Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long (6) All Done

Just a reminder that this is the pattern and the fabric I chose for this Sew-A-Long.  I used the top right view on the pattern.  As I said before, I love the fabric, not so much love for the pattern!

I have finished the dress and vest just in time.  Today is the last day of the sew a long and all pictures are to be posted today.

I embroidered hearts on the vest and dress in colors to tie in the sleeve fabric and the dress fabric.

I hope my grand-daughter loves it and wears it proudly!
Hope you have enjoyed following along and I will be back soon participating in another sew-a-long.  Until then, Happy Sewing!

Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long (5) Sewing the Dress

Well, I have to say I don't care for this pattern very much and most likely will not ever use it again!   I think simplicity has some very cute patterns, but I have found that the directions and construction on some of them lack something to be desired! I am not talking bad about the company, I have used some of their patterns that I loved to pieces, but sometimes they are absolutely harder then they have to be!

This is a very cute dress.  I love the fabrics I have chosen and I think they go together well, but the pattern has way too much unnecessary gathering. Considering it does not have ruffles or a full skirt, the pattern could have been constructed without all the dang gathers!  I had to gather around the front of the yoke, the back yoke did have tucks instead of gathers and I wish I had done that on the front, gathers around the sleeve caps and the sleeve bottoms. If I had time I would change a lot about this pattern, but the last day of this sew a long is September 15th and with my work schedule, I just don't have the time.


 I had to do double rows of stitching  for gathers in a lot of places that would have been fine with just some easing.  The sleeves are way too full along the length  and a little less gathers would have made this area a little slimmer which would have created a nicer looking sleeve, in my opinion.  I don't care for the way the sleeve looks on this dress at all.  I don't know quite what it is, but I am not a happy camper!

The front yoke is fine, but with the zipper, it would have been nice if the back had been a full back piece instead of the yoke.  The yoke, yoke facing, and interfacing make it very bulky in the seam line across the back where the zipper is placed.  One piece for the entire length of the back would have made this a much smoother application.

Any way, I am glad that it is finished except for the hem and I will start on the vest tomorrow.  I had considered not even doing the vest since the dress itself has taken so much time, but because of the type of  sleeves, I think I will make the vest.

I did do an embroiderd heart in the middle of the front yoke with green and yellow to tie the colors of the sleeve fabric into the dress.  It looks nice and I do like it.  I will also incorporate this look onto the vest also, possible on the front corners of the collar.

I will have to wait until September the 15th to post pictures of the complete outfit, this is a Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long stipulation.

Happy Sewing!
Click on the link below to read more about this sew-a-long.
http://sew-a-longs.blogspot.com/2011/08/simplicity-project-runway-sew-long.html

Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long (4) Ready to Sew

Good grief!  I cannot believe it has taken me so long to get to this point!  In my younger years I could have started this project in the morning and had it hanging in the closet by bed time!  Of course I did not work outside my home then, I was a stay at home Mom and when the kids left for school, I sewed!   Now I work hard and am usually too tired to come home and work on a project.  I learned years ago... never, never sew if you are too tired, it will just end in disaster!

I did get a lot done today tho, I traced all my pattern pieces and copied all the markings and info onto each piece.  I do this if I have a multisize pattern.  I can't bear to pay for one and then only use it once because it has been cut out on one size and I need a different size.  This way I can reuse that pattern as many times and in as many sizes as I need to.

SIMPLICITY PROJECT RUNWAY SEW-A-LONG...3 PREPARING THE PATTERN

Well I have cut out around all the pattern pieces and pressed them.  Pressing them insures that they will lie flat on the fabric and make cutting out more precise and easier.

I am thinking I will cut along the size 6 lines.  I am waiting for confirmation of the measurements from Hanne's Mom.  Just as soon as they come in, I will begin cutting out the fabric.

Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long...2( fabric preparation)

I have chosen my fashion fabric.  A cranberry babycord and a multicolored paisley.  I plan on making the dress and vest out of the cord and the yoke and sleeves out of the paisley.

I prepared my fabrics for sewing by straitening the grain using the technique I was taught years ago during a class I was participating in.  I am not sure anyone uses this technique any more, but I have done it for so long I cannot sew without first following these steps.

On the cut edges I clip one end about 1/2 to 1 inch from the edge.  This is usually enough to get a strait edge all the way across, but if it is not just repeat the process.  I then careful tear the fabric and it will tear easily and strait along that cut edge.  (some fabrics will not tear, with these you must pull a thread, very carefully, and then cut along that line the missing thread leaves, if the thread breaks, cut as far as you can then pull some more of the thread).

Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long

I am participating in the Simplicity Project Runway Facebook Sew-A-Long.  The rules are that you must use a Project Runway or New Look Workroom pattern.  You must use a Technique that you have never done before (fabric you have never worked with, application you have never done, etc) and no pictures of your project can be posted until the last day which is September 15Th.

I have chosen my pattern which is Simplicity Project Runway 2157, you can check it out here, and I will be making it for my 6 year old grand-daughter.  I have not chosen the fabric yet but will post the info as soon I have.  I plan to post every step of the way from preparing the fabric to the last stitch of the hem.  I am excited and hope you follow along.