B6285 Wrap Top and Skirt: The Grey Floral Version!

With our Knit Wrap Top Sew-Along in full swing this week, I wanted to show another version of the B6285 ensemble. The original version is bold and graphic in red rose jersey and black jacks sateen:

But it can have a much softer look in neutral florals! I made the top in a grey heather rayon spandex from Joanns and the grey floral sateen from my fall line.

I also wanted to mention that there are a couple ways you can wear the top. You can do the ties in front or in back. In the front, you get the drape of the ties as a design feature on the skirt.

Tie them in the back in a bow, and you get a nice clean finish in the front. 

And you can also wear the wrap underneath the breasts or on top. Change it up and see how you like it! The top has a soft structure to it, and different folds and gathers will be created depending on how you wear it.

I'm wearing a chiffon petticoat in these photos, and I also added a lining to the skirt.

The skirt has double box pleats, which gives it extra fullness.

To add a lining to this skirt, it's a good idea to fold in the pleats on the pattern tissue before cutting. That way, you don't have to deal with the bulk of the pleats on the lining. Just overlap the tissue so the pleat lines meet and pin in place.

I stitched a cute lavender and white lace trim to the lining.

In true Gertie fashion, I had to buy special shoes for the outfit. These purple suede heels are a perfect match for the sateen.

But they'll also go with my purple pom pom skirt and the purple roses jersey I'm making the wrap top in for the sew-along. Gosh, I'm so practical!

Come back tomorrow for the next sew-along post!

Fruity Floral 40s Chiffon Dress

I found this amazing fabric last week, and immediately bought 15 yards for the shop. Of course, 3 of those yards were for me, ALL ME, readers. Because this has to be one of the best retro prints I've found in a while.  It's a fruit and floral print that veers far away from kitschy.

It has rose bouquets, baskets of cherries and strawberries, lemons, daisies, and basically all of my favorite novelty print motifs in one fabric. To top it off, the chiffon has an open weave mesh pattern running through it, forming a plaid on top of the print. (It's very subtle, one of those little things that makes a fabric special.)

I used Butterick 5744 as a starting point, because I liked the faux-wrap skirt and the neckline flounce. Plus the waistline seam is elasticized, so I knew it would be comfy for summer.

I made a few changes, as you can probably see. First, I added two inches to the hem length. It is super short right out of the envelope, and Gertie don't play that. Second, I omitted the lining because I wanted to play up the sheer nature of the chiffon. I'm wearing a light pink slip to cover up my unmentionables. Third, sleeves! I wanted a more 40s-inspired design, and also to show off the fabric a bit more. I borrowed the sleeve from New Look 6069, eliminating a couple inches of length. It's a puff sleeve so I didn't have to worry too much about pattern compatibility, and it fit right into the armscye of the dress. Also, I made the neckline a bit lower and wider because of the way I attached the flounce--I decided on a french seam at the last moment, which ate up a bit more seam allowance.

A few other construction things: I used the narrow hem on my serger for all the raw edges, in a contrasting ivory color. I like how it plays up the details of the dress, like the flounce.

I used french seams on the inside. I had a brilliant idea (if I may say so myself) about the waistline seam. The pattern calls for you to stitch the waistline seam, then stitch again 1/4" away--making a channel for the elastic. You insert the elastic with the old safety pin trick. I tried it, and was unhappy with how messy the raw edge of the chiffon was. I found myself wishing I could bind the seam allowances. And then it came to me--fold over elastic! I took out the elastic from the casing, and used the fold over elastic to cinch in the waist fullness and finish the raw edges of the waistline seam. (I am so weirdly proud of myself for thinking of this.)

Fold over elastic is basically an elastic binding that can be used to enclose edges of lingerie and other knits. It worked perfectly for this purpose too. I cut the elastic to fit snugly around my waist, folded it over the raw edge of the waistline seam allowances, and stitched it in place with a multi-step zigzag--aka serpentine stitch (though a regular zigzag is fine), stretching the elastic as I sewed it on. I had to first make sure the elastic was evenly distributed by dividing it into halves and matching it to the dress's side seams. Once it was sewn on, I steamed the elastic to shrink it back to size. It worked like a charm, and is so pretty on the inside.

