The Facts
Fabric: about 3 yards wax print cotton from vlisco.com
Pattern:
M6553
Year: 2012
Notions: packaged bias tape for neckline and armhole facings and back yoke seam finish; small button for back closure
First worn: for photos
Wear again: in the summer
Time to complete: small increments over a week and a half, about 5 hours
Total cost: 40$
If you sew, chances are you already know the extraordinary Aussie seamstress, designer, and style icon,
Kazz. So many times on the Sew Weekly adventure last year Kazz's projects amazed and inspired me. They push me to be more fearless in both the technical and style aspects of sewing. For instance, unbelievably to me, I'm considering sewing leather because
Kazz did it. (
Clio's jacket, seen all up close and personal-- I tried not to drool-- has had an influence as well.) And I'll be making
Anouk shortly, a pattern that intimidated me until I saw Kazz
make it up and
style it twice.
Kazz's broad spectrum of talents and prolific production of awesome garments, including her recent foray into lingerie, could be a little, um, too impressive, especially in the past energy-sapping week I've had. Very little time to myself lately, frigid late February. . . I'll snap out of it. In the meantime, I prefer to focus on the empowering Kazz takeaway: Do your own thing. Pump up the volume in terms of fantasy and attitude. Challenge yourself. If all you can manage to sew is a rectangle, make it high impact and strut that dresstangle, babe.
This muumuu dress is not far from a dresstangle,
an easy pattern I've made before, nice and low stress. I wanted to use my remaining wax print cotton from vlisco.com, which is right up Kazz's alley. I first used it for
my peplum dress, sadly still a UFO. Have to remedy that. At first I was thinking kimono, a shape Kazz has played with, but decided I would get more wear out of this loose dress, which was a surprise hit last summer. The stiff cotton probably isn't the best match for the pattern, but I don't care. Also, you really need 60" wide fabric to cut the back piece. The wax print is 45" and the bottom of each side seam has a chunk missing. I solved this by leaving the side seams open the last couple inches and turning in and hemming the edges separately. It looks totally fine that way.
Again I made the size 6 even though my measurements are in the 12 to 14 range. I lowered the front neckline by 5/8" like last time too, and the fit is good. McCalls patterns are big! Instead of facings, which I found too bulky in the first dress, I used bias tape to finish the neckline, armholes, and back yoke seam. I did make a small facing for the back yoke opening, just a narrow strip of fabric for each center back edge. Much better. I made the sash this time. I'm using it to wrap my head Kazz-style here, a look I don't believe I've ever tried, and. . . I like it!
Check out the fresh new wall color: Yellow Finch by Benjamin Moore (in the "self-priming" Aura paint, fantastic stuff). I love how it's brightened up our long, narrow hallway. And make sure to check out Loran's Kazz-inspired look later this month at
http://loransworld.com/.
I started this pattern way back during one of the SW challenges....blue maybe? But you're right; it was huge, so now it languishes in the UFO pile until I can figure out how to refashion or reduce it. I love your take on Kazzstyle with the wax cotton.
ReplyDelete(My year is always incredibly busy from about Jan-May, which is why I didn't participate much until the second half of last year, so I don't expect to get around to this until May at least!)
Yeah, I think it's hard to size down once you've sewn it, a problem I've definitely had with other garments in my own UFO pile. Good luck with the workload. You'll still have an appreciative audience in May and beyond.
DeleteSTUNNING!! And I see we both interpret Kazz-style with headwraps : ) I love your fabric AND the new wall paint color. Wonderful job!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! How free feeling and wonderful this looks- great job Kazzing it up!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this fabulous fabric and style on you! Kazzing it up is definitely a good way to go :) Well done!
ReplyDeleteOh man I'm only almost a month late to comment here, *slaps wrist* that's how far behind I am catching up on blog land. Lee, this is awesome and that fabric is so great. The perfect union between pattern and fabric methinks. I'd wear it in a heart beat.
ReplyDeleteI'm blushing over here reading your post, thanks so much and, it's so great to read that you are going to give leather a go I think it takes your sewing to a whole new level. Just like all this lingerie sewing. You go girl! xx
Thanks, everyone! Kazzing it up now and then should be a sewing blogger requirement, I think. Kazz, a month is nothing. I used to study medieval literature and it definitely gave me a long and relative view of time.
ReplyDeleteThe print you've used here is fabulous, I've been sewing with leather and it's so fun and yes you should dive right in!
ReplyDelete