Second Clothing Project Completed!

 And here is the second project - a summery royal blue, yellow and white top.  I plan to wear this top with white capris or MAYBE make the white denim skirt that is all cut out and waiting (lurking) up in my craft room, but we shall see.

 I really like the way this looks, simple and pretty and I MIGHT make another one but definitely Simplicity or McCalls.  This was easy to make in comparison to the dress and I also love this fabric.  At work, when the A/C is high, I have a royal blue short sleeved cardi and a bright yellow sht sleeved cardi to put on with it.  So swish right?

And below are the two new purses I got.  Generally I think purses are a nuisance and a necessary evil but I take the workhorse one to work - it contains the essentials, entire makeup counter, provisions for whatever catastrophe might occur, water, camera, phone and several small animals. (Just kidding)  So when I went to Sears on the "find a belt" expedition I idly glanced over at the purses on offer.  Well, I was NOT paying $35 for each bag!! In fact I was quite affronted at their nerve.  Went to Walmart and got both of these delicious purses for a total of $35.  I call this a very successful cheap and cheerful shopping trip.

New Bright Green "Workhorse" bag

Adorable runabout little purse

New Clothing Projects Finally!

Without Belt - quite like

 We know the story up to now - when it was still winter I had the brilliant idea to make (YES, MAKE) some summer clothes.  Got patterns, everything cut out and then the "fun" started.  Oh my goodness!!!! This was a New Look pattern - don't use them EVER.  To say it was a "small cut" pattern does not cover it.  Made it in Sz. 12 -(for hips) should have made it in size 14. I ended up taking out the long shaping darts in the back and it still was too tight and then I got mad when I realized about the HUGE gap at the back neck and just resewed just one side of the zip instead of ripping the whole thing out and starting again.  This I am revealing to a numbered two of you who will read this.  I plan to wear my hair tied low at the back of my neck, hanging down and all will be hidden quite nicely.  That complaining all said, I still LOVE THE FABRIC and am not totally dismayed about the hip fit. If the seams are 1/4", that would be a stretch.   I found the perfect belt which I think is the way I shall wear the dress and wear this thing I will!

Wonky Zipper - Oh brother!

Found THE perfect belt, reddy brown

The saga of the neckline.  The whole upper back, front neckline was a nightmare.  The pattern showed a neckline more or less straight across the front.  No sirree - finished it and it gaped so hugely in the front it was a joke. By this time I was fit to be tied.  Sewed two pleats in the front neckline - problem solved and hid that mess with this adorable bow!  Genius I think.  The bow makes the whole dress.

With Belt - think this wins

And, finally, the attached bow not visible above

So here I am with said bow - had to make sure it was visible.  I will NOT be using New Look patterns ever again - IF I do another dress EVER, it will be with good old Simplicity or McCalls and I am basting every single seam before sewing to check the fit.  Lessons learned for sure.  And on to the next little project...