It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve posted something I’ve sewn for myself. And if it weren’t for Toni’s new pattern I received, I may have skipped this week too. Let’s get some details out of the way first, shall we?
The fabric: indigo abstract print knit from here
The pattern: Make It Perfect Skippy
The size: Medium
The modifications: Added 4 inches to skirt length
Since I’d already sewn two mini versions, this came together snappy snappy. I’m partial to 3/4 length sleeves, which is what I cut out, but to me it looks more like half-sleeves, no?
I fell hard for this abstract design and I’ve been saving this knit for some time, not sure which pattern to pair it with. I can’t remember the exact knit content – it feels like it has some spandex and has excellent recovery. Since I wanted the kangaroo pocket to be fairly subtle, I surmised that this cool abstract print would keep it from standing out too much. Goal accomplished.
It’s an easy dress to sew, and I like that the shape is casual without feeling like I’m trying too hard to be hip. My only issue is that I had expected the bodice to be a bit looser, so I’m pretty self-conscious in this dress. Although I didn’t resort to spanx this time, I am wearing tights underneath which helps serve the same purpose though that section where the waistband cuts into the surplus back flesh wasn’t ideal. But since I can’t see it while wearing the dress and wouldn’t have even known about it were it not for photos, I’m going to ignore it.
M tells me that I seem like I’m pretending to be a Sears catalog model every time I show up online (I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I get the sense he’s implying that I look cheesy), but hey, at least I don’t look like I’m about to puke, which I’m pretty certain is how I felt when I first started posting these types of photos. I’ve come a long way, baby. Whether that’s a good thing or not has yet to be seen, but I do know that the Skippy pattern is definitely a good thing. Both M and K gave a thumb’s up for the dress and I know that I’ll be wearing this one throughout the fall season!
Sanae, you look just beautiful! And so far from a Sears catalog:) I clicked on your fabric source link right away and was so tickled that it came from District Fabrics – such a charming store. I really enjoyed my visit there and talking with the owner – all thanks to your suggestion. Love these non-chain stores and the heart that goes into them. As for your dress – that fabric is perfect for that pattern! At first I thought you had left off the kangaroo pocket so your goal of subtlety was indeed achieved. It looks gorgeous on you, and I really hope that you and K hit the town someday in your “matching” dresses:)
District Fabrics is rapidly becoming one of my favorite fabric stores, Lucinda! The owner is really knowledgable and very sweet. That would be fun to go out and about wearing matching dresses with K! I wonder if anyone would notice…;-)
Lucinda says it all!! I agree completely.
Thank you both!!
That picture where you have your hands in the pockets!! Wow. Perfect match of pattern and fabric. And I know all about feeling self conscious in a “figure hugging” knit dress… My moneta took a while to get used to, but now I love it.
I didn’t consciously try to match the print, so that was serendipitous, Ute!
Your moneta is absolutely gorgeous and looks great on you!!
Sooooo good! Love the knit and you look fantastic. You’ve completely sold me on this pattern (but I’d want to size up ’cause I’m too lumpy these days for figure hugging knits!)
I may have forgotten o comment but K’s versions were super awesome too. Obviously I need both patterns!
I’m sort of wishing I’d sized up, Shelley! Let me tell you, those tights are doing some serious heavy lifting…or heavy compressing as it were.
Thanks!
Love this! Casual and sophisticated all at once, and the print is great.
Thank you Denise! The dress is uber comfy and the print just makes me happy!
You look simply stunning in that dress. The color is perfect and the design is so flattering. Beautiful!
Thanks so much, Karen! I also like that the knit has some heft so it prevents every lump from showing. It was a good fabric/pattern pairing, I think
Lovely.
Thanks, Sassy! I’ve already worn the dress twice since making it — a winner in my book!
Oh, I’m so glad you posted pictures of stuff you sew for you again! I was just thinking I missed that. I think this dress looks great on you. I went to the pattern site after you sewed the dress for K and saw the adult version. I was wondering how it would look on a “real”, not model adult and it’s great. I may have to sew it up for myself. I wonder if I substituted a favorite tee pattern that’s a little looser for the top if that would turn out? I’m not quite as svelte
as you are!!
