Dressing the Apple - Blog

Dressing the Apple

"I Deserve Nice Things"

9/10/2019

I do. And so do you. The first-person format is because I want each of you to read this as an affirmation. Most of us are pretty darned comfortable saying "you deserve nice things"...how often do we say "I deserve nice things"? Let's talk about that, and then try an experiment over the weekend.

Vogue 9112 - Maxified!

9/3/2019

Pattern: heavily modified Vogue 9112
Fabric: www.ankaramalkia.com
Success in making a tent dress depends on choosing great fabric. Find a fabric you love.

A few months ago, after I'd spent my fabric allowance for the month, Mrs. Roni Gordon posted this gorgeous bit of shimmery gold/purple Ankara. I needed it. Needed it enough to cut into the food budget for a few weeks. The large bold design called for a maxi dress, and the only real decision was what *kind* of maxi dress?

Vogue 9112 Tunic ("Dress")

6/10/2019

After a tragic disappointment with another pattern, I needed something to pick me up. This asymmetrical pattern was exactly the thing. No two pieces are alike, and there are interesting curves and a forgiving silhouette. It's a 3D puzzle in fabric. An easy one, if you take it step-by-step.

Mimi G Pattern: S8177 Pants

5/13/2019

Front of pattern envelope.

Graded yoke pieces.

My dog likes to stand on fabric...

These wide-leg woven pants were the reason I purchased S8177. They are high-waisted, and with Mimi G, I knew there would be room for my ample rear. Otoh, there's a yoke, and a zipper, and my figure, and...

McCall's M7386 Knit Trumpet Skirt

4/30/2019

Can an Apple wear a trumpet skirt? Made of knit fabric?
But I don't have a serger, and won't zig-zag stitches look weird on stripes?
What about using power mesh?
Why is this fabric curling?

Battle of the shirtdresses: M7889vs M7890

2/22/2019

Whether you spell it "shirt dress" or "shirtdress," this garment presents some challenges to the Apple. Typically it's a short, somewhat fitted garment. Ready-to-wear options are frequently unflattering, with "fitting" that hits all the wrong places on us, or a lack of fitting that leaves us looking like an egg in a really long dress shirt. Not an attractive look.

Ankara - African Wax Prints

2/3/2019

Stumbling across Ankara fabric last year changed my life. The large-scale designs, the brilliant colors, the vibrant Ankara sewing community...I was hooked.

Ankara is generally a cotton fabric, dyed using a wax process. The resulting fabric is nearly identical on both sides. It's a versatile, medium-weight woven that resists wrinkling and is pleasant to sew and comfortable to wear. What's not to love?

Vogue 1297 - dress

2/3/2019

Vogue 1297 is an excellent pattern for Apples. It looks fabulous in striped fabric, thanks to the giant pockets set at a slimming angle. It's also surprisingly easy to make, even when you're working with an older sewing machine like I do!

My first version of this dress was made with a substantial brick-red striped knit. It's not a scuba knit, but it is almost that substantial. I do think you could get away with a medium-weight knit. Anything too light might not skim over you as flatteringly (no surprise to most of us). The minor wubble in the front-facing pic is my not-very layerable shirt scrunching!

Awesome

pockets
flattering drape
fast/easy/professional look

Did I mention it has pockets? The pockets and dress never fail to get compliments, from people wanting to know where I got it. No one has ever asked if I made it. That means a lot to me! There is no need to match the stripes, so this really does cut and sew quickly. The thin piece at the neck was the only piece I paid close attention to lining up.

Not As Awesome

knits only (really)
best for stripes/solids

The second version of this dress, I decided to use a woven fabric, and put an exposed zipper in the back. The print on the second fabric was not striped. It was a small, busy print, and it came from the quilting section, which isn't "bad", just lighter weight than my knit. Please note that at this point, I'm not using the pattern envelope's recommended fabric, and the fabric's print is not like either shown on the envelope. The result was not flattering. I will definitely be making this dress again, in stripes or solids!

Vogue 1429 Top or Dress

1/8/2019

This pattern sat for more than a year in my Future Project pile. When I finally put it together in late 2018, I had barely enough of the chosen fabric. It got worse - I cut both sleeves the same. This is what happens when you don't purchase enough fabric and are determined to "make it work".

With some adjustment, I managed to put it together, using the dress length and adding another 4" to that. This allows it to be worn as a dress with tights, or with leggings as a long tunic.

Awesome
The unique neckline/collar are beautiful. I did not do the contrast inset, yet the basic shape alone is a very tailored-looking detail. I will definitely be using this pattern again. Not sure if it's "good", but the top points of the collar are very close together on the pattern envelope, whereas on me it is more of a popped collar look.

Not Awesome
There are only two bust darts in the pattern. The rest of the dress is a sort of tube. Clearly the dress shown on the front of the pattern envelope has been fitted. The lack of darts on the lower section of the dress resulted in the dreaded Tent Effect.

Suggested Modifications: The next time I use this pattern, I'll be mixing it with the lower part of George and Ginger's "Clover" or "Crimson" pattern. It's not really a surprise that using separate pieces yields a more flattering fit.