completed - Sorbetto from Colette Patterns

finished sorbetto this weekend. was totally procrastinating by playing ffxiv most of time. this is the second time i've done colette patterns. the first was the mini bloomers that i kinda messed up because i didn't think transferring marks was all that important (yeah, lol). this time, i faithfully followed the instructions and i must say that they were very clear and the shirt was very well constructed.

the less than satisfactory - i didn't anticipate the shirt to be so fitted - at least through the armholes. i cut a size 4, and had to lengthen it by 2 inches. the pattern itself was too short for me even though i do not have a long torso. the only complaints against the pattern were the tightness of the armholes and the length.

construction wise, i used french seams on the shoulders and side seams. omg i love love love french seams! i used to be so intimidated by it but once i got used to sewing the wrong sides together first, it was so easy! (a big thank you to A Fashionable Stitch's seam finishing tutorials!) i HAND-STITCHED the bias tape together, which was the most time-consuming part of this shirt. (i used colette pattern's bias tape tutorial).

i'm wearing the shirt at work today!

close-up of the bindings:

and some love for french seams:

funny story about the fabric, which was on clearance @ hancock, 100% egyptian cotton. i hesitated on purchasing the fabric because it looked kind dowdy (it looks less dowdy on me, right??). i knew i wanted to make a top out of it, but wasn't sure how it would turn out. i asked the cutter lady if it looked like curtains. she responded enthusiastically, "yes it does!" my next question was "so...you think if i made a shirt out of it, that it would look like curtains?" she immediately backtracked and said "no no i don't think it would look like curtains!" hahaha! anything to make a sale!

so let's see:

pattern: free
fabric: 1$/yd (i only used a yard!)
thread: 100% polyester from stash. i still have lots of coats & clark threads left. bleh. $2.00
grand total: $3.00

ETA: EVERYONE SHOULD MAKE A SORBETTO! TRUST.

~another project finished before my vacation 2 weeks ago after the jump~

v1236 IRL

wore this dress to the office yesterday and got many compliments.

only problem was that cotton/chambray...wrinkles a lot!

WIP - vogue 1236 (dkny)

still needs:

-hemming
-slip stitch the openings on shoulder straps
-belt
-laundering (to get rid of the marks)

full frontal:

you can still see the basted pleats in this photo.

close-up of the pleats, sans basting, avec lots of markings:

and a seam shot:

yay lace!

there were definitely some steps i skipped because i JUST WANT TO FINISH THIS DAMN DRESS (e.g. understitching the facings, connecting straps the correct way so the seams are enclosed). next time i'm probably not going to include the pockets, because let's face it, i cannnot go anywhere without a purse. also, i'm probably going to underline it with muslin because i don't like fusible interfacings.

vogue pattern's big sale!

guess what, fellow pattern hoarders? vogue is having an online sale on most of their retail patterns! this includes designer, vogue, *and* easy vogue! only 3.99$ each plus shipping is free for orders over 25$. you bet i stocked up on some cute dress patterns. (yes it seems like i only buy dress patterns for some reason).

i usually buy patterns based on difficulty (and um...style). and i usually buy those rated VERY SUPER EASY OMG to kind of easy maybe. but there were some really cute vogue patterns that i just had to get even though they were rated OUT OF YOUR SEWING CAPABILITIES. here they are:

v1102 - andreakatzobjects - yes i would like a giant bow on my back please! probably too much in hot pink linen, no?

v1236 - dkny - super simple! super cute! i wanted it immmmmmediately after seeing it. i'm picturing it in this beautiful swiss dot fabric i saw @ hancock:

it's even more beautiful in person. trust. 

v1224 - tracy reece - yes. ok. say it with me. it's~a~dress. would wear it with leggings anyways. but i swear this is like...at least 3 inches longer than an anna sui design which also purports to be a dress. yeahokay.

v1207 - cynthia steffe - omg i have no words for this dress. just. gorgeous. i know you can't really tell the details on the sleeves because of the fabric, but they are diagonally gathered and again, gorgeous. 

v1190 - tracy reece. i don't like the zigzag fabric, it distracts one from the detailing on the dress. there are many a ruffle on the shoulders. and ruffles = love.

now onto the less exciting (read: non-designer) patterns:

v8630 - very easy vogue - um. i think i have something super similar from mccall's. i like fitted sheaths, and the collars are somewhat interesting. and it's also very easy. i don't need to justify my choices. 

v8552 - very easy vogue - i <3 the giant pockets in view A. i'm kind of sick of the pleated neckline. but i like sack dresses. especially sack dresses with big pockets for...candy bars. sold!

better start hustling or summer will have come and gone without any of these patterns finding a home on me. 

vintage vogue patterns!

2$ each @ JoAnn's (liquidation sale):

gorgeous. i know!