Sweetheart Pink Valentine's Night and Day Dress

I loved the yoke skirt version of the Night and Day Dress since the first time I saw a sneak peek of it on Gertie's Instagram before it was even released. It ticked all the boxes of my ideal skirt, particularly the flat front with fullness at the sides and back (as I've talked about before.) So I was excited to finally make it in time for Valentine's Day last year. This was my version then.

It fit well, but I was a little worried about the drop waist, as I already have a long torso and so a drop waist tends to make me look like all torso with stubs for legs. When I tried it on, as much as I had anticipated absolutely loving it, I was a bit underwhelmed. It felt a bit tube-like through the extra long torso, though it was definitely better with a belt.



This year, I wanted to try again. This time I had an idea to really highlight the waist as a focal point so that I didn't feel like all torso. I went with a bright shocking pink (my favorite!!), and found some slightly darker pink velvet ribbon to use as a trim around the waist. I was very happy with how it turned out! 

I also decided to make a sleeveless square neck version of the bodice this time, and do a quick alteration into a sweetheart neckline. While I was making it, I had the idea to use the velvet trim around the neck as well. This ended up becoming one of my favorite parts!




I really wanted to go for a nipped in waist, so I went for a really snug fit. I've been losing quite a bit of weight over the last 6 months, so in the worst case, I figured, if I make it too small I'll fit into it eventually. But I think boldly going for a very snug fit really helped pull in the waist, which also helped visually break up the too-long torso problem.

I had another backup, just in case I wasn't pleased with how the dress looked as is - a waspie corset!

I got this short corset from Timeless Trends during a great sale, and it has become my absolute favorite. Because it's short, it is so easy to move in! It just cinches the waist right in, but is really quite comfortable and I'm much more mobile in it than other typical corsets I've gotten before.

Fortunately, I think the dress works great without the corset, but wearing it makes it pop a little more. Here you can see the difference with and without the corset on!





Overall, I'm MUCH happier with this version than my first (which is now too big for me anyway.) I love the fullness of the skirt and the way it hugs my curves. Can't wait to make more!

It's the 20s again!!

Happy New Year!! I am very excited for this year as I have a lot of plans and hopes to build up my sewing business and personal sewing repertoire.

On the business side of things, I've recently separated out my Instagram into personal (@stephlochet) and business (@slochetdesigns) accounts, hoping to get a bit better at regularly spotlighting items I'm listing for sale in my Etsy shop. I'll keep posts about sewing I do for myself on my personal account. I've recently lost some weight (around 40 lbs) and I'm hoping to lose more, so I'm guessing this year is going to be a bit strange for me sewing-wise, learning how to fit my changing body.

This also means I'm planning to list quite a lot of the me-made dresses I have in my closet for sale, as they're too big for me now. Many of these I only wore a couple times, just because I get distracted by shiny new patterns way too easily and use any excuse to make something new! So, keep an eye out a bit later in the year, probably as we head into spring, for listings of many of the dresses I've blogged about right here in the past!

As is typical in the new year, I've spent the last couple weeks cleaning up the post-Christmas sewing mess, and doing a bit of reorganization in my sewing room. On a whim, I decided I was going to start rolling up my quilting cottons for storage rather than folding. I felt it might be a better and more full usage of the space available, and I think it has proven to be true! I was able to fit all my quilting cottons, including a few piles that hadn't already been included, with a little room to spare. Here are some before and after shots!

Before, folded fabric piles sorted by color

Mid-organization, everything is everywhere!

All done!

I thought it might be interesting to show how I did this, as I'm very particular about the rolls being a uniform length. So I popped some true crime podcasts on, measured out the length I was going for with some tape, and went to work rolling. I took fabric that was already folded in half length wise (as it comes on the bolt) and then folded that in thirds length wise, keeping it in between the tape, and then rolled it up as tightly as possible. It did take me longer than I expected (a couple hours a day for several days!) but it was absolutely worth it.

And now, I'm itching to sew again! Tidying and organizing my sewing room never fails to renew my desire to create.

