How have you all been? Are you kinda sorta adjusting to our present "normal"? I'm just trying to make the best out of an unprecedented situation. For the last month, I feel like I've been just mechanically going through the motions of daily life. I'd had this dress on the cutting table since early March, and I realized I wasn't getting anywhere in my sewing. Then I realized that I was actually sad and depressed. I was reading and consuming way too much COVID-19 information. I've had to stop watching the news and abstain from keeping the Alabama Department of Public Health's website open on my desktop. The infected numbers update in real time. As horrible as it is to just sit and watch it, I was obsessed. Earlier in the week, I decided no more. I turned on season 3 of Ozark on Netflix, and finished this dress. Wendy Byrde definitely kept my mind occupied.

I decided to post this just in time for #VirtualFrocktails on Instagram, hence the delicious glass of red wine! 

The dress is Vogue Patterns V1672. I'm thinking that this is "my silhouette" going forward.

My fabric is Mustard Tencel Twill from Mood Fabrics. It's absolutely gorgeous... the drape and the color are both magnificent. The back bodice pieces are cut on the bias. This fabric cuts like a silky, so I would strongly advise that you cut bias pieces on a single layer. And make sure that you straighten the grain on this fabric first.

I cut a size 14. I made a FBA, and I still needed to tack the fronts. 

I lined the bodice only. And the pattern instructs you to bind the armholes.

The reason I didn't line the skirt is that I added a front inseam slit and the fabric has a nice medium weight hand. I feel that it holds its on without a lining.

I made one inch swayback adjustment and for the skirt, I made a 1.5" full seat adjustment so that the back of the skirt hem wouldn't hike up.

As with any full skirt, you must allow your garment to hang for at least 24 hours for it to grow so that you can level your hem. I used a very narrow hem so I wouldn't have to do any easing.

I love this dress because it works with heels and it'll also work when we're free to move about the world, I can throw on flat sandals this summer. Hopefully, by the time summer arrives, we will be pass all of this and we'll be able to take our me-made garments out into the wild again.

I'm 6 months shy of my 50th birthday. So, health and fitness (both physical and mental) are number 1 on my list of priorities. Because without good health, nothing else matters to me. In an effort to keep motivating myself to make it to the gym at least 4 times a week, I'm adding new and cute workout clothes to my closet!

As a Baby Lock Sewing Brand Ambassador, I received the Baby Lock Victory Serger. I've been challenging myself to find different ways to use it. And one of my favorite things to do is to make activewear!

I was inspired to make workout clothes from the Sew Your View Monthly Challenge on Instagram.

They used McCall's 7261. I didn't have that one in my pattern collection. But I do have McCall's 6404 (out-of-print), which is basically the same draft. I just widened the waistband.

I made this pattern a few years ago... it was prior to a full seat adjustment being one of my standard pattern adjustments. I just made the workout tights and when I tried them on -- big problem. 

They were hella dipping at the center back. So, I just added a "yoke" to fill in that space between the back and the waistband.

I cut the size large. But I ended up taking about 3" off of each side so that they'd actually look like workout tights with the negative ease.

For the navy blue pair, I used Navy Perfotek Compression Jersey and Navy Stretch Polyester Power Mesh. The navy is currently out of stock, but this is one of Mood Fabrics reorderable fabrics... and they have other great colors as well. It's not rough or scratchy... it's very soft with excellent stretch. And let me tell you just how soft that Perfotek Compression Jersey is! It feels amazing against the skin.

And for the creating, I used a 2-Thread Flatlock Wide Stitch. This stitch is known as a "natural flatlock" and on the Baby Lock Victory Serger, it didn't require any tension adjustment. I made the wide stitch. This is done by using only one needle in the left position. The thread for this needle is passed through the top thread guide that is normally used for the upper looper (3rd from the left) and down the front and threading the needle normally. 

To create a 2-thread flatlock stitch, the eye of the upper looper needs to be blocked to form this stitch. On some machines, you have to add an attachment to the looper. On the Victory, it has what's called a "subsidiary looper".

Here's a tutorial to show you how it's done:

Of course, I needed matching tops. I used Simplicity 8560 sports bra pattern. It has 3 different views and I made two of them. The is a great pattern because it's sized like a regular bra with band width and cup sizes. I cut the 34D.

On the printed top, it's sewn in its entirety on my Baby Lock Aventura II, using the stretch stitch. It's the one that looks like a lightning bolt. 

For this version, I used the 2-thread flatlock stitch in a decorative way. 

This one has the mesh inset with a bound finish. And Italian Navy Elastic Trimming for the band.

Not only are these pieces cute and fashionable, they're comfortable during the workout. 

Nothing rides up. I highly recommend both of them if you're looking to combine high performance with high style!

I love monochromatic two-piece sets. They add so much versatility to my wardrobe. Because not only do you get an already matched outfit, you get pieces that can be intermingled with what you already have.

Simplicity 9051 is the perfect pattern for a great single-shade look. For this pattern, I picked Theory Deep Rouge Stretch Poly Crepe (326857). This is a great drapey crepe that surprisingly didn’t crawl and was not difficult to layout and cut.

I cut the top in a size 14 and lengthened it by an inch. The keyhole cutout is in the seam, which makes it easy to adjust the length. The neckline is finished with binding for a nice clean edge. And the sleeves and bottom edge is finished with a narrow hem. I made the self-belt knowing that I’m never a fan of these. I ended up ditching it for a ready-to-wear leopard print belt.

The pants are practically (advanced) beginner-friendly. They have an elastic waistband, inseam pockets and side slits that extend from the knees to the hem.

I made a 1.5” full seat adjustment so my pants won’t dip in the center back. I also added 3” to the length.

I'll just start by saying that I love this top so much. McCall's 8043 is unlike anything I have in my wardrobe and I love the fact that its designer style is so dead on the nose. 

This design is inspired by the Orseund Iris Night Out Top. McCall created versions with both the ruched midriff and a smooth one, like I made. And I like that they lengthened the ties so that you can tie them to the front also.

I cut my version is a 14. I didn't need to make a FBA, because without wearing a bra, it fits like it's supposed without any adjustments.

My gorgeous floral crepe fabric is from Joann Fabrics and so are the matching buttons. It cut and sewed beautifully.

Both the front and the back openings have facings which keeps the openings laying nice and smooth.

I love how well the ties work in the back and the front!

This is such a great wardrobe addition that I think I need to add another one in a solid, basic color.

I decided to use McCall’s 7906. I love the high, cinched waisted style. I cut the size 14 at the waist and blended to a size 16. I cut view D, the longest length, which was fine.

But I still needed to make my standard full seat adjustment so that the skirt wouldn’t hike up at the back hem.

The skirt has inseam pockets, belt carriers and a self-belt. And I used these gorgeous Amber Horn Buttons.

A lot of home sewers feel a bit intimidated at the thought of working with leather or faux leather, so I’m going to share some of my favorite tips.