Completed: Simplicity 2497

Fabric Mart has struck me again. Listen, I've been super good about fabric. Kind of. Not really at all.

This is pretty much amazing and how could I pass it up? It's going to be a cambie dress (FINALLY!), you know, just like the rest of the florals I last purchased from fabric mart...Of course, this will be after my Sew for Victory project!

Okay, let's check out Cynthia Rowley 2497!!

Guys, I *love* this dress. Love, love, love.
I cut out a 4 on top and a 6 in the waist and skirt.


I took a cue from Trena and just finished the edge of the ruffle with a rolled hem on my serger - that was super quick and gives a really nice finish. I also cheated and used a standard zip which is located on the side of the dress. I relied heavily on this tutorial for the insertion of side zip + inseam pockets.

Next time I'd likely keep the two rows of basting stitches in the ruffle. It gave some great body but I had used red thread, thinking I'd have to remove the stitching. 

I will make this again - using an invisible zip and keeping those basting threads. This pattern is awesome.

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day! It really is one of my favorite holidays, manufactured or not. I went to a local restaurant with one of my girlfriends - no hallmark cards or hershey's chocolate in sight, and it was a great time!

2497 - assembly notes and to-do list

Oh man, I started this post on 2/4. I'm only just now posting because I've FINALLY taken some photos!

Some construction notes:
2/4 - all pieces are cut out
2/5 - finished the ruffle collar edges on the serger
2/6 - bodice has gathering strings ready, neck facing *mostly* installed (just needs to be basted and topstitched down)
2/7 - neck facing is done!
2/11 - Right Pocket, gathered skirt
2/12 - Left pocket, joined bodice and skirt, prepped for zipper installation

To Do! 

• Baste and topstitch neck facing in place 
• fuse interfacing to (2x) waistband 
• assemble waistband 
• install waistband on bodice 
• baste gathering strings on skirt 
• sew up side seams including pockets 
• install zipper 
• arm facings 
• gather and install ruffle collar 

This does seem like a lot to get done, especially before 2/14 AND without a weekend to work on it!

Outside front of bodice

Ruffle. Basting stitches and finished with a rolled hem.

Inside front of the bodice.

BAM! Look at that inseam pocket! The zipper will be installed today.

This project is also included on my sewing circle: http://www.mysewingcircle.com/project/show/11419

So, a poll.  I'm kind of fed up with invisible zippers, as I have an easy time installing them, but when I've got wasitbands to match up, it never seems to work out. I kind of want to just put a regular dress zipper in this. Do you guys think it will ruin the look? I basted the thing shut on the left side, and everything is perfectly matched up. If I hand baste the zipper in, I feel there is a very good chance everything will stay put and look nice.

What do you think?

cynthia rowley 2497 - Cutting

Cutting out a new project is pretty much the worst for me. I'm lazy and easily distracted (see also: the internet.) Last night Devon came over and we made dinner, but that lead to watching Beyonce's performance at the Super Bowl on youtube (she's pretty much a goddess, amirite?), which THEN led to watching old Destiny's Child music videos. 2001 was over 10 years ago but man, it feels like last week.

Moving on!

  My latest project is the above Cynthia Rowley pattern, view C with the length of view A, saucy little thing that I am. I've had one hell of a time finding the motivation to cut it out. It's what, 5 pieces? What is my damage over picking up the rotary cutter and just doing it? I have no idea.


I've had the fabric for quite some time, purchased in November of 2011 from fabric mart. It's a charcoal grey cotton/poly diamond pattern. It's essentially perfect for this pattern and the color is the right shade.

This morning I finally cut out the final pieces, 2 duplicates of the waistband in interfacing to be fused to 2 of the waistbands. I cut a straight 4 on the bodice and a 6 for the waist and top of the skirt. We'll see how this clown car goes together.

This is what happened last week when I tried to cut out all the pieces.

Mistakes I've made while cutting: Laid the skirt on the wrong side of the fold (which I knew I was doing) and then forgot I had left it there, incidentally snipping the seam marker into the fold, instead of the outer edges. Tried to fix that with lightweight fusible interfacing (that was white) and THEN tried to color that in with a sharpie.... yes just hit me with a stack of books now. It was late and I was tired.

Cut out only two midriff/waistband pieces when it calls for four. Fine, I cut another set on the fold, but I've got the pattern piece backwards *AGAIN* so I snip the center of the pattern piece instead of the outer edges. AGAIN. I am hanging my head in shame at recounting this, I've been sewing long enough to know to pay attention.

Lastly, you see a photo of me above, with a maniacal look on my face, vacuuming up salt that's been poured on red wine that was poured (spilled) on my carpet. It was only a matter of time before we had to deal with a red wine stain on my carpet. Let's face it, Devon and my neighbor Geraldine and I all tried to count how many bottles of red wine have been consumed over the last two years on this white carpet. We are still tallying the results.

Sidenote: acceptable uses of chardonnay (the most disgusting of all white wines) include, but are not limited to: Chicken Apple Sausage, cleaning up red wine stains - but we didn't have any on hand, because who buys chardonnay?? - and cooking. Maybe.

So there you have it. Today's takeaway should include the following:

1. Beyonce is amazing.
2. Cutting pattern pieces is hard.
3. My friends and I like red wine.
4. Chardonnay has limited acceptable uses, drinking not being among them.

Good day.