Leopard Lady Skater

My second Lady Skater dress! And this one is made out of a print I would never expect that I would like...

Leopard!!

I was already on the hunt for animal print because Amber had asked me to make Lucca a special animal print outfit for her first trip to the San Diego Zoo. I found a HUGE sheet (queen size?) in my very own front lawn after my neighbors had a short-lived garage sale that ended in a massive free pile. It's one of those jersey sheets, so it was perfect!

PATTERN HACKS:

1. I made the scoop neck bigger. I modeled it after a favorite H&M jersey dress. I think that H&M neckline is the most flattering for me. This one came out similar!  

2. This time I made the sleeves elbow length, just guestimating my own pattern. 

The sleeves hit just above the elbow. I am so happy with them! The pattern comes with cap sleeve and 3/4 sleeve options. I was not interested in the 3/4 cause I thought that my elbows would stretch out the cuffs over time. The cap sleeves are cute for certain materials, but they have a very sport look about them. I think this elbow length is the perfect in between. It's lady like and practical.

This was my second Lady Skater. I never wear the first one. I thought I would wear a simple gray jersey dress ALL the time but the material I used it too thick for the short sleeved summer dress that I made. And the color is preeeetty dark, it's kind of funereal. 

This was my second attempt, using free materials, so I could test all the pattern adjustments that I had in mind. I have a VERY full shopping cart on one of my online fabric stores... Haven't ordered yet, but I wanted to make sure I could jump right into some Lady Skaters once that fabric is ordered and arrives.

I dig it! Leopard print is surprisingly neutral.

Crazy 70s polyester dresssss

Yes. 

This print.

Just...

Yes.

But the original dress... No.  The high neckline was not working for me.

Neckline close up! I was clearly not stoked.

This dress was originally the Idyllwild T-shirt dress but I used the neckline from Maria Denmark's  Kimono Tee.  I had this vision but it didn't really come to fruition.

 I took in some of the flare out of the skirt during the editing phase and chopped off the neckline for more of a scoop. I was waaaaaayyy happier with the final product!

I'm glad I could do justice to this big ass print. It was WAY bigger than I was expecting cause I ordered online and ya never know!

Woohoo! Sweaty polyester dress for summer! I didn't read the fabric content before I ordered. I learned my lesson and now I pay close attention.

This is seriously cheap material. It's printed on top of white polyester so as the dress gets worn and pills (as polyester seems to do), the pills that form are white. Thankfully it was just $4 a yard.

And here I am with my little friend Xuxa.

Hi, Xuxa!

Wiksten tank

First of all....

I'm on SUMMER VACATION! I just finished year 2 of my 3 year nursing school program. And I am ready to forget about that noise for a few sunny months.

Second of all....

I made the Wiksten Tank! 

I wasn't planning on buying a new tank top pattern any time soon. I have the free Colette Sorbetto in my arsenal and... well, it was free. So why bother?

But I really liked the look of the Wiksten tanks that I saw on instagram and around the web. And the PDF wasn't insanely expensive so one night I just... Whoops! Bought that shit.

The Wiksten tank is longer and has a nice curved hemline (unlike the Sorbetto's, which is totally straight as well as short, so very boxy). The shape of the Wiksten almost looks reminiscent of a racerback shape, so it has kind of a casual sporty feel. 

The Sorbetto is a little old school looking, a little more formal with a classic shape and higher neckline, and that fancy pleat down the center (which I have left off or kept, depending).

Here are visuals:

Wiksten Tank

Colette Sorbetto

I very much like them both, but for slightly different applications! 

Anywho...

I  made this "wearable muslin" version first... and I wish I had a before picture of this "fabric." It was actually a VERY large, VERY boxy polyester (blend? I hope a blend) blouse that I found at the Goodwill Bins ages ago with Sarah Marshall, my bff.

I loved the print and knew it would be enough for SOMETHING. And it was!

It was enough for a slightly shortened Wiksten! The original length is very long.

I had to use the back yoke from the original blouse in order to have enough fabric for the back of this tank top. I don't mind the look at all though. Check out the bias cut yoke on this puppy!

Unfortunately, the fabric on the original blouse was gathered and then sewn to the yoke so that meant more billowy fabric for the back side of my Wiksten than was originally intended. And it is already an A-line shape, as seen in this photo. I am learning that I am NOT a fan of the flared top look so I will likely remove some flare from all my Wikstens.

No worries, though this meant I had to take in the side seams a decent amount. That messed up the nice hem line shape so it isn't as fluid of a curve but whateverrrrrrrrrrr. Right?

So I'm definitely planning on some more Wiksten tops and also tank dresses cause the belted ones I see on the interwebs are da best!

Also my photographer Ricky did not notice my bra strap hanging out in all these photos so he is fired. He is not sad about that. I need to figure out self timer and tripod ASAP anyways. But I figured out some new photo uploading jazz today so I'm ON MY WAY!