Oh Kristi, I’m not svelte at all – those are some industrial strength control top tights I’m wearing. I too would prefer a little more looseness around the upper body especially, and a favorite tee pattern would probably work, or you could just widen the pattern a couple of inches to give breathing room.
This dress is a success! It looks great and I like the pocket too. Do people still get the Sears catalogue?
I do like the stripy one you made K better, but Maybe I am just in awe of how you matched the stripes. I avoid fabrics like stripes and checks. I think you are beautiful and the colour suits you.
Ha, I have no idea where my husband gets these references
The stripey one is my fave too. But it’s my favorite because I think it just looks awesome on K. I love this abstract print and I think it works for me, since I don’t think I could pull off the stripes. Thank you, Max!
I LOVE it on you! You look fantastic – i know what you mean about the tight fit making you feel self-conscious, but you really do look great. That fabric is awesome. I want this dress.
I think you’d look fab in this dress, Kristin! With the kangaroo pocket/knit combo, it totally makes me think of you.
That fabric is fantastic and the color is great on you. I definitely don’t think any part of the dress looks too tight on you. You look beautiful.
Oh, so kind Dagny. Thanks so much! I can’t stress enough how much the tights are doing to give the illusion of smoothness, but I’ll take the compliment!
winner winner chicken dinner!
Ha, love that! Thanks, Corina!
This is stunning on you! I love the fabric too – gorgeous! Yep, all round dress envy over here…
Thank you, Clare! It’s pretty rare for me to come across a knit print that’s not a stripe that I like so this one does feel extra special to me.
A Sears catalog model. hahahaha! Now that is really funny! You are waaay too cool for that, and I must say, Sanae- you look utterly gorgeous! I also loved the grey striped dress you made for K earlier in the week. Perfection! I was thinking of you today when Jude said something that seemed like it would fit in one of your “Friday Randomness” posts. He said, “Mom, I wish everyone was freaks about recycling!” hahahaha
M is a barrel of non-stop laughs and he’s always rattling off jokes. I love Jude’s comment, Rachel! Yes, definitely a Friday Randomness moment!
You look lovely in this dress! In fact when I first saw the photo I thought, “man she’s beautiful.” I think it’s a great color on you and I love the print. I like how you made the pocket invisible too.
Aw, thanks Em, you’re so sweet! I’m loving the incognito pocket – it’s not that I don’t like kangaroo pockets (I love all types of pockets), but I just got it in my head that I wanted it to be subtle…
Whoa- you look amazing in this! Such a great fit… and I the color of the fabric with your black hair. Just gorgeous, lady!
Thanks, girl! The close fit too a little getting used to, but I do love it!!
Beautiful, Sanae! You nailed this one. Perfect pairing of fabric and pattern.
Knit dresses are the best — I feel like I’ve been living in knit dresses these days. Thanks, Liza Jane!
Eek!! Sanae you look amazing! Beautiful fabric choice, the colour really suits you and it’s great for this dress! Thanks so much x
Thank you so much for the patterns, Toni. These were a blast to sew up!
Love this project! The fabric/pattern combo looks gorgeous on you.
Thanks so much, Adri! It’s such a satisfyingly easy sewing project!
Great dress, and you look great in it. It doesn’t look too tight, and I can’t even tell what you are talking about “the waist cutting in”! It looks feminine and comfortable (and how fantastic are dresses wkth pockets!). Thanks for sharing the pattern. How much stretch does your fabric have? I have a ponte knit that I am saving for the right project because it doesn’t have a ton of stretch, but I really like it and am trying to figure out what project to try.
Thanks Beccy! The fabric I used has a good amount of stretch — definitely stretchier than ponte knit, though I think ponte knit would work great with this pattern (you might want to size up just in case)!
I really like this one, Sanae. It’s quite flattering on you.
Thanks so much, Amber! I’m really in love with the knit fabric – it has that perfect drape/thickness!
You look gorgeous! I love the knit fabric
Thank you Isabelle, so kind of you! It’s a great knit fabric. I’ve already worn this dress several times and it gets a lot of compliments!
You look great, the dress looks great on you, the fabric is amazing.
Damiana