Colorblock Dress by So Sew Easy

Disclaimer: I received the pattern for free for participating in the tour. All opinions are 100% my own though.


Please forgive the horrible photography. I couldn’t find my tripod and the 4-year-old refused to stand still while taking the pictures, and pretty much decided after a few shots she was done helping. Not to mention the 1-year-old was screaming in the background. Sigh. Haven’t had a chance to try again for pics since. Although to be fair to the 4-year-old, the hubby doesn’t take pics any better. :p





Sheath dresses are probably the one style of dress that pretty much always looks decent on me. But I was still a little worried about signing up for the Colorblock Dress pattern tour.

Why? Because I’ve learnt that generally my top half is usually two or three sizes bigger than my bottom half in PDF patterns. Which means lots of adjustments are usually needed.

But luckily it was fairly easy to grade between sizes with this pattern. (Updated to add: After looking at the pics my daughter took, I decided it needs a little more taken in the back especially, so after those adjustments are done I’ll post new pics).

I fell into the largest size (E) up top, and was in between sizes B and C at the hips, I decided to go with C at the hips because of my fabric. Generally tops that fit through the bust are too baggy just above the shoulders, so I did some adjustments all over the place. I cut the shoulder width of the size D but kept the neckline at E to ensure proper coverage when bending over. Then from the underarm to the waist line I cut at E and then graded from waist to the hip down to size C.

It might sound a little complicated but it wasn’t too difficult. The width of the front centre panel is consistent between the sizes, so the grading is all done with the side panels.

I did do one major change to the pattern as you have probably already noticed.

I was a little disappointed in my fabric. I order my knits online because the pricing is better than what I can usually get in store (and the selection is greater) but the downside is I can’t touch the fabric. I wanted a comfy dress and usually the Kaufman knits are good quality t-shirt like knit and thought it’d be fun to a have comfy polka dot dress. But the only solid black I could find was a rayon jersey. It’s very nice and soft and has a good drape, but it’s not a good fit for this project, when stretched out it’s kinda see-through. And also the black dots fabric faded after just the pre-wash. Brand new and it already looks like an old tee! I was disappointed. In the end, with the two different blacks now, I decided it looked better as a shirt, and cut the dress down to about tunic length.

I think it’s cute! (although these pictures are so not flattering, lol)

In this fabric I like it so much better as a shirt. I will definitely try this pattern again to make a dress but use a thicker (Ponte maybe?) knit next time. I think I might also adjust the curves on the pattern piece for the centre front panel to be a little wider maybe. I think I lose any slimming effect because my side panels are so much wider on me proportionally to the centre piece. It doesn’t need much I don’t think to make it look a little more balanced. (I think I’ll also make another top though too!)

Head on over to So Sew Easy to check out the Colorblock dress!

Ula writes for Lulu&Celeste


Link up parties you might find me at:

Golden Rippy Delilah Blog Tour- Sewing for moi! + GIVEAWAY

Hey there! Welcome to my stop on the Golden Rippy Delilah Blog Tour!

Delilah top by Golden Rippy sewn by Lulu&Celeste
Photo taken by the ever talented Silly Bean!


Golden Rippy is a newer designer sharing their designs with the world! There are currently two patterns out. The Delilah (of which I’m sharing my version here) and the Dahlia which is the girl’s version of the Delilah. (So if you want to do the whole mommy and daughter matching thing you can!) 

Read to the bottom to find out how to enter the giveaway!

 Delilah top by Golden Rippy sewn by Lulu&Celeste

The Delilah is a cute Dolman style top. I like these style tops, loose and flowy and help hide the mummy tummy but still flattering. I know horizontal stripes are maybe not the best but I loved the colours. 

I sewed up the XL size and did a few modifications to fit it better on me. I cut the hip band in the size L since my hip measurements fell into lower end of that range. But then cut a few inches off the hip band length so it would be a little more snug on my hips. I also shortened the overall length by a couple inches cuz I was afraid it would be too

Delilah top by Golden Rippy sewn by Lulu&Celeste

I’m so happy with how this turned out! It is the first project I’ve sewn for myself that turned out so well!! And I did pretty good with matching the stripes! yay! 

