More dresses with Boundless Style

I realise I made a declaration right at the start of this year that I focussed too much on making dresses and I was right. I have diverted my attention to practical skirts and 'wear all the time' yoga pants but when I spotted this pattern book I could not resist.

It is a choose your own adventure for dress designing with 5 bodices, 5 sleeve and 5 skirt patterns that you can mix and match to create your own dress pattern. Neat, hey. The instructions on each pattern are excellent and there is a whole section at the back on putting the skirt, bodice and sleeve together. If you visit Victory Patterns website there is an awesome Lookbook where you can play around with what the skirt, bodices and sleeves might look like together. I was quite taken with this dress from the book...

and after playing around with the Lookbook I decided on this combination:

I have my birthday coming up and we are having a bit of a celebration so I picked some fabrics for an all black version - a black and sparkly large print houndstooth and a mesh and PVC flower contrast (very Mardi Gras I know but I think it will work)

Do you know the best thing about making your own party dress? I will feel no guilt about spending a little more than I usually would on a belt to wear with it!

A respectable pair of leggings

One of the things I have learnt so far in this year of no clothes buying is how excited you can get by a simple and fairly basic item of clothing - in this case leggings. I know - not so exciting and super practical but imagine finding that perfectly fitted pair of yoga pants - no sagging at the butt, too tight across the hips, low crotch or camel toe - eeeek, stop, please stop! I have spent many hours pulling on yoga pants in techno blasting, gym junkie shops as well as hipster, yoga loving establishments who don't blink an eyelid at charging well over $100 for a pair of their leggings. Well no more I say, no more! I think I have found the perfect pattern!

I know, it doesn't look much and to be honest there is no pretty way to photograph such a basic item of clothing (side note: I tried photographing on my blue and white bed spread but I am not convinced with the result). So what do I like about the pattern - most of all, the fit. Snug but not too tight in all the right places and a perfect 3/4 length.

I love the concealed back pocket, the perfect size for a phone.

And, I love the top stitching in stitch #8 on my new Bernina. 

So, what's not to like? Well, the fabric choice! I chose a heavy weight 4 way stretch but to honest there is not enough recovery - in other words, great when you first put them on but after an hour (OK half an hour) with the personal trainer (another new year's resolution) they sag a little and require lots of very inelegent hitching up. I am looking forward to repeating this pattern but this time with the correct fabric. I think this one will do and maybe a third pair in Tickle me pink or Electric Lime..... maybe... 

Pacific leggings yoga pants - Sewaholic patterns

When I had initially (stupidly?) decided to make my clothes for a whole year I was bent on the idea too of drafting all of my own patterns. I very quickly realised that this adds a whole extra bunch of steps to the clothes making process - drafting the pattern, trialling the pattern, adjusting the fit, re-drafting the pattern and then, finally sewing the pattern! And while I have built up a sizeable collection of patterns I don't think I would survive a year on the patterns I already have, especially when it comes to more complex patterns like yoga pants! So, instead of drafting all of my own patterns I will use this year to try some different independent pattern designers I have admired but have never tried. First pattern to trial was one from Sewaholic patterns. I have loved Tasia's patterns for a long while and being a pear shaped gal myself I was interested in the her patterns and designs! I have also admired the determination of one girl from Canada, tired of her everyday job, to set up her own pattern making business and turn it into the success it is!

I actually purchased this pattern a while back but hadn't used it yet. It is pair of leggings from her active wear collection called Pacific leggings and perfect for wearing to yoga class (or more likely school drop offs!)

I liked the contoured shape and the simple yet elegant fit. My next task is finding fabric. In my trawling of the internet I stumbled upon Fehr trade and her list of fabrics for sewing Active wear. Looks like I need to keep my eyes open for Supplex on my next fabric store visit!