Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: Winter White Dresses

Happy First Day of Winter Loves!
I am officially on break for 2 weeks and I am excited to stay home, relax and finish up items from my UFO pile.  I can’t believe this year is almost over! I am ready to embark on a New Year and challenge myself even more in 2020.  I am proud of the progress I made in 2019 and have accomplished quite a few things.  I have done buttonholes (here and here), a lined jacket, jumpsuits just to name a few.  One of my sewing goals is to do a coat and since I did not accomplish that this year, I will challenge myself in 2020 to do it.
Now let’s get to the point!  I so wanted a classic white dress and selected this beautiful white cotton spandex stretch sateen fabric to create a look for Diner En Blanc.  Unfortunately, I was not able to attend but still wanted to create a white look.  This fabric is sold out, however, this beautiful toasted almond linen or tan cotton twill would definitely work for this pattern.  
When I saw Simplicity 9042, a new Spring pattern, I fell in love as I knew it would be perfect to create a wrap dress that was on my to-make list for 2019. I love the lines of "View A" with "View C" sleeves and the a-line skirt portion.
 The tucks on each front piece and 2 in the back are a great option to reduce excess fabric in the waist area with enough room for the skirt.  I cut the size 14  based on the ease and bust measurement as I did not want a fitted bodice.
Here are the modifications I made to the pattern:
     Widened the width of the bottom back-pattern piece by 2 inches at the side seam and graded it to the waist with a meter stick as I wanted a more A-line shape and more room to accommodate my hips and butt.
     Widened the width of the bottom front pattern piece by ¾ inches at the side seam.  I originally planned on widening it by 1.5 inches to accommodate more room for the wrap, but the width would have exceeded 30 inches on each piece, so I opted to maximize and use the entire width instead of wasting fabric and cutting 2 separate fronts.
     Added the ties on the inside and outer front versus the side seam based on the instruction stated in STEP 6. This allows the wrap on the inside to be pulled versus a snap to keep it in place.  I ended up leaving an opening to feed the tie which allows more flexibility.
     Trim the darts to reduce the bulk and omitted the pockets.

Sewing tips! Always read your pattern instructions thoroughly in advance and document any changes needed.  Make sure that you understand each step clearly, get clarification if needed and YouTube or google any specific techniques.  This was my first time doing pintucks and I had to do a little research.  In addition, I sewed the tuck at 1.8 mm stitch length instead of the standard 2.5 mm to avoid breakage.

Do you check the finished garment measurement and your body measurements before cutting? Do not always assume that the pattern finish garment measurement is always correct. I always check especially the bust, waist and hip area of the pattern before cutting to make sure that it is correct. I do not make muslin so I modify pattern pieces and make adjustments before I sew.  I have mastered modifications and for the most part, I typically love the fit the first time around.  Another tip is using a disappearing pen when working with white.  I ordered a pack from Amazon here earlier this year and it works like a charm.  All my pen marks disappeared when I ironed.
 Check out my hem marker!  Did you know that you can create your own hem marker using a manila folder?  All you need is a quilting ruler to measure the size and cut with a rotary blade.  It makes hemming so much easier and cleaner.  My handy hem marker made from manila folder presses without any issues and can be shortened if folded in half or lengthened when opened which makes it so much easier to hem skirts and dress. Do you always use a sliding gauge for hemming or a store-bought hem tool?


I absolute LOVE this pattern and definitely plan to make it again using linen fabric from Fabric Mart. I have no regrets using this beautiful fabric to make it and plan to rock it to any all-white event.

My  PHOTOGRAPHER behind all my  photos, my daughter Arielle!
I also made another white dress for my daughter’s Honors Society induction ceremony. As a sewist, it is very difficult to buy ready to wear garments that are poorly made, especially for special occasions.  This dress was made with Ponte knit that I purchased during the Thanksgiving break.  Unfortunately, the white is sold out, however, Fabric Mart always carry a wide selection of colors.  This was a quick sew using Simplicity 8375 hacking pattern.  I used the bodice portion of the pencil dress and created a circle skirt with NO seams.

