I Made Something Really Cool!

~ or so I think ~

~ and I totally match the backyard too ~

I saw this dress on pinterest from the Santa Fe Dry Goods Store (it's no longer there) and wanted to make something similar.

So I looked through my pattern stash for a straight up and down type dress to make it with.  I found the Sewing Workshop Collection's Veranda Dress which had a few more interesting details to it.

I made several changes to the pattern: 

• used a double fused knit I had because I liked the print (pattern called for linen)
• shorten the length by 6"?!  (I am 5'5", so...)
• lowered the arm holes by 2-3 inches so I could wear it as a jumper
• cut the back neckline the same as the front because I wanted to be able to wear it with front as back or vice versa.
• made it button all the way down (rather than just to waistline)
• raised the pocket height by 5-6" and moved them to center side (again so I could wear the dress either front or back ways
• added straps attached at shoulders hanging down to mid arm, then attached a 2" buckle to it.  Another strap attached to the buckle to wrap around the arm allowing the leftover strap to hang down freely.

~ see? ~

I'm wearing the "back" in front now.  I could also wear it as a coat, vest thingy, opened.

~ close up of the sleeve straps ~

~ and the panel that goes down the back (in this case) ~

~ and loverly shoes from ebay, bay-bee ~

~ A classic, don't you think? ~

I'll soon be at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style, then Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and finally Cherie's Shoe and Tell when they all go live.  Hope to see you all there!



ooo, ooo, I forgot to mention, I'm wearing my 20 minute start-to-finish stretch mesh dress underneath.  I posted about it here.