New Look 6936 Misses Dresses

During my vacation I wanted to make a pretty dress that I could wear to my Friday evening sewing class. I picked up 3 meters of a beautiful sparkly stretchy material at $1.50 a meter from Tissus Mayda . It was such a beautiful material, it caught our eyes right away when we went in there. We were shopping for drapery tape, but Simon saw this material and he wanted me to make a dress with it. So eager am I to please!

I have had this pattern for a while and did not know which fabric to use with it. The model looks like a pole that is leaning a bit too far forward, but don't let that stop you!

I chose view D, with the scoop neck and longer length. I serged the seams together, but forgot about installing the elastic. I did a really really silly move and messed up the stitches I was SOOOO mad and I thought it was ruined. I used a proper stretch stitch and I did not think I would be able to take out my seams.

I put the project aside, cursing of course. I decided that this Friday’s class would be all about the finishing touches. I had 2 shirts to finish off with Bias tape and this dress as well. I went to Club Tissus to buy bias tape (and a few other things, natch). I got a really pretty shiny blue bias tape to compliment it at 0.67 a meter.

After over 2 hours I was able to take out all the silly stitches and I used wide single fold bias tape to install the elastic inside.










I put bias tape on the neck and sleeves. It added a nice touch to the dress and snazzied it up.





 



I tried on the dress and decided that the length was nice below the knees. We looked at the different hem lengths and decided that below the knees was best suited.

Now this pattern says 2 hours, but because of my error and the added bias tape it took me over the course of 2 days to complete it. I was so happy with the results and I was able to wear it for Easter dinner and to work the next day. 

I would love to make this dress again as I love how it falls and how it moves. The problem is that I have so many other patterns and fabrics. Maybe after a year when I get all my outstanding patterns done, I will come back to it.

New Look 6125 - Second try, size 10

Ok, so I must be a glutton for punishment, but I am going to make the New look 6125 dress again. This time I am making it in a size 10. I bought new fabric and everything.

 Simon said that the pale blue dress was nice (big, but nice). However he thought it was missing something. He helped me pick out this fabric. We picked a nice stretched satin.

 There are nice shades of dark and pale purples.

We wanted a nice print, but not one that would be hard to work with as a novice sewer.

I purchased a purple 22 inch invisible zipper and some thread.

Then I traced my pattern in a size 10. Hopefully this one will fit. And hopefully I can get it done before the Holidays! I only have one sewing class left this year. Eeks








I did not get this dress done in my sewing class, as I thought I forgot my walking foot and I would need that to sew this. It may get done next weekend.

UPDATE

I am feeling so guilty. This has not gotten done yet. EEEKKS! I may have time tomorrow. I would love for this to be done for Tyler's party this Saturday. We will see.

So I did not get this done for Tyler's party yesterday. I am so tired this month and my sewing motivation has been zapped by snow storms, wipers flying off my car mid-storm, brakes being finished, cooking, cleaning, holidays in general. So what I have done is taken everything out and placed it on my sewing table. I read through the instructions and have a tentative plan to sew a while tomorrow morning. I even asked hubby for help with the kids while I do this. 80% there.

Wednesday 

So I asked Hubby if I could sew for a while this morning. He was SUPER AWESOME and looked after the kids while I hid away downstairs sewing. Only once did I have to rip out my stitches as the lining was not properly lining up. 

Lining attached right sides together - pinned

It is a good thing that this summer I picked up this dress form from Kijiji for only $40! What a steal. the lady I bought it from received it as a gift and she does not sew. She did not know it's value. I was not about to correct her.

 So I pinned the lining right sides together then sewed it along the neck line and the arm seams.

The first time I did this I was majorly confused and waited for my sewing class. This time around I was super hesitant as I was afraid to screw it up. It was fine. I looked at the diagram and it actually made sense. The first time I attempted this dress I thought to myself "No way this is an easy pattern", but that was my inexperience speaking. I had never done a dress before with a lining.

 The next step is much like a magician performing a magic trick. It felt like I was pulling handkerchiefs out of my sleeve!

The trick is to take the lining from the back and pass it through the shoulder seams towards the front.

 The you pull it through to the front. You do this for both sides. Pull, pull, pull.

Then flip the lining over and pull the dress fabric through. Do it slowly and you will get there, I promise.

I had forgotten to make my notches. I simply pulled the lining back and cut my notches and did it all over again.

Voila! On to the next step. I pressed my seams.

Now I have to understich and sew the sides and then the zipper. This is a good point to eat my lunch.

 

 

Here are 2 videos that show me starting to install the invisible zipper. One video is in French the other Franglais. You can see that my Instructor does not like Singer!

FRIDAY - JANUARY 18TH

 I will add pictures later this weekend, but I just could not wait to post! I am so proud! I am finished a garment that 1) fits me 2) LOOKS GOOD! I am so happy! I just wish that I could have finished it in time for my Christmas parties, but what the hey!

I understiched the lining to keep it in place. I installed the invisible zipper, sewed the lining by hand to the zipper. Voila!

All in all this is a great pattern. I really want to make it in a heavier cotton, without the liner and without the zipper for a nice summer dress. I definitely will make this again.

Cynthia Rowley, Simplicity 2054, View A size 10

I loved the lines of this dress and I should have started with this one and not the New Look dress. I chose to cut this in a size 10. All the other things I have made have been  WAY TOO BIG, so foget it, I am not wasting any more time and I cut a size 10. Hold my breath, fingers crossed, I hope it fits!
I chose view A with no cowl. I like the arm details, but I just want an easy dress that I can actually wear, so the detail will have to wait for the next dress.

It took me just over 2 hours, I was not in a rush. It was super super SUPER easy to sew.





