STYLISH DRESS BOOK . TAKE 3

Last day of London Sew Social / Tuttle Publishing blog tour and today Gioia, Olu and Sara are joining me with some wonderful Japanese inspired creations. Head over to  their bogs for inspiration and don’t forget to come back to check the fancy outfit I made for myself…

PATTERN 1: View Q (Liberty Print Jumpsuit) from Stylish Party Dresses. So where is the jumpsuit?! Well, I’ve turned it into a blouse… I really wanted to make the jumpsuit but I knew it would not be flattering for my body type and it would end at the back of my closet. So I changed the side seams using the bolero’s pattern as guideline, omitted the back zipper, as it was not needed anymore, and added gathering (about 14cm total) at the back. Et voilá! A really nice blouse was born! One think I really love about Japanese sewing pattern is how easy they usually are to customize. As hard as it is to me to like patterns without seam allowances, I always feel glad these patterns are drafted that way.

FABRIC 1: Dotted rayon from my local shop (Feira dos Tecidos). I could not believe how lucky I was when I saw this fabric for 1 Euro at my local shop remnants been. I love the color and print and the drape is perfect for this pattern. Since I had to buy a spool of matching thread, this blouse costed me the fabulous amount of 2,90 Euros! No one can tell, right?

PATTERN 2: View G (Lace Bolero) from Stylish Party Dresses. On the Bolero I haven’t made as many changes but I’ve sewn it with a very different kind of fabric (more on that later)… I’ve cut the sleeves are slightly longer so I could roll them up and turned both front and back pieces (yoke and main) into one single piece, omitting the gathers. At the front edge I added some lines of parallel topstitching for some extra fun and, I completely forgot to take photos so you will have to trust me on that!, finished the neckline hem with lace. See what I was talking about? These Japanese patterns are perfect to customize and turn the garment into what you have dreamt of. Super fun sewing!

FABRIC 2: Double knit cotton from my local shop (Feira dos Tecidos). Once again I think I got lucky to find this fabric on my local shop. It looks like it is really great quality and the color is beautiful – a very light greyish pink. Plus it is perfect for this pattern! Or, at least, it is perfect for this modified pattern… I really like the fitted look of this little bolero and I am glad the fabric has a little bit of stretch as is makes it so easy and comfortable to wear.

As you can see on these photos, I prefer to wear neck ties loose instead of made into a lace, as it is shown on the book. I think it gives the blouse a younger and more relaxed look…

(After party look...)

Don’t forget to check out all posts on this tour:

Monday: By Eva Maria and DoGuincho
Tuesday: La Folie and DoGuincho
Wednesday: As it Seams and DoGuincho
Thursday: Craftstorming and DoGuincho
Friday: Dotta, Made By Sara and Neddle and Ted

Well, that it my friends! Thank you so much Tuttle Publishing for sponsoring London Sew Social! Keep on doing the good work translating these wonderful sewing books to English (check them all here)!