Oh, one other pattern change: the directions called for a small snap to hold the wrap bodice in place, but I just tacked the layers together instead. The snap seemed unnecessary, plus I have an irrational hatred of sewing on snaps.

Perfect with red pumps!

This was a fast project, and the chiffon has a bit of body and was easy to sew. (I have 6 more yards of it for sale, if you're interested. Use coupon code HAPPYWEEKEND for 10% off until tomorrow.)

Hey, speaking of sales! Miss L-Fire shoes have been on sale several places and it's my civic duty to pass the info on to you. I found the Lola mules in navy for almost half off. (The rest of Sole Addiction's Miss L-Fire stock is on sale as well.)

At Anthro, the Casablanca slingbacks in black and red are half off. I picked up the black and white dot. (A very sick part of my mind thinks I should get the red as well, since I saved 50%. I mean, right?)

I resisted the Tease wedges, but they are very cute in navy and also on sale.

Enjoy!

Summer Shoes

Well, it's chilly and rainy today but all I can think about is cute summer shoes to go with the sundresses I've been sewing. As usual, I find my desires very split between the practical and  . . . not-so-practical.

First, on the less practical side, mint green clogs!

Piper Clogs

Now, I know that clogs aren't inherently impractical: they usually have a lot of support and have chunky heels that are easy-ish to walk in. But we're still looking at three inch heels here (even though there's a platform), and are those really going to be the shoes I reach for on a daily basis? More like the shoes I put on to take pictures in and then switch to something comfier for real life. And I have plenty of photo shoot shoes already!

On the very impractical side: Miss L-Fire's Lola mules.

Lola Mules

4 inch platform heels with an open back? Definitely photo shoot shoes. After I picture how glam they'll look with a new dress, all I can see is the vision of myself face-planted after a nasty fall. Because just looking at them makes me feel unsteady on my feet.

Also from Miss L-Fire (my favorite-est shoe brand ever, BTW), a navy polka dot platform pump.

Miss L-Fire Casablanca

Okay, let's talk practical. Flat sandals, right? While that may have a very modern sound to it, flat sandals were very popular as resort-type shoes in the 50s. Check out the shoes on this pattern envelope (a VoNBBS dress I made ages ago; have I really been blogging for four years?!):

So how about something like the Bass Margie sandal: comfy, classic, and inexpensive at $35.

Margie sandal

Okay, obviously they're not as exciting as the prior three shoes. But they're the type of shoes you'll wear to death and also pair well with cute retro dresses.

I'm also really digging these sandals by Volcom (???) that are a steal at $27. Plus: they will more adequately display my foot tats.

Volcom Heavenly Creedlers

Let's now talk about the sure-to-be controversial, vaguely orthopedic "granny shoes" that so many of us love.

Worishofer 562s in red!

Worishofer 562

I also love the Spring Step Breezy in white:

Spring Step Breezy

Lastly, on the practical side: canvas flats. The wear-every-day-until-they're-too-gross-for-words shoe.

The Keds Capri flat in gingham.

Keds Capri

Sea green canvas flats!

Seychelles Head in the Clouds

Lastly, surprisingly cute shoes from Ugg.

Ugg Indah

Okay, I'm on shoe overload. For perhaps the first time in my life, I'm leaning toward making some practical decisions. (Okay, maybe I'll throw a pair of 4-inch-platforms in the mix, too.)

P.S. I don't own any of these shoes (only in my dreams), so can't vouch for them personally, but I did choose shoes with positive reviews on their respective websites, for whatever that's worth.

Are you going practical or no-so-practical with your summer footwear?

Daily Outfit {6.20.11}

If you're not sick of looking at pictures of me today, here's an outfit post for you! I decided I need to practice my new modeling skills at least a few times a week.

Here's what I wore to run some errands today.

Dress: My new roses dress, sans crinoline, self-drafted pattern
Sweater: J. Crew Jackie cardigan
Sweater clips: vintage, from eBay
Shoes: Spring Step "Bow" wedge

I managed to get my bangs to "hide" by sweeping them to the side and pinning them. It was a fun change for a bit. 

Also, a few of you requested pics of my "grandma" shoes in action! Here they are:

I love them unapologetically. They are SO comfy and the peep toe shows off my pedi. And after all, vintage is what our grandmothers wore, right?