The Feather Print Dress

So about a year ago I was trolling the nets for fabric for some unknown reason. I wasn't sewing at the time, maybe it was a slow day at work, who knows. My search engine took me to a site I'd never seen before, emmaonesock.com. There among the cotton wovens lurked the most intriguing cotton print I'd ever seen.
Large black feather outlines overlapped each other like scales on a pure white background. It was modern yet had a hint old time Hollywood starlet. And it was 58" wide! Knowing I'd be a fool to let this fabric get away 2 yards were immediately ordered.

The fabric was then tucked away waiting for a day when I wouldn't inadvertently turn it into a wadder and have to commit hari kari on my Gingers.
Fast forward about a month ago when I'm compulsively filling in my missing Burda World of Fashion issues. There in May 2009 dress number 117 seemed to be just the thing for this fabric. But I cooled my heels until Audrey made this dress and looked fantastic in it. She also posted a ton of extra directions on how to sew kimono sleeves which was very helpful.

So I give you my version of dress 117 from May 2009 Burda World of Fashion.


Close up of cross over front


Close up of skirt side slits


Oh how I love you feather print dress, now lets fly away.

Sneak Peek

Another precious fabric from the stash has made an appearance on my sewing table. It's waiting for some lining but who doesn't like a little sneak peek.

Feathers, feathers on Heathers

Fall Sewing Continued

It's fall clothing catalog time which means several happy hours spent flipping through pages deciding what to get for the coming season. This year it's more like deciding what to knock off which is pretty fun too. One thing that caught my eye was this super cute blazer from Boden.

I like their happy models

Marinating in the stash was some dark green corduroy that had been purchased about this time last year from Fabrications in Kennett Square. (Now closed and oh how it is missed) I'd purchased the fabric planning on making a jacket out of it but had gotten no further than that.
Off I went to the Burda World of Fashion magazine stash looking for a jacket that was somewhat similar and struck gold.
From issue 3/2009 pattern #111

Notched collar - check, 3 button closure - check, patch pockets with button flaps- check! Just add sleeve vents and we're in like flint.


Oh green corduroy, you are so pretty

I modeled the sleeve vents after some of my RTW jackets. On the pattern an extra rectangle was added to the lower side seam of both the upper and lower sleeve. On the upper sleeve the rectangle is folded over to finish the edge. On the lower seam it makes up the extra allowance needed for the vent. Real button holes were put in the top vent but were not cut open. The buttons where then sewn on top of the button holes going through both piece of the sleeve so that the vent was sewn closed. The lining looks like a regular 2 piece sleeve and covers up all the raw edges of the vents.



Some outside photos so details can actually be seen. To bad a neighbor has a bunch of crap in the background. :P




All and all a successful knock off of the catalog version. Thanks Burda for making this one easy. If your interested in any more comments on this pattern my review is over here.

Nakniswemodo number 10, two more to go

Number 10 is a little sweater called the Whole Wheat Cardigan.

I'd been looking for a little summer sweater in white that wasn't too girly but wasn't all stockinette stitch. This one fit the bill just right. It also called for yarn already in my stash Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK.


The stitch pattern is pretty fun to knit, it's easy to memorize and the cable twists on every 4th row.


One thing that I would change is the depth of the armholes. After blocking the armholes where almost 9 inches deep. This causes the fabric to wad a bit under the arms during wearing. Other than that I'm very pleased.

It's fall in my mind

OK I'm just going to come out and say it, I am a summer hater. Swimming, sun bathing, the beach, summer group picnics where volley ball must be played....loath these activities and locations. And out of all the summer months August is the worst. When ever this month comes around I just grit my teeth and station myself in front of the air conditioning unit.

So to keep my mind off of the fact it is August, I'm embarking on sewing a bunch of fall clothing and picking out a new fall knitting pattern. Hopefully these diversions will whittle away the time until we can comfortably don our sweaters and drink a cup of hot apple cider. (Just typing sweater + hot apple cider fills me with joy)

While I definitely plan on making some apple cider drinking clothes (Corduroy jacket and plaid wool skirt) I won't be drinking cider with the first completed fall dress. It's more like a "sipping a cappuccino while sitting at an outdoor cafe" kind of dress.

A JoAnn's 3.95 sale on Vogue patterns made me go with Vogue 8413 to make up the lovely Charcoal Chinchilla from Tessuti fabrics. The results are highly pleasing.

A few detail shots

A little puff at the top of the shoulder


A close up of the skirt pleats


A glimpse of actually tidy insides! (This rarely happens)

And finally one last full view

If you are a sewer I've reviewed this pattern here on pattern review. I think it's a winner.