Madras Liesl + Co Terrace Dress

With the arrival of summer heat these past couple of weeks I've been clamoring to sew, light weight cotton projects.  I love a light weight cotton shirting, voile, lawn and in the case of this project, Madras, are all favorites.  I recently finished McCalls 7629- a camp style shirt in cotton voile for Faye's sewing adventures "Tops that Pop" sew-along and was reminded how much I love breathable fabrics in the summer heat.

When I finished this project I wasn't so sure that I made the right pairing of fabric and pattern...I made another Terrace dress in an adorable bold print for my next Fabric Mart Fabricista post and think that I just got it stuck in my head that this pattern was meant for solids and bold prints. 
After looking at these pictures I think this one is really wearable and will be great for summer. 

Some notes on the pattern:

• Liesl + Co patterns are of the best quality.  Clear instructions, straight forward and illustrative.  Always a nice finish on the inside.
• The Terrace dress is a really simple sew, no closures and just a few pattern pieces.  Good for a beginner.  
• I lowered the bust dart on this version by about an inch.  
• I shortened this version but can't remember by how much. 
• Pockets.
• The shape of this dress is really good, there's subtle shaping that keeps it from feeling like a sack.  The shoulders are fitted as well as the high bust then the skirt goes out into an A-line shape and when cinched in by the obi belt it is really adorable. The back seam helps with adding shape as well.

I wanted to include a couple of shots of the dress sans belt so that you could get an idea of its shape.  I won't wear it like this but if you wanted to, its passable.  

A little teaser...I absolutely adore the version that I made for my next Fabricista post and have worn it to a birthday party, party barn picnic, and kindergarten graduation.  You'll have to check it out on the Fabric Mart blog in early June. 

Thanks for reading and happy sewing!

Elizabeth

Wide Leg Cropped Pants

I am loving these wide leg cropped pants!! They are the same pant that I made for my last Fabric Mart post and that I tried out this winter in a stretch woven.  Its McCalls 7445 by Melissa Watson for Palmer/Plestch.  I'll say it again, I love those Palmer/Plestch patterns because all the alteration lines are on the pattern.  

This pair is made up in Linen (can't remember where it was purchased) and they were wonderful to wear all day.  I wanted them to be summer appropriate as well as use up this gorgeous cut of linen that's been lingering in my stash for so.very.long.  Being linen I was sure these would wrinkle like the devil but after an hour and a half in the car I don't think they look so bad at all!! Win! 

As far as sewing notes go...I was unsure about the crotch seam stretching out so I reinforced it with twill tape.  I also added the pocket stay in the front for a smoother fit as well as moving the zipper to the side seam and eliminating the exposed front zipper. 

Although I don't relish showing the back of these I feel that for anyone who wants to make them up they could benefit from seeing it, sooo, there you go.  The wind was blowing terribly so its a little hard to make out the back but the fit is really good. 

The top is a McCall's Palmer/Plestch thats now out of print.  The shoulders came out a little wide but it was really comfortable to wear all day.  The fabric is a stretchy double knit from Fabric Mart last spring. 

I foresee wearing these pants A LOT this summer both for leisure and work and there may have to be one more pair in this awesome black and white aztec sateen I've been hoarding!!

Thanks for reading and Happy Sewing!

Elizabeth