I made this with a nice Cotton knit. I sewed it using my Singer Esteem. I used my walking foot for the body and the double jersey needle for the hems.

The arm lengths are really perfect the way it was cut. I decided to keep this dress long. The next time I make it I will make it shorter. 

Cynthia Rowley, Simplicity 2054, View A size 10

New Look 6125

So I decided on Friday that I would get a few projects completed. I chose so called "easy" patterns. Now, I realize that I am new and what is considered easy by many is complicated by me. I have never done a dress with a lining attached so it is a bit confusing. I got to use my dress form that I purchased on Kijiji for $40, so I feel good!
I bought a light blue stretchy material of unknown fibers from this past Black Friday sale at Fabricville for $1.50/meter. If I scrap it, no big deal. I used the same material for the lining.

Lining up the material was a breeze. Cutting it out was simple. No confusion so far. What confused me was attaching the lining and having to pull it through and upside down and around the bend and so forth.... I am new, it sounded bizarre and I did not want to make a mistake, so I waited until my sewing class.
My sewing teacher says I have a knack for finding easy patterns that are more complicated than they appear.
I am now at the part where all pieces are together and I have turned the liner to it's proper direction. Next I will sew up the sides and then the zipper and the hems. It will have to wait until Friday and a screaming baby and active toddler are not very conducive for my concentration.

 SATURDAY MORNING
So I sewed the sides and the back. I (rather my instructor) sewed the invisible zipper. It was super easy, but you need the invisible zipper foot, which I do not. I used my instructor's. Now all I have to do it sew the lining to the zipper on the inside (one side is done) and sew the hem. Don't forget to make the lining shorter than your dress. I am so happy that I made a dress that I can actually wear! I am so glad I took a size smaller. I will try it on properly tomorrow when I finish it.  I think I will make this dress again. I want to make it for the summer, but with a heavier fabric that does not require a lining. And I want to make it without the zipper.

SUNDAY

So I finished the dress. Make the lining in something a lot lighter and this pattern runs large. Or I am SUPER tiny, or both. I felt like crying, yet another thing I have made that is too big. Forget it, I am going with a size 10 from now on. Maybe we can take this in and omit the zipper? In the pictures I did not press the seams so they seam a little bumpy, but they aren't. I just did not bother the press the seams seeing as I have to take them out. And note my disappointment on my face (sans makeup and with dark circles, I am brave) This dress is so big that I look large in it. I am a RTW size 0.
I am happy that I got to use the double needle for the hem and I did a nice job, if I do say so myself!

Sewing plan for the week

Fabricville had a crazy sale on Black Friday, 50% off all material in store, no exceptions. I stocked up on material that was $2.99/meter, at 50% off it came to $1.50 per meter. I chose 3 fabrics, a stretchy orange, light blue and a dark blue unknown fiber. With these 3 choices I can do a few shirts and dresses and if they don’t come out too well, I have not lost a lot of money. If I like them, I will use my “good” material. I also stocked up on the gripper material for my son’s PJ feet, as well as the ribbing material for all the cuffs.

Then, on Monday Fabricville had a sale on patterns! All New Look and Simplicity patterns are $1.99 each.  I have a nice stash and I have to have a plan to get them all done. I don’t want to end up having a stock pile, and not doing anything with them. I am going to start with the easy projects and work my way up to the harder ones.  I have this Friday off, so I want to make 2 dresses and a PJ by then. This week I have a goal, a sewing plan. I want to sew a Christmas tree skirt, finish my shirt I was making during my sewing class; Sam’s PJ’s in a size small, New Look 6125 dress A, Simplicity 2054 either dress B or C.

The Christmas tree skirt I finished. I had some red material that my father had given me 25 years ago, and Simon bought some gold ribbon. I sew the ribbon around the edge and I reinforced the seams at the opening, and Voila! Done. I had to make a rectangular skirt so that it could fit around the table. We put the tree on a table so that Sam would not grab it or knock it down. We used binders to attach the tree to the table and it is SUPER solid. I only needed a skirt to hide it all. In all the years past I draped the red material around the tree base. Now that I am super crafty, I could sew myself something a bit fancier.

I want to try one more PJ for Sam before I make the boys their Christmas PJ’s in the Christmas material I purchased.  I really like the New Look 6525 pattern. It runs big and even the medium was too long on him. I will take the same material I have left over and try the small. Fingers crossed it fits! If at 14 months Sam fits only into a small, this pattern will last a very only time. I have traced the pattern so as to preserve it. I have used it so much that it is starting to get damaged. I even photocopied the original to preserve it.

I had bought a fun simple blue dress at Reitman’s. Simon LOVED it on me. Everyone loved it, and I was thinking that that dress was SO simple. But hey, if people like it, I will take the complement. The problem being it is a small and I am an extra small now. It runs a bit big in the chest area. I found New Look 6125 that is just like it, so I will try to reproduce it. This one has an invisible zipper in the back, so I can leave that for this week’s sewing class. I also have the zipper to do on Simon’s pants, as well as installing a new zipper pull on Tyler’s winter jacket. This week’s class can be about perfecting the zipper.

I don’t think I will add pockets to this first attempt, nor the ribbon. And I want the plain collar for my first attempt.

I am trying to find other reviews to see how this dress sizes. I am really tired of making things for myself that run too big. I want something I can wear!

When I saw this pattern by Cynthia Rowley, Simplicity 2054, something jumped out at me. It is a basic, dress with simple lines. But I like the added details of the sleeves and collar. The more I think about it, the more I want to do dress C, with the cut sleeves.

I think I may make this dress according to my measurements, but in a cheap material. The reviews I read do not say that the pattern runs large. I will have to take the pattern out and see how it measures up against my measurements.