Mississippi Avenue Dress for the Fall

Happy Autumn!

It sure sounds nice, but here in Texas, the heat stays with us until late October.  So, while others have visions of coats and jackets to sew, I continue with sewing summer patterns in the colors of fall.  

This summer I picked up some beautiful lawns at Mood Fabrics in Los Angeles.  When I saw this pattern on a few sewing blogs, I knew it would be a perfect match.

Mississippi Avenue Dress by Sew House Seven

Front view

Fabric:

Plum floral lawn from Mood Fabrics

Pattern:

107 The Mississippi Avenue Dress by Sew House Seven

Construction notes:

Since this lawn is almost see through, I used French seams on the side seams.  The center front panel is done with a Hong Kong seam.  The front neckband is easy to do with a lightweight lawn, but even a quilting cotton would be too thick and bunch up.

Fitting notes:

Pattern review had a few notes from reviewers about the armholes, so my radar was alerted to any large armhole issues.  

Based on my sloper, I made the following bodice changes:

- tuck in the back between the armhole and shoulder.

-adjusted both front and back shoulder slopes (both different for the left and right).

-added about 1" to the front side seam as a FBA.  I slightly gathered the bottom of the bodice to fit to the skirt. 

That is all the adjustment needed and it turned out great!!!!

I had no large armhole issue.

Summer Boho Pant M7164 with a summer top Simplicity 1316

M7164 & Simplicity 1316

Pattern

Pants - McCall's M7164, View B

Top - Simplicity 1316, View D

Fabric

Pants - Patchwork Rayon Challis print from Helen Enox in Oklahoma City (during the family Christmas time, I slipped away)

Top - Coral Rayon Challis from either Fabric Mart or Fashion Fabrics

Pants Fitting Notes

Since I make most of my clothes, I have no idea why I don't make more pants.  RTW just doesn't fit right, so I thumbed through my fitting books to find the solution. 

The Problem - Lower Buttocks Curve (I call is saggy bottom.)

The Solution - Widen and lower the crotch curve.  

Presto - no more sagging at the back waistline.

Top Fitting Notes

Problem - Uneven shoulders, sloping shoulders, and forward rotated shoulders.

Solution - One could spend hours working on a kimono type sleeve with all these fitting problems.  Since I didn't spend hours, I still have a few left.  

See the bottom picture:

You will see the shoulder line way behind where it should be.  It almost rides even with the back neckline.  (This is a common RTW problem for me.)  The shoulder seam that travels down the sleeve twist to the back and makes all sort of pull lines.  I am trying to decide if this is a type of garment to spend some quality time with and figure out the fit or just stay with set-in sleeves.  

Top Construction Notes:

This pattern has neckline facings.  Please replace them with some type of binding.  The flopping from the facings is bothersome.

Side view

Doesn't look too bad from the back.

Top fitting issues from the shoulder.  Shoulder seam rides too far back and isn't in line with the arm.

Aqua Lace Love, M6827

Aqua Lace top for my tween

Pattern

McCall's M6827, View B

Drafted to a girls size 10 (Pattern only goes to size 8)

Fabric

Aqua lace from LA Fashion District (Can't remember the vendor) 

Cost=$20

Aqua foldover elastic from LA Fashion District

Cost=$3

Cost from Houston to LA Fashion District=$$$$$$

Construction Notes

All seams done on the serger. 

Hem done on the coverstitch machine.

Total construction time = 20 minutes until I hit the fold over elastic.

All those bumps in the lace were a beast to smooth out and make look pretty with the fold over elastic.  Third try was a charm.

Notes

This top was designed by my sweet daughter.  She LOVES it!  Today was her first day of Latin class and she saved this top for the special occasion.  This sewing mama is so proud to have a handmade top reserved for the first day of class.  We might survive the teen years and still be happy about the handmade clothes.  There is hope............

M6827

A pic with the dog.

The whole outfit look.  Love the longer hemline in the back.

My almost 4th of July Dress, New Look 6096

Even the best sewing plans can get derailed by time constraints.  I decided to sew up a new 4th of July dress on July 2nd.  All would have gone well, if packing a family of six for a two week vacation was not also on the to-do list.  I finished the dress after the trip, but it still works for the heat wave in Texas.  

New Look 6096 & Voile border print from Fabric Mart

Pattern:

New Look 6096, Short skirt and peasant top combination

Fabric:

Navy voile from Fabric Mart

Navy Cotton/poly broadcloth for lining from my stash

Changes to Construction:

The voile was beautiful and sheer.  Too sheer for my tastes.  The whole dress is lined with a navy broadcloth.  Elastic was used around the neck, arms, and waist between the fashion fabric and lining. I added a FBA to the front bodice.  

This was an easy dress to make and a comfortable dress to wear.  

Love that I used a border print.