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DIY Inspiration: Maxi Dresses

For my next summer wardrobe sewing project, I've been looking a great maxi dress pattern and I have a feeling I won't be settling for just one.  There is so much maxi dress inspiration out there, it's been hard to narrow down.  

Inspiration

In the main styles I've been eyeing, I'm staring to notice a few themes. First, I love the super sleek, minimal dress with little sleeves or sleeveless with a simple A-line skirt.  The second shape is the elongated shirt dress shape -- shirt on top, flowy maxi skirt on bottom.  And, in terms of fabric, I'm really loving the bold, big florals, or a bright color, or a geometric print.  

Pattern

I've seen a lot of minimal DIY dress tutorials out there, which are enticing because of their simplicity, and most of which don't use a pattern.  I want to go a little bit further with mine.  If I'm going to buy a pretty fabric, I don't want a homemade looking dress that lacks the polished details.  So, to start, I thought I would make the first dress modeled on a slim, sleek dress with an A-line skirt.  I found this 70s pattern -- McCalls 3133, and I'm going to make the maxi version on the far right.  After I bought the pattern (and the woven fabric) I realized this pattern is for knits!  I'm going to try it anyway (it has a zipper up the back and darts) so I'm *hoping* nothing goes awry.

A runner-up pattern I was considering was McCalls 6744, mainly because of this lovely maxi dress Shay made.  I decided against it though because I wanted a slightly more tailored look, but I might come back to it later.

Fabric

For this first dress, I decided to go with a minimal print to test the maxi dress waters.  I love this little triangle print fabric from Hawthorne Threads, and don't think it will be overwhelming with it's large scale.  Next I might try something a bit bolder like a floral fabric.  

As of right now, I have the fabric and pattern in hand and am adding this one to my summer wardrobe queue.  I'm putting the finishing touches on some other projects, and will be posting those next week!  Check back to see the progress.

April Jewels

DIY Crop Top

This is my first completed garment of my summer wardrobe project!  I've been planning this top for a while, modeled after my friend's "perfect tank top."  I made a pattern after tracing her top, adding some darts, and removing a button placket down the center. If you follow my instagram, you probably saw my photo after finishing this up this weekend.  

The tank top is made from a lightweight 100% cotton, in black and white with a chevron print, made by Michael Miller.  I made the first version in muslin, and after a few edits to the pattern, I tested it out on the chevron fabric that I had leftover from making curtains.  My eventual goal is to make a version in silk, for the perfect little summertime basic tank.  

The length is something I went back and forth on, and am really happy with the outcome.  With the boxy shape, I went short.  Otherwise, it hits your hips and bunches up around your middle which is not flattering at all. I've been trying it on with a few different pants, shorts and skirts, and I'm finding it looks best with form-fitting high-waisted bottoms.  Fuller skirts are a little tricky because you don't get the waist definition, making you just look boxy all the way down.

My goal with this tank top was work in a few details, which I haven't been able to find on other tank top patterns.  Mainly skinny straps, low scoop backline, a wide boxy cut, and a cropped hemline.  Overall I'm really happy with it. It was super easy to make so I'm going to be experimenting with a few more fabrics on this one.  

Summer Wardrobe Project

Probably because it's been unusually miserable this winter, I am especially looking forward to warm weather.  And, in that spirit, I am dreaming of little crop tops, high-waisted shorts, floral prints, and maxi dresses.  So, I decided to get a head start and start sewing up some spring and summer outfits.  Over the next few months, my goal is to make or refashion at least one garment a week.  Yikes!  

I'm planning on sewing up some new things from scratch, as well as tailoring and re-structuring existing clothes into more modern ones.  I've been collecting clothes from thrift stores for years now that "just needs a little work" before it's ready.  And, you can track the progress of the whole summer wardrobe project.  

First on my list is a little button-down shirt in a pretty print.  I've been spotting and pinning these little shirts for years, but haven't come across any in stores that I really liked.  

The Pattern

The pattern I'll be using is a vintage Simplicity 3745 pattern.  And apparently, according to the front of the pattern, it's simple to make. Or it was, based on a 1960s woman. I keep going back and forth whether I want to make the sleeved or sleeveless version. At the moment, I'm leaning towards sleeved.

The Fabric

This fabric is one I've had my eye on for a while.  It's called Ravena Flower (or Ravena Deco), in cream, and it's made by Dear Stella.  I love the whole ravena selection, but this one is my favorite.  And, because I procrastinated buying this fabric so long, it's now half off at the fat quarter shop!