Made by a Fabricista: Vogue 1584 in ITY

I've had my eye on several ITY knits on the Fabric Mart site for some time, and if you missed Tiffany's post, you should really go back and look at all the great ITY she incorporated in some really cute wrap dresses.  I chose a designer ITY for my post this month and as I've said before, the designer fabrics never disappoint.  ITY fabrics can really vary in quality and my preference is for the more crepe like texture of some of them rather than the slick feeling of others.  This ITY draped so nicely for this dress and feels high quality.



  

Maybe you aren't sold on ITY because they are polyester, but I once felt the same way until I made my first wrap dress from an ITY, after that dress I was sold.  I don't know about you, but in the summer, I perspire!  If I have on a delicate cotton I worry about the toll sweat and deodorant will take on the fabric, but with ITY I never worry.  It always holds up and washes like a dream.  All of my ITY dresses are still just as vibrant in color as they were on the day I first wore them.  Also a flowy dress pattern will usually help the dress breathe so that you don't have that trapped heat feeling you get with some polys. 

The pattern is Vogue 1584, a Tracy Reese design.  I loved this pattern the minute I saw it, the neckline is so interesting and the skirt is shaped beautifully.  When looking through Tracy Reese designs online I actually found an image of Michelle Obama wearing the exact dress featured on the pattern envelope...squeee!  Its a hilarious photo of a toddler having a meltdown while meeting the President, but if you can look past the hilarity you'll spot this dress.  Just knowing that she wore it made me all the more excited to make it up.
Its fully lined and lately I've really been making an effort to use up fabric scraps in my linings and pockets.  So, the inside of this dress is lined in two different fabrics, one a blue mesh and the other a floral mesh.  I must say that it would have been best to use a mesh that blended with the fabric choice since I see a small bit of the blue peeking out here and there.   

The construction was really interesting and although the pattern is rated "easy" I'd reassign it as a moderately challenging pattern.  A beginner sewist might get frustrated with some of the puzzle like construction in the bodice.  However it results in some gorgeous tucks and a great fit.  I chose not to hem the skirt, partially out of laziness and partially because I was just ready to wear it!  On a side note, I once had someone sitting next to me in a meeting comment on how high end my dress must be because the hem was raw.  I smiled and exclaimed "I made it!"  Sewing laziness sometimes pays off.

For my dress I made a tie belt.  I wanted a little something extra for the dress.  I don't think its necessary to have the belt for the dress to be great.  I just love options so, there you go, it has an optional belt.

I have another make this month, this time for my husband.  It was an exercise in generosity since my sewing time has been in short supply this summer but he asked so nicely.  Last summer I used the Jalie Nico to make my husband a rashguard for swimming and the beach.  He loved having it on hand to block the sun and although it worked wonderfully the fabric was a smidge thick.

 I used navy and merlot colored swimwear fabrics this time and they were perfect. There's still some navy yardage here.  He loved wearing it and it worked great for keeping the sun off of him all day long.  The one day he did not wear it he got a little burned so, lesson learned. 

Here he is building a castle with our youngest daughter and then in his full Dad sun protection gear.  Its not often that I sew for this guy but when I do he's always appreciative.  

That sums up my summer sewing for now, I hope your summer sewing is going wonderfully and that you have a chance or good excuse to sew up something cute.  

As always, thanks for reading. 

Elizabeth

I Sew, You Sew