inspiration a reality and making things for myself.
I used Simplicity 2599 for the bodice and just omitted the bust darts. This is a super easy top to make but for this lace version I made it much more difficult. Normally you would have a facing for the neckline, but I just used bias tape for the neckline and to hem the sleeves. I also used french seams everywhere, even where I set in the sleeves. Also I removed the sleeve ease. I love how this top turned out and it was worth the extra work for french seams.
One more thing. I think that the more you sew the more you develop a system for piecing things together. For simple shirts this is my system:
1. Neckline: binding, facing, or hemming. I start here. Sometimes this depends on the pattern. I plan on making some shawl collar sweaters for my boy this winter and I'm sure with those I'll have to sew the shoulders and then do the neckline... but for this top and lots of other projects this is how I do things.
2. Shoulders
3. Set in sleeves. I might hem sleeves before I set them in or after... but I prefer to hem them close to this point... even if it's not how you're supposed to do things it's easier than trying to hem a closed up sleeve on my machine.
4. Side and sleeve seams.
5. Hem the bottom of the shirt.
6. Done! :)
I'm offering this top in my esty shop.
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