Lanvin Plisse One Shoulder Top - $1,255 & Plisse Pencil Skirt - $1,620 - Neiman Marcus

Red pleated crepe de chine - $4.95/yd., Denver Fabrics


Lanvin Plisse Kimono Gown - $2,115, Neiman Marcus


Dark periwinkle pleated crepe de chine - $4.95/yd., Denver Fabrics

As you can see, it drapes BEAUTIFULLY. The pleats run from selvage to selvage. The fabric is 60" wide and it can be cut cross grain if you want your pleats to run vertically and the selvage can be used in lieu of a hem. I'm still deciding what I'm going to make with my fabric, but I'll be using it SOON!

1235, 1236 and 1250. All DKNY

I'll call this the DKNY "trifecta". I'll be bringing each of these home!

1241 - Kay Unger; 1249 - Mark & James and 1245 - Alice + Olivia

I love this Kay Unger dress. It can be made in a stretch woven or a knit. That's a plus! So can the Mark & James jumpsuit. I think I'll make mine in a matte jersey. In the summertime, wash and go is ALWAYS winner! And the Alice + Olivia off-the-shoulder top is pretty great too.

Description: Pullover top A, tunic B or dress C have wide neckline and unfinished edges; top A front and back extend to draped sleeves, very narrow shoulders and lower band; tunic B, dress C instructions to create woven chain detail are included, tunic B at neckline, dress C along hemline band; dress C has contrast inner hem band.
Did it look like the pattern envelope when you were done sewing it? Kinda sorta...
Fabric: A very soft, lightweight turquoise jersey (70% poly/30% rayon) from Hancock Fabrics.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes! They were so easy that I only glanced over them and did my own thing.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like the style. It's very IN right now and perfect for this and upcoming warm/hot weather. I didn't like the raw edge. It looked "unfinished"... like it was waiting to be hemmed. This is my personal preference and had a lot to do with my fabric. Some knits I don't mind having a raw edge, but this is just not one of them. Also, the back and the front only attached at a very narrow point at the shoulder. It was suggested that the seam should be finished with binding tape. Since my fabric is very lightweight, I fused that area with tiny pieces of knit tricot interfacing and trimmed the seam allowance. And since I hemmed what should have been raw, I turned in that part and you can't see the interfacing.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made? Another MAJOR thing that bothered me is that the dolman style sleeve hangs so low that the armscye actually stops almost at the waist! Imagine raising your arm to wave, reach or scratch your head -- NOTHING BUT BRA! So I tacked the sleeve at the front and back hems. That solved that problem. I also added 1" to the length.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I have so many tops/shirt patterns that I'll probably never get to this one again. But I do recommend it -- if you like this style.

Pattern: Vogue 1218 - Donna Karan Collection

Pattern Sizing: 4-18. I cut the 16.

Description: Close-fitting, tapered, above mid-knee, unlined dress has shaped seams, scoop front and back neckline, front pleats with wired ribbon, back invisible zipper and back vent.

Did it look like the pattern envelope when you were done sewing it? It does!

Fabric: Blue Ponteroma (72% polyester/24% rayon/4% spandex). Fabric recommendations are rayon spandex and contton spandex. Look, I'm a girl with A LOT of curves and some SPANX-covered lumps and bumps. I needed to use a "more forgiving" fabric that was much beef-ier than the recommended fabrics.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes they were. This is a "Vogue EASY" pattern and it is very easy and a quick sew.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I LOVE the overall "wiggle dress" style. I thought the ruffle detail with the wired ribbon was something I'd never done before, so it interested me greatly. I love all of the details. BUT what about what I didn't like?! I read Adrienne's review of this pattern and it was obvious that the neckline was ridiculously low. Hey Vogue Patterns, how did you manage to provide that picture but such a big flaw in the drafting?!

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made? For pattern piece #2, I removed 4". This resolved the "scandalously" low, plunging scoop neckline. For the front and back pieces, I added 1" at the waist; 2" at the hipline and 3" at the hemline.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I probably wouldn't make this again. Y'all know the drill -- way too many other dresses popping up everyday!

Conclusion: I've seen discussions regarding fabrics for this particular pattern. Sure you can use ANY fabric of your liking. BUT be prepared to know how to finish it. This pattern is designed for a NON-FRAYING knit. So you would need to think of a way to finish off the facings of the neckline and the armholes in advance.

This is the only time I've spent in my sewing room recently. The mojo just isn't there. The weather has been pretty lovely here -- spring is in the air! I had so many more things I wanted to make for winter, but I guess that groundhog was right... for once! LOL So I'm packing up all of the woolens until September and pulling out the silks, linens, cottons, etc... I've been flipping through my March issues and ripping out pages of things that inspire me. I know already I want wide leg pants and something coral!

Hopefully, I'll be posting something spring-ish soon...

Here is my kickoff dress for the "Pretty Girls Rock Dresses" challenge. And what's better than a girly pink dress? Remember this dress? It's BWOF 09-2007-117 from almost 4 years ago!