Delilah top by Golden Rippy sewn by Lulu&Celeste

This is a pretty fast sew. For me maybe about 2 hours. But part of that was stopping to check fit every so often. The next ones should go faster.

I’m already planning to make a few more. And next time I’ll use a plain knit so I can try out the embellishment options. My sister has also asked me to make her a top too! I call this a successful project!

Pattern details:
  • illustrated instructions
  • six sizes  XXS to XL (bust measurements 30-43″)
  • 2 sleeve lengths (cap and half-sleeve)
  • 2 embellishment options
  • printing guide
  • pattern layout guide
  • grainlines
  • 28 page PDF pattern download to make the top; pattern pieces prints out on 20 pages
  • fabric yardages for 45″ and 60″ widths
  • seam allowances included
  • professionally designed and graded pattern
Fabric:
A nice drapey knit that I bought locally! I think it would make a nice maxi length dress too 😉 (That was totally accidental. I thought the fabric looked familiar when I bought it and remembered where I’d seen it after it was sewn up!)

Both of her patterns are currently on sale so check them out!

Link to Golden Rippy Shop:

Link to Delilah Top Pattern:

Link to Golden Rippy Facebook Page:

Link to Golden Rippy Blog:

http://www.goldenrippy.com


IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME!

Prize Package & Rules

Two winners will each win:
            * 2 Patterns of your choice from Golden Rippy
           
The Contest Rules:
You must be 18 to enter.
You can gain entries by entering the Rafflecopter Prompts.
Giveaway ends: 8/6/14 at midnight PST.

Two winners will be chosen and announced on 8/7/14

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Check out the rest of the blog tour! What a great lineup!


Monday- July 28

Tuesday- July 29

Wednesday- July 30
  
Thursday- July 31
  
Friday- Aug 1

Saturday- Aug 2

Sunday- Aug 3

Monday- Aug 4
Daisy Chain Creations – Knot Sew Normal – Lulu & Celeste (You’re Here!)   

Tuesday- Aug 5

Wednesday- Aug 6
Bebe Lambs – Create3.5 – Lady and the Gents    

**************



I’m sewing up my stash this month! This counts as project #1 of stash sewing. I used approx. 2 yards of fabric from stash! Woot!

Modkid Hailey Misses top

It’s my turn on the BundleUP blog tour for the Women’s bundle collection at Pattern Revolution.

For the tour I sewed up the Hailey Misses top by Modkid.

The pattern is easy to put together and sews up fairly quickly. The directions are also easy to understand.


It calls for shirring under the bust but I’ve never shirred before and couldn’t get it to work on my sewing machine. So I did an elastic casing, which I kinda messed up which is why I’ve got a belt on, ha! World’s greatest seamstress I am not! :p



In hindsight I should have also done up a muslin bodice because it was only once I had sewn up the sides did I realize that the bodice seam cut across my bust. Next time I will lengthen the bodice slightly so that the seam falls under. I think I will also remove a bit of width from the skirt of the top since I find I tend to fall into a larger size up top than down below and the extra fabric isn’t too flattering on me when it’s a top. (As a dress I think it works.) 

I will for sure make this again. Just make the little alterations I need to do so it fits me properly. As a top it works great for nursing moms!

Pattern details:
-Sizes XS to XXL (bust measurements of 30″-42″)
-Pattern pieces print out over 17 pages
-Tutorial includes diagrams (line drawings)
-3 different length options plus optional ruffle hem
-Tips for sewing with knits and different hemming options if using knit fabric.

Fabric used:
It’s some sort of poly cotton that is lightweight almost like a voile, lol. I really should have written it down. All I remember is that it is machine washable! Bought at Fabricville (local fabric store).



There’s one more day to enter the giveaway to win a bunch of prizes, including a serger!!



Check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour!


June 20
June 21 
June 22
The Mother Huddle, Gloria June
June 23
June 24
June 25
June 26
June 27