Ever since I made Kymy’s Dolman Top into a sheath dress for Easter, I’ve been dying to make another one. It just makes me feel beautiful and kinda sexy, but is still modest enough for this mother of 5. So I’ve been keeping an eye out for the perfect fabric and finally spotted it among September’s Girl Charlee KnitFix fabrics. My only problem was that the “green botanical spots on black Ponte de Roma” wasn’t in the bag I recieved, so I quickly lined up a trade to get my hands on it! Haha!
I am so glad I did because the print is gorgeous in person! I placed the pattern so that the part of the print with more green went down the center front and center back and the sides have more black for a slightly slimming effect.
Like last time, I lengthened the view D pattern piece of Kymy’s Dolman Top. I only added 11 inches this time because I thought the slightly thicker fabric might not ruche up as much when I added the elastic. But then I used clear elastic instead of the braided knit elastic I usually use and it shrank up just as much as before. Now I’m glad I didn’t make it any shorter to begin with because, after stitching a 3/4 inch hem, it is the perfect length for my comfort!
The only other modification I did was to add color-blocking to the top of the back. I *ahem* didn’t fully think through only having 2 yards to work with before cutting my front piece. I knew that the back would have to have a center seam because it wouldn’t fit on the width of fabric, but I forgot that adding length to make a dress meant it wouldn’t fit twice (once for each half) on the length of my 2 yards! Ooops!
Luckily, I had some black cotton lycra on hand. So I fit as much length as I could on my printed fabric and then cut the rest of the top from plain black. So … now there’s a seam down the center back of the print (it’s mostly hidden by the fabric design) AND there’s a seam across the back just under the sleeves. I’m pretty sure that’s called “making it work!” LOL 😉
Really, though, I don’t mind. I think it looks kind of smashing! I felt so great wearing it that I didn’t even add my “standard” wide black belt to accentuate my waist!
The thicker Ponte de Roma fabric will be perfect as the weather cools off this fall! Now, I’m wanting to mash the sheath dress hack with the long sleeve hack or the cowl neck hack … hmmm, which to try first?
Happy Sewing!! ~ Joelle
2 Responses
Miranda
Looks great, Joelle. The color-blocking on the back looks like you planned it that way!
Joelle
Thanks! I love how it turned out!