#3 LBD and a crocheted Wrap

           Vogue 8593---This pattern has been discontinued but there is a designer dress that has the same pleated neckline. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to use up some more of my black knit fabric stash and try it out. The neckline was the only distinguishing feature and it definitely isn't my favorite LBD! The pleats spread out to a general fullness in the bust, without much shape or control.

Since I wasn't that crazy about the upper part of the dress it seemed the perfect opportunity to wear it with my new crocheted shawl. I wanted something to go with any of my black outfits that would look fairly dressy.  I combined 4 different yarns with the properties of shiny metallic and fuzzy mohair.

I love combining yarns in this method as they look just like some of the very expensive variegated yarns now produced. I just made a simple rectangle and can wear it several ways---as a shrug, a shawl, or a cowl:

It works much better for me to crochet something like this with a huge (P or Q) hook. I use a simple V stitch so the large stitches imitate a knitted look.

Have you seen that Fabric Mart has announced their latest sewing challenge for the contest? http://blog.fabricmartfabrics.com/    This time it is something with a vintage look and the remaining contestants have an extra week to complete it.   I have a vintage pattern in my stash that I have been wanting to use so plan to make it this week along with them.   Is anybody else out there sewing as a "shadow" contestant?

It's fun to do it this way with no stress.   Good luck to all those remaining in the contest and I am looking forward to seeing your projects.   I see SHAMS has already blogged about her "vintage" sewing project and MEG has commented too.  It's really interesting to know their thoughts while they sew so keep informing us, contestants!

LBD #2---- "KNOT" Dress

                                                    

                                                            VOGUE 1359

This is the day that the Fabric Mart entries with a "Little Black Dress" theme are due and there have already been some awesome ones put up on the different contestants' blogs.  Can't wait to see them all either later today or tomorrow!

Though eliminated from the contest last week, I am continuing to sew and really enjoying it more without the time crunch (maybe I'm too old to take the stress!).   In fact I am sewing up several different LBD's with fabric and patterns in my stash.

This is my version of Vogue 1359 which I call the "Knot" dress, because it actually has a knot tied with the 2 front skirt pieces after they are partially sewn to the bodice front.  What a difference it makes in an otherwise pretty plain dress!

Luckily I had attempted a WAISTLINE in one of the other contest challenges so knew exactly how to alter the pattern so the KNOT would hit me at the waist and not on the ribs!  The pattern instructions suggest you "adjust the fullness of the knot", which I followed with plenty to hand-tacking.

I had decided when I was chosen as a contestant that I would try to really "up" my sewing and finishing techniques in an attempt to make the inside look as finished as the outside. I am continuing to strive for this and added a full lining and Hong Kong seam finishes with China silk.

This dress was really quite simple to make once I figured out how to tie the knot.   I have a couple more LBD's waiting in the wings so Stay Tuned!

My Contest NON-entry----LBD #1

Vogue 1341

  

I see that Fabric Mart has just released the next pattern challenge to their readers---a Little Black Dress!

More about that in a minute but first I want to give a huge thanks to the many of you who have written and spoke to me about your regrets at my being "sent home" from the FM contest. Your comments have really overwhelmed me with your kindness.

I should explain to you that the winners and losers are picked not just by popular vote but by their own team of judges (it says so right on their site).  They indicated to me that my loss was because of using so much extra fabric in addition to the 3 pieces in their "bundle".   I DO think this is completely fair since the other contestants made such smashing outfits using just the fabrics that were in their bundle.   I knew I was taking a huge chance when I did it, but after the vision came to me of adding black and making a dress and coat, I couldn't NOT do it.  I wouldn't change a thing if we had "do-overs" because once I had it pictured in my head it wouldn't go away! Probably many of you know the kind of "vision" I am talking about.

Also, Fabric Mart gave me my "Go Home" notice in a completely CLASSY way---adding many compliments about my creativity, style and attitude.   You that are bosses know how much better rejections go down with the rejectee when a little sweetner is added in!

When I first learned of the LBD challenge on Monday I was elated because I really need dresses and have some great Vogue patterns that I wanted to use before the new ones come out. So I went to my stash and pulled out 5 or 6 black or navy fabrics and chose some untried patterns to go with each.   At the time I wished I had time to make all of them------well, guess what: NOW I DO!!!

So I will be blogging about several different "LBD"s as I make them up. The first is Vogue 1341 which is an amazing pattern. It has one humongous piece and 3 smaller ones, none of which look like a dress! It was a challenging puzzle to get it all together and who knows how to go about changing the fitting. What fun it was when I finally got it all together and it looked like a dress!  Best of all, now that I'm not doing it for the contest I could take the time to crochet just the right scarf to go with it. Yes, I am still doing to self-challenge to make 30 knit or crocheted items and sew outfits to go with them---this is #12.

 

So stay tuned for more "Little Black Dresses"

Who is OUT?? ME!!!!

Just got word that I got the lowest score and am out of the Fabric Mart contest. I am not nearly as upset as I thought I might be and am so glad I entered.  Thanks for all the nice comments from you all and to Fabric Mart for sponsoring this fun challenge.   It has been a ball and best of all I came out of it with 4 finished outfits that are really "me" and I will wear.      So if you are ever debating about entering a contest like this I say "Go for It"----I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

One other fortunate thing for me----I am an avid knitter, which has been put on hold for the contest and it is turning into sweater weather here in a hurry.  Just got some wonderful new yarn so there will be the clacking of knitting needles around here soon---hope to be back and show you my new sweater when it's done.

                                                               Thanks Again to all---

Fabric Mart "Bundle" Challenge

In this challenge we were required to make two items, using all three fabrics that we received earlier from Fabric Mart.  Here are my fabrics:
                                                                  

I knew immediately when I saw the raincoat fabric that I wanted to make a coat, but realized I'd have to add additional fabric from my stash (which the judges indicated was okay). I took my extra colors from the "dancer fabric" adding a black wool and ponte knit, hot pink poly, and a vintage "Route 66" fabric I've had for ages, just waiting for the perfect thing.


THE DRESS:  I had been wanting to try this Vogue Marcy Tilton pattern and thought of it when I saw the stripes in my bundle fabric.
                                                         

Unfortunately I did not have enough of the striped fabric to make all the "shingles" on the dress so after some experimenting decided to use the 3 middle ones.   I didn't like the look of the raw edges as instructed by the pattern, so added a black knit binding on the bottoms of the slanted edges.

THE COAT:  I used another Marcy Tilton pattern by Vogue for this:
                                                                            

I had just enough of the bronze raincoat fabric for the body of the coat and used a remnant of black wool for the arms and collar.  The fun part was making the "patches" to go around the bottom and on the shoulder and back of it!         I used quilting techniques to piece together different blocks, using all of my fabrics in some way.   Here are some close-ups:

This project was so much fun and I am ready for the next rainy day---just need a pink umbrella!

To see the other entries to this challenge and vote for your favorite, go to fabricmartfabrics        ON to the next challenge, which we have already started!