Felicity goes on a picnic

I've been pattern testing! When the call went out for testers for this dress from my fellow kiwi, it sounded like it was perfect for me "a breezy summer dress with a gathered neckline, all-in-one yoke pockets on your choice of a gathered or 3/4 circle skirt and finished off with bias binding at the neckline and armholes."

Having not made one of Jennifer's patterns up before I made up a muslin of the bodice. I cut a 16 and it fit straight out of the box! My luck was in!

My initial thought was to use a floral fabric, this dress would look beautiful in a floral cotton lawn. Unfortunately my luck wasn't in here, there was nothing in my stash. I ended up using this navy/white gingham and chose a navy blue for the bias binding.

If you have never made up any of Jennifer's patterns, you need to. You're in for a real treat. They are really well drafted. I think we're past the days of pages not quite matching when you cut and tape together, so that certainly isn't an issue. The cutting layout is clear. The instructions are really clear too. The only part I found a bit difficult was inserting the lapped zipper following Jennifer's method. I honestly don't think this would be an issue for many. I've been sewing lapped zippers a particular way for nearly 20 years, my mind just couldn't remove my method and let me concentrate on the pattern instructions. I will say I've tried the instructions since on a different dress and all was good - my mind must have been having an odd day. I think Jennifer is also planning to do a photo tutorial for her lapped zipper method on her blog in the near future. All the other instructions are brilliant with great illustrations and wording in a logical order and I followed these to the letter.

The gathers for the front are gathered to a paper template, knotted at each end of the gathers and then the binding attached at a later stage. I think when I first made it up, I didn't knot the ends in the correct place. My neckline was really saggy, not helped when I added the bias binding made from a fine cotton voile from stash.

So, I unpicked the bias binding, unpicked the gathering threads and restitched the gathers again, ensuring they were pulled a bit tighter than the template to allow for loose knots. I then attached a thin piece of fusible interfacing before reattaching the bias binding. Since testing the neckline has been raised slightly, so it should all be good now.

I love the pockets on the skirt, the drafting here is great. They are just made from a single piece of fabric folded in half. I decided to add binding to the edges of my pockets, before basting them to the waist and side seams of the skirt. I decided the gingham was a bit too much with the changes in pattern direction and this binding really helps to soften that. I really like how this turned out. It wasn't difficult to do.

My fabric was only 90cm wide, I was determined to make the circle skirt version, so I actually put a seam down the front of the skirt. Can you see the seam? Nope, neither can I - I am the master of pattern matching...

The details...

Fabric:  Navy blue/white gingham cotton from Fabric-a-Brac, October 2014, navy cotton voile from stash for the bias binding. I think I used about 3.5m of the 90cm wide gingham.

Notions:  Thread, a small strip of interfacing and a dress zip

Pattern:  Jennifer Lauren Vintage Felicity dress
First worn:  Actually to cocktails with the WSBN, but worn here for a picnic in Otari Wilton's Bush
Changes made:  I added binding to the pockets and inserted the zip differently.
Another one/Recommend?  I love this dress and I've actually worn it so many times already.  My fabric choice was perfect. I love how the bodice and neck sit and I'm a sucker for a circle skirt, even in the windy Wellington wind :-) It's a really simple pattern to make up and really quick for instant gratification. Jennifer drafts her patterns for a D cup which is perfect for me, although my girls don't sit quite so high and if I was being really honest I could give myself a wee bit more space lower down in the bodice. This is a standard adjustment for me, so anyone else, you'll be fine. I don't know if I'll make another one, I've a pile of patterns waiting to be made up, but I'm not saying never, since I love the style and shape of the dress.

Non-loud trousers...

I seem to have made a name over the last year for making loud golf trousers for Mr N, well these aren't loud!

Mr N needed more everyday trousers, as he'd kind of worn out his other RTW pairs.

I got this fabric from The Fabric Warehouse back in August (I think). It's black bull denim. The fabric is thick, but I actually really enjoyed sewing it. I only broke one needle too!

The pattern is the usual pattern I've used to make the loud golf trousers, Vogue 8719.

 

I made my normal changes. Graded out a bit for the waist, I changed the in seam side pockets to slash pockets using the pattern pieces I've drafted myself. I also left the flaps off the back pockets and made those pockets larger so that Mr N's wallet fits! A man needs room for his wallet! :-)

Since the denim is so thick, I decided to use a cotton to line the pockets and the waistband. I thought this with the ties on would be fun, not that you can see the pattern much on the waistband or inside the pockets. To contrast with that fabric I used beige top-stitching thread to attach the back pockets and along the top of the pockets.

There's not really much more to say about these. I made these as a Christmas present for Mr N so he had no idea what I was going to do. They are slightly long in the leg, so I think I'll have to take them up a bit, but otherwise he's definitely happy with his new everyday trousers/jeans.

The details...

Fabric:  Black bull denim from the Fabric Warehouse for the main trousers, tie print quilting cotton for the pocket and waistband lining from Made Marion

Notions:  Thread (everyday sewing and top-stitching), interfacing, metal jeans zip and a button for the waistband

Pattern:  Vogue 8719 view B
First worn:  When we went on holiday at New Year
Changes made:  Graded out the waistband, created slash pockets for the front (self-drafted pattern pieces) and enlarged the back pockets.
Another one/Recommend?  I certainly recommend the pattern, this is the fifth time I've made it up now. I'm getting quite an expert at fly zips now :-)

So I'm a bit late to the party, but I think these count towards the Monthly Stitch Denim month!