Scallops, Tangerine Tango, Lace!

I hit them all! Check it out...

Multiple pieces went into this shirt, but I love the end results so much!

First, I love Nanette Lepore's lace over orange theme she has going on.


The above image is her Pep Rally Dress. I really like how the lace tones down the orange.

Second, I had a Groupon for Mood Fabrics burning a hole in my e-mail that I decided to spend on the lace I really liked (way too expensive otherwise) as well as some sateen for some Sallie Oh inspired Clovers.

Third, when I got the lace I knew I had to make use of the scalloped edges.

So, I went to a pattern I really like with simple lines, Simplicity 2599. I skipped the embellishments, but I really like the fit of the pattern over all.

I lined the shirt with a bright orange Voile, but left the sleeves as just lace.

I also hemmed the lining a couple inches shorter than the lace to help showcase the scalloped edges.

I did the same on the front and the back.

Now if you are interested I took some construction photos. There may be a better way to make this, but this is what I came up with.

I cut out the front and back pattern pieces on my orange fabric first. I skipped the center back seam and just cut the back on the fold. It slips over my head just fine.

Then, under the judgy watchful eye of my assistant. I cut my back piece out of the fabric lining it up with the scallops showing out the bottom. I then cut the front piece out of my lace off the other side of my fabric to use the scallop edge. I lined up the front and back pieces using the waist notches to be sure the hems would line up on the shirt. Be sure to pay attention that you are using the right side of the lace on all of the pieces.

For the sleeves I just matched the center dot at the top with a center of a scallop. I repeated that on both sleeves.

I hemmed the Voile being sure to make sure it was the same hem measurement on both the front and back pieces. I  then sewed the voile and lace right sides together at the neck line only.

I under stitched the seam allowance to the lining and trimmed the excess.

I then flipped the piece right sides out.

Here is how the neckline looks on. I think it is fairly clean. Lining this way also eliminated the neck facings.

I then basted all the way around across the shoulder lines, down the arm hole and to the bottom and treated both the lace and voile as one piece of fabric and constructed it from here starting with shoulder seams, side seams then sleeves. Idid not baste the two fabrics across the bottom. It is just loose. All the hemming was done!

Be sure when sewing the shoulder seams that those inside seams line up well, otherwise they will be crooked looking.

I used this method because I did not want the lace darts to be visible. This was the dart pieces were encapsulated within the voile.

The inside is decent looking. I zig zagged the edges because I feel like I have more control with it when sewing layers. I was afraid if I serged the edges I would cut something I didn't want to. Isn't that orange, um, orange? I really like the effect the lace has on it.

I love it! And overall it only took about three hours. I can't wait to wear it some more. I think this lace overlay would make a cute simple dress too. 

A sew along announcement and fabric binge confessions

I have exciting news! I am a new contributor to the Humble Sewing Center Blog and will be hosting a sew along using Butterick 4461, my favorite A-Line skirt with zipper. Check it out!

Now, the confessions begin.

I couldn't walk. Mr. Thinks He Can lost my debit card. Life was really hard. Warning: The following may be hard for people with will power to see. The following is based on a true story and is what happens when I am left alone with the internet and nothing else for days on end.

One of my fabrics for the skirt sew along.

A chiffon for another go at Taffy.

A cheetah print rayon. I know. What the heck? I actually really dig it. It is such a small print. I may make a simple tank dress out of it. That's my good foot to help you get an idea of scale. LOL, still can't walk.

This is one yard of a weird knit that is kind of thick. It is kind of fuzzy on one side and kind of slick on the other side. I'm sure it is for something beside a skirt, but too bad.

This is another knit that will be a wrap dress. I love it!

This is a navy charmeuse I am thinking of making a Ruby slip with. I have never worked with charmeuse, but it is really lovely.

Tangerine Tango polka dot rayon! That's my assistant's foot up there for scale. I see a nice button down out of this.

This is a navy linen blend I am hoping to make the new Cynthia Rowley shirt I am drooling over out of.

Please vote for the Red Dress Contest

First things first. I got an e-mail from my awesome sewing friend Holly who knows I have been totally starved of human interaction with no walking or driving.



Bwahahahahahahahaha! I needed that! And now I have a night out with some quilting ladies that totally rock my world. Good thing, because I never did my February Blocks of the Month.

OK, now to the Red Dress Contest.

You can vote here, and you have five votes to cast. I'm partial to my own project, and my user name is Stacie Thinks. But, even if you don't vote go check out some of the amazing work that was done in this contest.

As always House of Pinheiro killed it with one yard of fabric. Is there anything she can't do?

I love the Tracy Reese pattern made by JudyMac. I would live in that dress for the summer!

And this one by Quinner is just beautiful!

I have never sewn a solid red dress, but it is so flattering and easy to wear. I see more of these in the future. Well, maybe not all red, but at least more solid dresses.


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This is sewing on drugs

Since Friday I have been tortured by your blogs. Awesome Simplicity's, new Craftsy courses, must have projects and I can't do any of it!

Instead I am keeping my foot above my heart and watching all the Downton Abbeys available to me. OK, you guys nailed it with that. I love Downton Abbey.

The breakdown of damages so far:
Gertie's Starlet Suit Jacket class - I had to have it. I was torn between her and the couture dressmaking class. I went with Gertie. I got it for $25 somehow too through my phone. How could I not? I have a link for another $25 class if anyone wants it, e-mail me.

Then I went to Fabric.com. I want to make a white Violet shirt, and they are having a great Red, White and Blue sale. I also wound up with some navy charmeuse, navy linen blend and clear elastic. I am thinking of doing the OohLaLa Pin Up sew along, or even just a bra like Dixie's, so I bought the charmeuse. I may make a shirt out of it though.

But the Simplicity!!! Oh they are so pretty this season. Cynthia Rowley really appeals to my painkiller-fueled sewing self.



I don't know why that is fuzzy, but if Mr. Thinks He Can catches me blogging with my foot down I am toast! Anyway, this is my very favorite: Simplicity 1872! I love the dresses, especially the one on the bottom. I may need to alter the poofy sleeve so it doesn't look so little girlish. I also love the shirt! I may need one for my Shirt A Month challenge. It may need to be of navy charmeuse. I may need one of my sneaky friends to sneak it to me right this second because I just want to look at it!!!



Simplicity 1882 is very appealing to me. I could see this one in a number of styles. I've never made one of their Amazing Fit line garments before, but I may have to try it.

There are a few more cute ones. A great Project Runway shirt dress, and I like the Lisette bags. Strangely enough I do not care for the Lisette garments as much this time. They seem boxy. I'm sure someone will make them up and change my mind though.