Charcoal Knit Fabric Dress

Okay so this might just go down in history as the most boring dress in history but if you bear with me you'll see why I made it.

So the fabric was given to me by my sewing pen pal, I think she used it to make a Mortimer dress? Now I've never sewn a knit fabric dress before so my patterns and knowledge was a little limited! The fabric has two way stretch but I don't know how much! 

I made the top part of the dress using the princess seam bodice from the second GBSB book but I didn't put a zip in and I used a smaller seam allowance, and I drafted the sleeve myself using my French curves and using another sleeve pattern piece as reference. The skirt is just a large rectangle of fabric that I gathered.

I sewed it all up on my regular machine and didn't encounter too many problems although the top stitching on the neckband is just awful! I think I was trying to stitch through something too thick. I'm putting it don't as a learning moment. The top stitching on the neckline, sleeves and hem was done using my twin needle but I used a ball point needle on everything else.

All in all its a pretty simple dress, the fabric is soft which I like but the waist seam is a little high and id worry that I looked a bit preggers in it.

Know for the important bit! Here's WHY I made it! Some of you may remember the denim bustier I made from the third GBSB book. Now as lovely as it is it doesn't seem to get a lot of wear, mainly because it exposed both bosom and midriff. Not exactly appropriate for the nursery run.

So I made this dress so I can layer my denim top over the top of it!

I got the idea from seeing a picture of celebs in the 90's wearing tshirts under their strappy summer dresses.

All in all I absolutely love how it looks with this top!!! 

And I love that you can see my tattoo from the back! Its very comfortable to wear even with the corset top on top!

So even though it is the most boring dress in the world I'm calling it a great success!! 

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Denim corset top!

Okay so I can quite safely say that I'm now okay with my sleeveless shell top! In fact I'm currently wearing it (like right this second) with my blue stretch pencil skirt, as per the thrifty stitchers suggestion (And my granny cardi, don't judge it's chilly)

But anyway post potato gate I decided to make something else from the Gbsb book! And I cut the right size! 

The denim bustier top! This is a pattern hack from the corset pattern! 

Naturally I didn't play exactly by the rules for starters I didn't buy 1m of denim fabric, instead I used these!

(Turns out taking a picture of blue jeans on a blue carpet is a lot harder than I thought!) 

I should probably mention that these came from mr knitwits wardrobe and he's scrawny, like super scrawny! (Ie not much fabric!) 

Gotta say I'm pretty dammed pleased! Even though it's a little big, I had to make it less fitted because I recycled the zip from an old tshirt in stead if buying an open ended one! FYI this means you can't remove this garment with any kind of dignity (it's kinda like putting your skinny jeans on after Christmas! That's a lots of wiggling!) 

I'm also trying to practise my binding (eurgh) so I went for an exposed binding instead of using it as a facing which the book suggests. It's wonky in places but it's not the worst I've ever done, and I quite like the pop of the red! 

Secret time one of the panels is from a different pair of jeans! Can you spot it? 

Also FLAT FELLED SEAMS! I did flat felled seams! They are grown up seams! And they make garments look like ready to wear! I'm super pleased I learnt a new technique! Even if I did spend ages putting it together and trying not to screw it up! An added bonus of flat felled seams it that the inside looks beautiful!

All in all, I like it! I have no idea when I'm going to wear it, unless bewitched make a massive denim based comeback and need another tone deaf member. C'est la vie! 

The shape is stupidly flattering and I'm tempted to make another in a heavy quilting cotton! Something with flowers and maybe a check , very sweet home Alabama! 

Much love

Frankie! 

Xxx