New York City

I'm trying to come up with a way to start this post--how do you say something about New York that hasn't already been said?!--but because I'm all out of creativity, I'll say this: everything I know about New York City, I learned as a (very young, impressionable) teenager, watching Sex and the City as if it was my televised church.  Now that I'm older, I realize people, especially in today's mindset, don't really live like that.  Or, at least, the average person doesn't.  So on that level, New York was a letdown.

On every other level, though, it was fantastic.

Project 5: The Darling Ranges Dress

Remember back when I was making rudimentary InDesign collages of fabric choices and going on and on about Valentine's Day?  Well, as much of a nightmare as you may have thought that was, I followed my fabric dreams and made a Valentine's Day dress.  It added about 1000% extra stress to the weekend and I am still not convinced I don't look pregnant, but I did it!

Before I get into the pattern review, I want to say that I'm tired.  Really, really tired.  For the past month or so, I've been going on overdrive, working really long hours and weekends, cooking and baking out the wazoo, and just generally trying to hold it together.  My breaking point almost came last night, when it was 8:30 and I was still working and Nick was trying to unclog our tub drain.  I'm really looking forward to leaving this place for the weekend to eat good food and shop in New York.  I'm also already planning a trip to southern Virginia for Memorial Day.  Seriously, I need as many trips as I can get.

Anyway, onto the show...

The white wall is blinding

Pattern Description

Megan Nielsen's Darling Ranges dress.  From her website, it's a "button-front v-neck dress with elbow-length sleeves and gathered waistline."

Pattern Sizing

XS - XL.  This is a medium.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the envelope when you were done with it?

Generally, yes, but I made a few changes.

Is the leopard too much?

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Oh my gosh, yes!  Megan is a great pattern writer--even if it looks confusing, it always turns out well.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

What first drew me to it was the modern styling--it's very casual but it's still a dress.  It didn't seem like something I'd find in the Big 4 (and I love that).  Plus, Megan is such a sweetheart, I'll buy anything of hers.

I agonized over these buttons for days.  And they're boring.  What gives?

Fabric used

Raspberry red dotted Swiss from Denver Fabrics.  It was like $4 a yard--get yourself some!

Pattern changes or any design alterations you made

I fully-lined the dress, resulting in an extra poufy gathered skirt.  I also omitted the back ties, because I was exhausted by the time I came to those.  The hemline is 1" instead of 2" because I prefer a work-appropriate length.

You can see the pouf here.  My hips aren't that big, I swear.

Would you sew it again?

Yes, but I wouldn't sew it with something that needs a lining.  I feel like the midsection is just too much the way I lined it.  I was expecting something a bit slimmer, but that's on me, not Megan.  I'd love to sew a summer version with the high hemline and no sleeves--something I can wear on the weekends.

Conclusion

It's really comfortable and I recommend it!  Also, buy yourself a belt--can you believe I don't have one?  I'm embarrassed for myself.

Valentine accessories: Marc Jacobs necklace (bought in Savannah for $10), J. Crew pin

I don't have any new sewing plans on the horizon; I'm looking forward to NYC instead, and I'm sure I'll come back with ideas and thoughts.  What are you working on?

Helper

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She's always watching.

Not a Photo Dump

I have a love/hate relationship with social media.  I love judging people by their Facebook pages and Instagram uploads, but I hate seeing blog posts where bloggers just slap a whole bunch of photos I've already seen elsewhere on a new post and call it a day.  Um, do you think I haven't been following your every move?  Of course I've already seen the adorable pictures of your baby--he's adorable, I live for them and hope to one day rival them with my own.  (My children will be so big-headed I will be happy if they fit in the frame.)  So I'm trying to not be a hypocrite, but I'm sorry if you have seen these before.  I'll tell a story with them.

Side Project: The Banksia Top

Sometime last month, I volunteered to be a pattern tester for Megan Nielsen, she of the Darling Ranges dress.  The Banksia top (out now!) needed a few last testers, and I needed some inspiration.  I also love being first for things, and often have the patience of a newborn, so getting a new pattern before everyone else was pretty much ideal.

I made it for Kali, Jake's girlfriend.  I used a light blue dotted Swiss I originally bought for the Colette Chantilly dress when I first started sewing last year.  I decided it was time to destash and Kali always seems like a blue girl to me.  I know she likes pink and yellow most, but when I see her, I think of the beach, so I also think of blue.

The pattern is marked intermediate, but I think I'm an advanced beginner, and with a little patience, I got it done in about a day or so.  I sewed between grocery outings and sleep, when I didn't feel like doing much else.  I will say, if you decide to sew this pattern, do not be afraid of the placket.  I left it for the absolute last step because the directions terrified me.  I've never done a placket like this and I was confused and wish my mom lived here.  (I wish that anyway.)  But if you take your time and actually do it step by step, forgetting what you know about plackets, you'll do just fine.

Kali in her new Banksia top

Placket detail

In action

I will say that I feel bad the top is so large on Kali.  I've already offered to take it in the next time we see each other!  It is supposed to be blousy, but I feel like it fits her like the Violet blouse fits me: it's too square, not enough shape, and we're curvy girls.  We need some structure.  I'm sorry Kali!

Overall, I do like how it went together.  It was a quick cut, a quick sew, and it turned out well.  I'm a sucker for Peter Pan collars, so anything with that is an immediate addition to my collection.  I may make one for myself even.

(Sorry, Kali!  I promise you still rock it, even though it's too big!)