We're Talking Flower Power!

~ yeah, need I say more? ~

~ it's a Waxed Cotton African Print fabric from Mood ~

Yes, I finally succumbed when Mood Fabrics had a sale of 6-yard cuts of the stuff.  I'd never seen prices so low before.  I had to jump for it.  I know it's not the typical African pattern, but this one is sold out.  There are, however, several other patterns/colorways still available at 6 yards for $29!

~ and the inside is just as colorful and the outside ~

It's just not waxed.  

There are a few considerations to keep in mind when using the fabric:

• It only comes in 45" width.
• Pre-wash it in cold water, without letting it spin in the washer! 
• Air-dry it.  I used the clothes line and that worked perfectly.
• Only iron it on the reverse (non-waxed) side and still cover it with a cloth.
• It ravels like crazy and instantaneously.  Finish all the seam edges! 
• Use a pattern without gathering or a lot of fussy elements.

~ the pattern in its full glory ~

Because my fabric was one huge print that I didn't want to disrupt, I used it on the cross-grain, from selvedge to selvedge.  That's the selvedge as the "hem" for the duster and the sleeves.

The following is all sewing nonsense, so feel free to skip to the end.

I started off using Sandra Betzina's Vogue 1356, but changed a few things along the way:

• First up, the sleeves were incorrect on the pattern - being the wrong size by 2 inches for the armcyce.  
• Then I decided I'd rather not have two-piece sleeves for this fabric anyway.  I drafted my own one-piece sleeve pattern so as not to cut up the flowers any more than necessary.
• The duster was ill-fitting with the center front barely touching some places and widely overlapping at other points.  I ix-nayed that center flap.  This also led me to not want to use the  facing I had interfaced that was to go around the neckline and down the length of the duster on both sides. 
• Instead I sewed it on backwards, so to speak, to form an extension down each side like a kimono lapel.  That brought the two sides together more evenly and gave it some heft.  
• I tried using the back neckline interfacing to form a mandarin collar and failed miserably.  Off it came.
• I happened to have matching (?!) seam binding and used that to make a clean, simple neckline.
• I placed the patch pockets at the sides, centered over the side seams, again because I didn't want to disrupt the flow of flowers on the front.

~ ending with my yellow Docs from ebay ~

Now whatever shall I make with the rest of the fabric????

I'm linking up with Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like.  And Spy Girl's Summertime for June.  And Patti's Not Dead Yet Style.  Join us, won't you?