Over on BERNINA's WeAllSew Blog, I've created a 3 part sew-along series where I will be guiding you step-by-step in a tutorial along with providing you with my favorite tips to successfully sew your best ever button up shirt.

Here's Part 1!

Separates are so necessary in building my home sewn wardrobe.  They’re interchangeable and can be rotated throughout so many looks. I'm always adding low maintenance tops to my wardrobe, because it seems like I never have enough. Also, each cool weather season, I gravitate towards a faux leather legging. It's one of my wardrobe staples. A couple of years ago, it was faux leather jeans that I was obsessed with. This year, it will be these faux leather high-waist tapered leg trousers that will look amazing with everything from heels, flats, ankle boots and sneakers. Go on over to the Mood Sewing Network to see how I created Kwik Sew 3555 Button Front Shirt and Simplicity 8749 Faux Leather Pants.

Every now and then, I need to cut the damn fabric and sew the damn dress! It doesn't matter whether or not I have a specific place to wear it. Because that's always the number one question: "Where are you going to wear that??" My answer: Around my house... To the grocery store... Anywhere... and Everywhere I'd like. Sometimes, I just want to sew something because I CAN and it makes ME happy. No other reason required.

This project was already on my cutting table when True Bias and Closet Case Patterns decided to host the Sew Frosting Challenge. It's basically just sewing all of that "impractical" shit you've dreamed of sewing or cutting that fancy fabric just for the unbridled joy of it. So, what better confection to whip up than a full-length evening gown... a backless, shiny one at that!

My pattern is vintage Vogue 2230 - by Isaac Mizrahi that was released in 1998. 

It's from his Fall 1997 ready-to-wear collection.

My fabric is Black Jersey Knit with All-Over Circle Sequins from Mood Fabrics. I used the white version of this fabric for Vogue 8961, earlier this year. When I posted this dress on Instagram, I was asked how difficult is this fabric to sew? It's not. It's jersey with flat, round sequins. I used my sharp needle and my walking foot with the lightening bolt/stretch stitch. I only originally bought around 2 yards of this fabric, so I used a slinky stretch jersey for the sleeves.

I cut the size 14 and I added 5 inches to the length. I was surprised at how long the sleeves were. At first, I thought my fabric had some how stretch out. 

But I looked at the envelope and saw how the sleeves were slouching at the wrists of the model. The raglan sleeves have darts at the shoulder and the armholes are finished with 1/4" elastic.

The elastic is carried around the entire back opening as well.

The collar has 3 hook and eyes closure.

Even though I cut my normal size, I found that the dress was a little big at the waist. I'm thinking it was because of the weight of the fabric. So I had to go back and take in the center back seam. And I left the hem unfinished because I like the way the fabric drapes and it looks perfect from being cut with a rotary cutter. Before you even ask about a bra... I'm not wearing one.

Cheers to the ladies for organizing and encouraging the Sew Frosting Challenge. And just like there shouldn't be a special occasion for drinking champagne, there shouldn't be one either for sewing up something fabulous.

I haven't always been the biggest fan of floral prints, but I'm completely drawn to the dark and moody oneson these dark backgrounds. I also made a sundress in a dark floral print. I'd had this floral print brush spandex knit that I'd purchased from LA Finch Fabrics sometime last year. It felt so soft that I'd thought about making a rob, but I'd never gotten around to it. And the more I started seeing really amazing dark floral print dresses, I pulled it out.

I saw this amazing dress and fell in love with the shape of it. The style makes the floral print look super edgy and that's the look I was going for.

I picked McCall's 7833. The side ruched detail with the adjustable drawstring captured the asymmetrical essence of the inspiration dress.

Over on the Mood Sewing Network, here's my newest Chanel-Style Jacket.

It's been 11 years since my first one... see the details how I made this one.

I love a great topper... something I can just throw on over everything from activewear when I'm leaving the gym to a gorgeous sexy dress for date night. Last year, it was my velvet kimono. This year it's Style Sew Me Madison Cardigan.

When Eryn offered to send me her latest pattern, I jumped at the chance to add this to my wardrobe. I don't currently have any cute knit cardigans and I love the lines of this one.

I picked this amazing lightweight Italian Warm Gray Abstract Wool Sweater Knit from Mood Fabrics.

The print is so gorgeous that you can't see the beautiful seaming detail. This cardigan has princess seaming in the back. Which creates a beautiful slenderized waist and not boxy or sackish like a lot of cardigans.

It even has a lovely tailored two-piece sleeve. Y'all know how I feel about those!

The pattern is drafted with 1/2" seam allowances and finished with nice narrow hems.

I'm hoping I can find another lightweight sweater knit that I love, because I feel I need another one of these so that I won't wear this one to death. Because it's definitely leaning that way.

I cut a straight 14 with no alterations. The dress is meant to be a little blouse over the drawstring waist, so it had enough ease that I didn't have to do a FBA.

I love a simple design with good sewing details. This dress has a hidden button placket. 

And it's details like that, that make my sewing heart happy.

I love the sleeve tabs. The sleeves are meant to be up all of the time. And that's fine by me.

The one thing I didn't like is that the yoke was cut in one piece. I hate when some the patterns come like that. You NEVER see ready-to-wear yokes like that. I cut mine in two pieces so that the inside would be beautifully finished. Here's my tutorial for How to Sew a Shirt Yoke.

I didn't add any additional length. I'm pretty much over ground dragging maxis. I like for mine to hit at the ankle. This way, I know this dress will work with heels or flats and most importantly, I'm not tripping over the hem.

It's a really simple v-neck pullover top with cut in sleeves. I cut the size 14, and I lengthened it a couple of inches because I knew I would be tucking it in. 

I used leftover red crepe fabric from this dress.

It's the end of August and I'm wrapping up summer sewing. This will probably be my last summer dress of the season. This year, I probably made more spring and summer dresses than I ever have. I haven't done a count, but it sure seems like it. It was just my 'thing' this year.

This dress is Vogue 9311. Compared to a lot of the other dresses I've been making this summer, this one is practically minimal.

For this dress, I cut the straight size 14. I did lengthen skirt pieces by 3 inches. My fabric is this luscious Kelly Green Double Cotton Gauze from Mood Fabrics.com. 

This fabric is exceptional. It's not like the cheap gauze fabric you may often see. It's two layers fused together. So, it has a good weight and it's not translucent. And the texture is beautiful.

I knew the original design of the bodice was not going to work for me. It's very similar to Vogue 9253. Those low-cut, sternum-baring styles just don't work with my bustline... at all. I don't make a lot of statements on what body types look good in what. But in my opinion, that sternum-baring style looks best on those in the "Itty Bitty Titty Committee". If I had small boobs, I'd rock every top plunging to the belly button. I love that style... but just not on me.

So, I stitched the center front up 3 inches. It's still low-cut with good decolletage, but bra-friendly and not all wide open.

I typically don't like empire waist styles. The remind me of the available clothes that I wore over 20 years ago, the 3 times I was pregnant. All of the maternity dresses back in the day were empire waist and tied in the back. 

So, I was pleasantly surprised to see that even in that style, this one has a nice skimming fit along the waistline. But I still tied it to the front.

It has pockets! I love pockets and they make me happy every time I sew them into a dress. Sometimes I just need a place to put my phone while I do something else with my hands. They come in handy.

For the ruffle flounce, I used my gathering foot. It's the truth and it stays coming to the rescue... I'm not about the string pulling life.

I love this dress. And plan to make the long sleeve version for this fall in some great fabric and awesome fall color.