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.