Silhouette Patterns Tank Dress

This dress was completed before the Laura knit dress shown in the previous post.  Getting photos uploaded and blog posts written has just not been a priority the last month or so.  What can I say?  I need that "EASY" button in my life that is shown on the Staples commercials (at least I think it's Staples).  Lately I sorta feel like I'm trudging though desert sand.

I do so enjoy the Peggy Sagers' free Monday night webcasts.  It often spurs on my mojo and gives me those pushes to try something in my sewing room.  Thus, this dress was made:

 

Her "how to make this dress" was demoed on her youtube video called April Pattern of the Month Variations. You will find her instructions at about the 34.40 minute on the video.  It looked easy and comfy--just what I need for summer in Texas.

I had already fit her tank top for myself some months ago.  Out came the pattern and the rayon knit you see.  This was a remnant from Super Textiles, and I originally thought it would likely become a skirt.  There was barely enough fabric to cut this dress.

I may nip it in a bit at the waist area.  The green is not really one of "my" colors, but I do think I will enjoy wearing it as the temps climb this summer.  My next version will be from the fabric shown in Peggy's dress.  Yes, I ordered the navy tie dye knit and it's been washed and is sitting on ready.  I plan to put sleeves in that one just as Peggy did.  Call me copy cat; it's OK.

No hem turned up on this one.  Due to fabric limitations what I was able to fit on the fabric was the length I needed/wanted in order to fit into the "proportion" for my body.  So, using wooly nylon in the upper looper of the serger, I sewed a 3 thread narrow hem.  It's almost a rolled hem, but not quite.

Promise to get a photo of me in the dress when I photo the Laura dress.  Still recovering from whatever crud attacked me and still no presentable hair and makeup due to lack of willpower I suppose. I'm still moving slow and how I hate that!  

StyleArc Laura Dress

I really like this dress pattern.  It's easy to sew and comfortable to wear (although as of this writing, I haven't worn it out of the house yet - or out of the sewing room for that matter).  I'd been eyeing this one for some time and with the sale on PDF patterns at the StyleArc Etsy shop this weekend, I decided it was time to purchase.

One of the things I like about purchasing on from the Etsy shop is that three sized are included.  Yes, you still have to print out three patterns and tape them together, but this way I'm able to get my size as well as my sister's size.  Win/win for me.

I sewed this one right away.  I printed it and taped it together AND cut the fabric on Friday and sewed it Saturday.  I very seldom get to patterns that fast.  I printed and sewed the size 12 for myself.  The pattern uses .25" seams; I did cut .50" side seams in case I needed some "fudge let out" room.  Turned out I didn't need it.  I'll do this again when I make it as it's always hard to tell with knits and their various stretch factors as to how much wiggle room one might need.

Needing to sew down the stash (which is not growing quite as much as it used to), I found a rayon knit purchased from Fabric Mart while back.  I knew I wanted a contrast fabric and toyed with using black, blue, or pink.  I had some yardage in each color.  I decided on the pink which is a cotton/lycra from C&C Fabrics in Dallas.  I purchased a bolt of the pink probably a year ago at a very good price.
Sewing was easy.  I used the sewing machine and serger.  I diverted from the instructions by sewing the neckband on before attaching the dress portion to the yokes.  This way, there was less fabric to maneuver at the sewing machine while sewing the band.

As you you can see, I made short sleeves.  This is Texas; yesterday it was 85 degrees.  Don't need long sleeves this time of year or in the months to come.

I will make a version for my sister and will probably make a shortened top version for myself.  I'm already thinking how I might change it up a bit by altering the the pattern for some different color blocking options.

I really had planned to have a photo of me modeling the dress as I had planned to wear it to church today, but have been dealing with a clogged head and sore throat for a couple of days.  So, I didn't make it to church this morning.  But, you get the idea of it on Saphroni.