Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: My Special Occasion Dresses

 

When I saw the Vogue V1842 pattern by Badgley Mischka, I knew I was going to sew it for a special event.  The style is elegant, versatile as it can be worn with a jacket or shawl during cooler seasons and accommodating of changing body shapes with its empire waist.  I needed a formal dress to wear to a Mozart concert in Europe in a couple of months; that dress must be easy to pack on a cruise.    Fabric Mart’s sequined mesh fabric (# SKU:  MOA9294) met my criteria and its color was so unique – a combination of violet, cadmium blue, and deep carmine. 

Because sequined fabric is not one of the suggested fabrics in the back of the pattern, I decided to try out the pattern first on one that is, a jacquard.  I happen to have on hand FM’s black and white 100% cotton leaf print with oval jacquard design (SKU#BLA4147).  I first made a muslin and found size 14 bodice and size 16 skirt fit me properly.  I raised the neckline by 5/8 inch, however, for more coverage.   Basting the gathers first in the center front bodice made it easier to sew the neckline.  I hand sewed the binding all around the neckline and armholes. The back is low, but a low back bra or low back bustier could be worn with it.  I added a hook and eye above the invisible zipper.  I used a size 80 universal needle and serged the seams. Overall, the pattern was easy to sew; the fabric was a dream.  The black and white leaf design exuded the vibrance of spring and summer. Better yet, big prints are currently on trend.  I definitely look forward to wearing this dress to a wedding next month! 


Feeling confident after the success of my first dress, I proceeded to sew the sequined fabric. Instead of binding around the neckline, I lined the dress with FM’s ash gray polyester/lycra lining (SKU# SNC4263w), thus avoiding the thickness of the sequins.  I then reinforced the center neckline with twill ribbon and understitched.  By installing the zipper 1/2 inch higher that the first dress, I eliminated the need for the hook and eye.  I used a Size 70 microtex needle and am proud to say I did not break a single needle!  I hemmed this dress by hand as I did the first one.  I hemmed the lining 1 inch shorter than the dress. I love this dress for formal events. Who would not notice the shine of the 2mm sized nylon iridescent sequins and watch its colors under the sun and under the shade? Just look at the pictures!


I am happy with these elegant yet comfortable dresses.  I will be wearing a black bolero with the sequined dress and a white chiffon coverup with the cotton one, depending on the weather.  I hope you try the pattern and the fabrics, too.



Til next time,

MARY ANN  @anasewperfect

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories SEQUINS, LINING, COTTON, & JACQUARD.

Comments

  1. SO gorgeous!!!!! And a Mozart fan? I'm in love! Where is the concert in Europe? That sequin fabric is FAB!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Both dresses are fantastic for cruising! But the purple one has my whole heart

    ReplyDelete
  3. Both your dresses are lovely. Great job with the sequins and your needle. Enjoy your events.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Both dresses are beautiful, & are so elegant on you

    ReplyDelete
  5. beautiful dresses -Congratulations

    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: Why I Love Sewing Woven Fabrics Over Knits

Sewing is a creative hobby that allows me to express my unique style while adding a personal touch to my wardrobe. When it comes to choosing between wovens and knits I will mostly always choose woven. There are a lot of reasons I choose wovens as my go-to choice. The project I chose for this Fabric Mart make is from Friday Pattern Company’s Patina Blouse .  I used a gorgeous lightweight rayon .  It’s delicate hand is the perfect blouse weight and it drapes beautifully with this pattern. In this blog post, l'll explore the advantages of sewing woven blouses over knit shirts, highlighting the creativity, versatility, and satisfaction that come with this choice.  The Joy of Creativity Sewing a woven blouse offers a chance for my creativity to flourish. Woven fabrics come in a wide array of colors, patterns, and textures, allowing me to unleash my artistic potential. With knits, the stretch and drape of the fabric often limit my design options. In contrast, woven fabrics give me the fr

Fabricista Guest Post: Perfectly Imperfect

Hey Sewing Friends!! I’m super excited to be a guest Fabricista. I’ve been a fan of Fabric Mart since I began sewing again in 2020. Let me begin with an introduction. I’m Eras, and my Instagram account is sewing_andmore. During the day, I work as a Nurse Practitioner, and I  first learned to sew in my local 4-H club when I was in middle school.  At that time, I had an amazing sewing instructor, Mrs. McKinney, who was extremely patient and was by my side for every step. However, in 2020, the stress of being a Nurse Practitioner during the pandemic made me turn to sewing for my mental health. I started out sewing and creating masks, and I immediately saw a change in my mood. I’m so glad I dusted off my old sewing machine, and I haven’t stopped! After seeing the rush of adrenaline and satisfaction sewing provided, I started making clothes. When I no longer needed fat-quarters, I started looking for online fabric stores. It was during this time that I discovered Fabric Mart and their great

Made By A Fabricista: Skipping Winter - Tailored Outfits in Twill & Shirting for Spring

Hi Fabric Mart fans! I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving! This month, while perusing the Fabric Mart collection, I was drawn to cotton twill fabrics. My son, who's growing like a weed, is always in need of new pants! I could easily have made him multiple pairs of pants, however I was also drawn to a bright blue stretch twill for me. I just can't resist a bold color on a jacket, and this blue was calling my name! I hope you love these outfits as much as I do! Since I planned to make pants for my son, I knew I'd need to make a button-down shirt as well. Fabric Mart had a range of fabulous cotton shirtings and it was hard to land on just one, but I eventually picked this royal blue gingham which pairs perfectly with the tan twill pants. When it comes to woven patterns for boys, I can never go past Oliver+S. I've made their dress shirts so many times now - the finishes are always lovely, and always so worth the time and effort. I used the Buttoned-Up Button-Down Shi