Summer Dresses ~ Brazi and Agnes

I love maxi dresses.  If I could wear only them, I would.  But sometimes it’s hard to walk in them or do things I need to; they are not always practical.  So I this summer I made two dresses that were not maxis. 

Stitch Upon A Time ~ Brazi

I’ve sewn this pattern quite a few times if you count the mini version as well as the adult version.
Purple maxi, blue mini maxi, purple animal mini maxi, stripe mini maxi, pink floral baby dress, red floral baby dress, teal maxi, red butterfly mini maxi, and light blue mini maxi.  



This would be the 10th time I’ve made this pattern.  I love this pattern.



Anyway, I sewed this June 8th and wore it quite a bit this summer.  This time I made straight straps (instead of cross over), which makes it much easier to wear a bra with the dress.




Size: straight size Medium and Band 3.  This fits with my measurements (on top).  The skirt has enough room that I did not have to size up for my pear shape.



Fabric: 1 yard black cotton lycra; purchased from Stylishfabrics.com for $6.90. 2 yards ITY Knit Venus Azalea; purchased from fabric.com in April 2016 dress, $10.76. Total cost of dress: $17.66.


Halla ~ Agnes


I love the silhouette of the Agnes.  It is nice and tapered at the bust/waist with flare and room at the hip.  I have made 2 tank top versions of this pattern and love them so I thought a dress would be nice.  Plus, this pattern is free if you join the Halla Facebook group. Who doesn’t love a free pattern?



Size: 10/12 everywhere except grading to a 14 at the hip. 



Fabric: 2 yards blue tribend jersey knit purchased in May from Knitpop for $10. this fabric is so soft and light to wear but it does have a tendency to cling to itself. I added the heart vinyl graphic to the front with my Silhouette Cameo.



Thoughts:  I enjoy wearing this dress because it is soft and easy to wear.  However, the armholes are a bit loose and my square shoulders pull at the somewhat boat neckline. Also, when the wind catches just right the dress poofs out and makes it look like you are wearing a tent.  I’ll be wearing this around home but not something I would wear elsewhere.

Dolmans, Shorts, and a pair of Yoga pants

Hello! I know it’s been awhile!  I’ve been very sick still.  I did just find out that I have H. pylori.  Sadly, I’m hoping it is the reason for some/most of my problems.  I just finished a wicked course of meds and can’t say yet if I feel any better.  Time will tell.  I have been able to get back into the sewing room though!

Sweet Tee:

So, I am not a fan of Dolman sleeves.  I just don’t like how they look on me and they feel weird.  However, I love how fast of a sew they are.  Back in May 2016 I wore a P4P Sweet Tee I made out of cotton lycra.


I wasn’t sold on it and cut it up for underwear.  Then I from time to time I thought about that tee and how easy it was to throw on.  Fast forward to last week when I had some leftover fabric from a dress I’m making and I decided I would try the Sweet tee out again. 



This time I used Double brushed poly.  It feels heavenly.  I still don’t like how the Dolman sleeves feel on my arms.  I dislike the top seam.  But I love how this top looks.
Size: Large for bust/waist, sloped to XL at hip.  I also did a 1/2” forward shoulder adjustment. 



Small swayback is needed if I make this again. 
Fabric: 1 yard Double Brushed Denim Teal Amber Floral on Poly Spandex; $8.50 from Knitpop



My lovely camera was acting up and it was 90°F, in September!?!.  This is the best side picture I could get.



Jalie 3352 Dolman:

I decided to compare the P4P Sweet Tee Dolman with the Jalie 3352 Dolman.  I used charcoal cotton lycra for this one.  I used size W tapering out to size Z at the hip.  I did a 1/4” forward shoulder adjustment and straightened the bottom because I don’t care for a high/lo hem. 



After I made it and tried it on it was huge on me.  I ended up tapering in each side by 2”.  I still do not like it.  It’s too loose and baggy. I'll be chopping this one up.



I did however enjoy learning to do a reverse coverstitch and of course it turned out perfect because I won’t be wearing this top. 

Palazzo Pants:

Size L at the waist to XL hips down.  I also scooped out 1/2” from the back butt curve.
These feel amazing when wearing them, though they do ride up my thighs.  Now that I see these pictures I see all these wrinkles :(


Fabric: Peacock space dye fabric from Joann's. 1 yard. $10.19;  normally I would never pay that much for a yard of noncustom fabric but Miss K had to have it. And I’ll admit I do love how thick it is.  Of course now Joann doesn’t have anymore.



I made another pair I loved these first ones so much.



And once I saw these pictures I saw more riding up at the hip.  I guess I need to make this pattern an XL at the hip instead of a large.  This fabric has more recovery too and is a bit tighter than the brushed poly I used the first time.



Fabric: Black Space Dye Poly Spandex Performance Tech Knit Fabric, 1 yard from Stylish fabrics; $7.20;  This fabric was supposed to be made into pants for me however… Miss K decided she would steal it and tell me she needed gym pants the following day.  So I only had leftovers to work with. 

BurdaStyle 11/2007 #122



Gym Pants. Miss K needed them in one day.  She stole my fabric and even the pattern I was going to use it for!  In the end she was happy so it worked out.  This is Burdastyle 11/2007 #122 Yoga pants



Size: 42. Then I shortened the rise 1” and took 2” out of the length.  I tapered each leg in by 1” for a total of 4”!  Miss K still says they are too wide at the leg (she loves those skinny jeans).  The waistband is originally 10 inches which you fold in half to 5 inches and then fold over again for the yoga waist.  Miss K hated that so I chopped up the waistband to be 3” and put in 1.5” sport elastic, folded over.  She wears them for gym and likes them enough so that is a win in my book.