Get Ready for Spring Blog Tour with Ellie and Mac

Hello!  I’m excited to share my sewing adventures with you today as a part of the Get Ready for Spring Blog Tour with Ellie and Mac patterns (aff link) and Seam So Low.

I am ready for spring, it is my favorite season with warmer weather, buds growing on the trees and flowers sprouting up out of the ground.  I enjoy putting away my winter clothes and getting out my spring and summer wardrobe (from storage).

The pattern that I’m going to share about today is the Women’s Breezy top and dress pattern (aff link).  This pattern is on sale through February for 35% off so I’d recommend you go check out the pattern (and if you like it, pick one up this week).

The Breezy Too and Dress pattern is really fun!  The pattern includes many different options; a tank, short, 3/4 or long sleeve, peplum, tunic (mid-length), or dress length (mini, petite, regular and tall).

Below is a size chart for this pattern, for reference:

The following is my project information:

Version: 3/4 sleeve, lined bodice, tall skirt

Fabric: Black and white striped rayon spandex from Simply by Ti* (bodice and sleeves), Black rayon spandex from Jo Ann’s (skirt and bodice lining).

(Disclaimer,  The black and white striped rayon fabric is a part of my Fabric Ambassador* project and was given to me to share with you.  I selected the colors and fabric base and the opinions that I’m sharing are my own.)

Size: S/M, I started out at an Small at the shoulders/bust then graded up to a Medium at the waist/hips.

Pattern:

This pattern was very straightforward to sew.  If you’re new to sewing with knit fabrics, I’d recommend checking out this back post where I share resources for sewing with knit fabrics.

I thought I would share one tip that I learned with sewing this pattern. I enjoy pattern matching when I sew with patterned fabric.  With the bodice being lined, I carefully matched the stripes along the side seams as I sewed the outer and lining fabrics together.

I decided to only use the patterned fabric for the sleeves and outer bodice pieces.  I used a solid black rayon for the lining and the skirt.  This approach helps you to make the dress with less patterned fabric (for a cheaper approach).  One piece I didn’t think about is the placing of the stripe pattern around the waist.

Initially I sewed the skirt and bodice assembly together and saw that the stripe around the waistline was quite wonky.  I realized that I needed to get out my trusty seam ripper and make a second attempt at the assembly.

I chose to line the bodice which means I couldn’t see the stripe pattern through the bodice when attaching the skirt.  I decided to add pins on the right side of the fabric along the stripe line.  Then when I sewed the skirt to the bodice, I could see the pins along the inside of the bodice fabric.

Thankfully this idea worked out quite well in the end!  I was quite happy with the evenness of the striping around the waist with my second attempt at the assembly.

I really enjoyed this pattern.  There is a fun “twirl factor” with this dress and the shape of the skirt.  The rayon that I picked is quite drapey and feels so comfortable to wear.  We took some silly action shots to share the twirling options.  Of course upon my daughters seeing me twirl, they wanted their own dresses in this pattern (aff link) to join me in the future.

Future plans:

I love this dress, it’s so comfortable to wear!  The 3/4 sleeves are quite versatile for fall and spring wear.  This is the first dress that I’ve made with a colorblocked skirt and top.  I would enjoy making this dress again in a different sleeve length and skirt length.

I’ve been quite in love with wearing rayon fabrics lately.  I’d highly recommend you check out Simply by Ti’s fabric shop.  She has some beautiful prints and her rayons are so soft, they are at really nice weights and the prices are very reasonable.

Please visit all the stops on the Get Ready for Spring Blog Tour featuring Ellie and Mac spring sewing patterns (35% of right now), hosted by Seams Sew Lo. Do no forget to enter the giveaway below too!

1. February 3rd: Seams Sew Lo (Intro)
2. February 4th: Seams Sew Lo
3. February 5th: Violets and Jewels
4. February 6th: Threadistry
5. February 7th: Mama Can Make it
6. February 8th: My Crazy Crafty Beautiful Life
7. February 9th: Aurora Designs
8. February 10th: Flaxfield Sewing
9. February 11th: Floral and Flannel
10. February 12th: FABulous Home Sewn
11. February 13th: Minns Things
12. February 14th: Our Play Place
13. February 15th: Tenille’s Thread
14. February 16th: Seams Like Style
15. February 17th: Hutsepruts
16. February 18th: Candi Couture Designs
17. February 19th: My Sewing Roots
18. February 20th: Manning the Machine
19. February 21st: Stitched by Jennie
20. February 22nd: Kathy’s Kwilts and More
21. February 23rd: Sewjourns
22. February 24th: Mermaid Mama Designs
23. February 25th: Fee Bricolo
24. (Today) February 26th: Oak Blue Designs
25. February 27th: Big Fly Notions
26. February 28th: Sewing Blue

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*As a Simply by Ti Fabric Ambassador I receive complementary fabric from the Simply By Ti shop to use for a project to write about and share with you.