The XXS bodice fits her perfectly with  no modification.  I created a belt that would tie in the back and added a layer of pearls to the front waist area of the belt.

Both Winter white dresses are pieces that were so needed in our closet.  I am happy with both results and can’t wait to wear it to our next all-white event.  My daughter was very excited to rock the dress and couldn't stop twirling.
I am so ready for 2020 and can’t wait to spend some time planning my makes.  I will be sharing more tips and tricks in my 2020 blog post and via my Instagram page.  Have you met  your sewing expectations in 2019? Did you step outside of the box and challenge yourself? I feel like I did in 2019 and will continue to take risks even more.  Here is one of my proudest make in 2019, a multi-color blackwood cardigan with ponte knit from Fabric Mart!  

My inspiration sweater is from a fashion blogger - Style and Poise that I follow! When I saw Roni's sweater and realized I had all the colors, I went to work. COMMENT  below and let me know if I nailed it based on the inspirational photo.

Have a wonderful HOLIDAY SEASON and SEE YOU IN 2020!

Comments

  1. You nailed it! And your dresses are beautiful too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your dress (and you) are prettier than the pattern company’s picture! Your daughter and her dress are also beautiful! Thanks for your explanation of how you changed the pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love your white dresses and actually all your makes. You had a very productive 2019 in your sewing realm. Happy Holidays to you and your family and a wonderful 2020.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amazing Job on all three makes. Keep on pushing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That colorblocked cardigan is so fun, and the pearls are such an elegant touch to your daughter's dress!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your work is beautiful. You are truly an inspiration to me!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: A Mother’s Day Gift - Making my Daughter’s Prom Dress

Happy Friday All! As a mother and sewist, I am always planning months in advance for any special occasion dress. Due to the pandemic, my daughter missed all the activities at the end of her elementary journey and I was truly heart broken. She did not have any promotional ceremony, field trips or activities for the last few months of elementary school. I made a vow to myself that in Middle School, no matter what life throws us, I would make the perfect Junior Prom dinner dance dress even if she had to twirl in it at home. When I came across this beautiful blue lycra sequins fabric, I was thrilled. My daughter Arielle and I spoke a few months ago about the perfect Grade 8 Junior Prom dinner dance dress. She found an inspirational photo on Pinterest back in December which was a one shoulder maxi dress that sparkles and she was excited about me making her special dress. At the time she wasn’t quite sure of the shade of blue she wanted but after our trip to Jamaica during Spring break, she

Made By A Fabricista: Rayon Challis Separates for Me!

This month I decided to take a minute to sew something for myself! Knowing that I was about to move house (I'm excited to be getting a nice big sewing room!), I opted to use some tried-and-true patterns that I knew would be quick and easy to sew: Jalie Michelle and Jalie Geneviève . I've really loved seeing garments made in crinkle challis lately, so I selected a solid mustard yellow crinkle challis with a plan for either pants or a skirt ( Geneviève is a skirt, but there's also a culotte option available for it), and two sateen challis prints for a top (Michelle can be made either as a top or a dress). I considered making a reversible top with both fabric prints, but upon playing with them in real life, opted for two separate tops with a facing. Given that challis tends to be a bit shifty, it's best to starch it before you begin cutting out your project. It's also best to cut it out on a large surface with a rotary cutter so the fabric doesn't get distorted.

Made by a Fabricista: YouTube Edition | Marty - Let's Make a Spring Dress

Light Cornflower Blue/Fern Green/Imperial Red/Multi 100% Rayon Floral Print Challis 54W I don't have much to say about my project this time. Other than I can't be happier with how it turned out. I think it'll make a cute romantic dress for summer but also blend into the high-fantasy wardrobe that I want to create. It'll be fun to play with and explore. Hopefully, next time my life will be a little more put together and I'll be a little less stressed. But for now, I hope you all enjoy this project as much as I do. With all the chaos included. MARTY   |  @scrappypatterns Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly! You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following category,  CHALLIS .