I haven't been great at blogging consistently the last couple years, but I'm hoping to change that this year as I have so many ideas and plans for my business, and will be very intentionally dedicating more time to it. I can't wait to share all the plans and creations I have in the works, including many with the new toy I got for Christmas...but more about that soon. ;-)

If you enjoy seeing my creations and would like to support my work, I'd love for you to follow my new business IG account @slochetdesigns, and/or my Facebook page. Thanks so much, cheers to 2020!

Perfect Summer Dress - The Jiffy Popover

I've seen so many great versions of the Popover dress sewn up since Gertie's newest book, Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses came out.

The dresses in this book are meant to be quick to sew and the Popover certainly fits the bill. It's essentially one main pattern piece that creates a tent-like dress with no zippers or openings that you can just pull on over your head, and create shape by either belting or shirring.

After reading some other reviews and experiences I decided to size down and went with the 10 (I usually make a 16 in Gertie books) but used the armscye from the 16. I decided to use some lovely deep teal blue gingham lightweight cotton I picked up on our last trip to Paris. I cut it on the bias like her shirred pink gingham version in the book, and decided for a little extra fun I wanted to add a ruffle on the bottom! That made it a tad less jiffy, but it was totally worth it. I wanted to get it done before we left for a little overnight trip, so I wore it belted which was great. I was just able to snap a few quick pics with my phone before we left, here it is unbelted and before I added the fun giant pockets!

              

With a belt!

And with pockets!

 I especially love the different directions of the gingham on the dress, ruffle, and oversized pockets.

 Then when we got back I went ahead and shirred it, and I LOVE it even more! It is so so comfortable and cool and just easy to wear, perfect for summer! I played with the shirring quite a bit, trying it on and adding more where I wanted as I went. Shirring can be addictive!

View of the innards!

I finally managed to get some better photos this weekend! I've been living in this dress and probably will continue to especially as we're about to start hitting 100+ degree weather this week.

It also still looks great with the belt! I love that I can wear it as a lazy lounging comfy dress, or more dressed up with a more nipped in waist and fuller petticoat.

So versatile, super comfy, and COOL which is a must in the Texas summer heat. I foresee this being my go-to dress for the summer!

Easter Dress Makeover, plus DOLL DRESS!!

Wow so it's been a little while since I've blogged! Well I'm back and I wanted to share my latest make and talk about some future plans.

First, I'm gonna go backwards a bit in time. Last year, after the rush of Christmas was done and I had a little space to breathe, I started dreaming of making a bunch of girls' dresses for Easter. I made a plan and hoped that over the 6 weeks of Lent I'd be able to crank out 6 dresses.

I did the first, S8306, with an adorable cropped jacket.

I did the second, B6046, with a sweet bow.

I did the third (bodice NL6205) with some gorgeous floral fabric and a lovely large self drafted pleated circle skirt.

I started the fourth, S1508,  and got most of the way....and then ran out of time.

So that fourth Easter dress has been sitting for a year waiting to be finished, but I kept looking at it and thinking it was just too much skirt. So, I decided to pull it out and hack off some length!



I also felt like it needed something to make it pop and decided to create a bolero to go with it, so I used S8103 and left off the collar.  I just love a cropped jacket!!





But it gets even better. With the length I chopped off of the skirt, I decided to indulge my latest obsession...MATCHING DOLL DRESSES!!! And a matching bolero of course, both courtesy of B6265.

I can't tell you how excited this makes my inner child. Why is everything tiny so irresistible? I don't know but I can tell you I want to make every human sized dress I ever make in doll size too now. I won't don't worry...I mean I probably won't.

Anyway, so I got the Fourth Easter Dress FINALLY finished with a little bit of a refashion, and a matching doll dress for 18" dolls (American Girl size or any of the equivalent store brands.) They're both available in my Etsy shop now! Girls Dress and Doll Dress



I hope to be making a lot more doll clothes in the future, whether with matching girl clothes or not, as it's the perfect scrap-buster for me and they are so quick and satisfying to make. Hopefully this is just the beginning of many more to come!