Testing a pattern from Deepika Of Pattern Review? Oh yes, trying something new, sign me up.

For those following the blog tour for the Winter Street Dress Pattern, you already know the details of the pattern Deepika previewed recently on the PR Blog

If you haven’t seen it yet, the pattern, for knits, is downloadable from the Pattern Review Website
The tiled pages fit together easily, and is drafted in sizes from XS to 3X. Based on the measurements, I traced off the medium. My first muslin is from bargain bin remnants.

The shoulders are usually an issue for me, but it fit perfectly. I just needed to take in the waist and decided to add about 3/4 of an inch to the length of the bodice, bringing it down to my natural waistline. I used some knit from my stash to do a second, partial muslin, to check the length of the bodice and sleeve.

Initially, the pink was going be my test dress, then, thinking maybe a print would be fun I stopped into Haberman Fabrics and this was on a cart right at the front door.

The bolt end piece hadn’t even been priced yet, but the cashier kindly pulled it out and priced it for me, at only $4.98 a yard. A dramatic border print at a bargain price. Karma?
It took some time playing with the pattern placement to get the pieces cut out.

When you look closely at the print, it’s not completely symmetrical. There is a drawn by hand appearance. The pattern calls for 2 yards, but to place the border at the waist and match up the print, I needed most of the 3 yard piece.

Keeping more red space between the black and white pattern made the lack symmetry look less obvious.
Because of the graphic pattern, I decided to eliminate the sleeve flounce and neck binding, using a facing instead.
The directions include using clear elastic at the shoulders for support. This was the first time I used it, but won’t be the last, it’s great stuff.

Since this is the Winter Street Dress, I found the last bit of snow, just outside the Ford Motor Test Track.

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This dress is comfortable to wear and, even better, sews up so fast! Make it tonight, wear it tomorrow.
Since I don’t own a serger, I used a stretch stich and then overcast the seams. Even doing that, it was a quick sew.

I plan to finish the pink with the flounce sleeve and do a sleeveless version for summer, maybe both in the same day.

Check out the rest of the blog tour.

http://www.sewcraftychemist.blogspot.com/ 4/2/2014
http://www.detectivehoundstooth.com/ 4/3/2014
http://www.cleverthinking99.com/ 4/4/2014
http://trumbelinasews.blogspot.ca/ 4/5/2014
http://danikate-designs.blogspot.com/ 4/6/2014
http://sewingsaga.blogspot.com/ 4/7/2014
http://sharonsews.blogspot.com/ 4/8/2014
http://ragbagsandgladrags.blogspot.co.uk/ 4/9/2014
http://curveddarts.blogspot.com/ 4/11/2014
http://carrie.dansm.net 4/12/2014
http://www.janmade.blogspot.com/ 4/14/2014
http://www.juliabobbin.com 4/15/2014