The Taffy that Almost Wasn't

     So I started this Taffy last year, around September or Octoberish I think. I tried to make bias tape out of the main fabric, and since I was new to making bias tape and the fabric is so light and drapey, it worked out pretty terribly. Then I finished the neckline and one of the sleeves with the bias tape, and that ended up a mess. So I got frustrates and threw the blouse back in with all my fabric.

     Then two nights before I went home for Christmas break I felt the need to sew, but knew it wouldn't be a smart idea to start a whole new project, because I'd have to pack up all the little pieces and take it home.

     So over a year after I started it, I ripped all the crappily applied bias tape, reapplied it, finished the other sleeve, and hemmed the sucker.

      I wasn't sure how I felt about the sleeves at first, but I think I like how huge and fluttery they are now. I really like the fabric too-- I got it at the thrift store across the street from campus, so I'm sure it was less than $5. It's so silky smooth with a stripey design.


 I used the Taffy blouse pattern from the Colette Sewing Handbook. It's been forever since I started the project so I'm not completely sure, but I think the only change I made to the pattern was to take out the darts. I also left off the back ties. It's a pretty loose but still flattering fit. No closures necessary!

 This is the first pattern I used French seams on. They're so neat and finished looking!

The sleeves look so pretty!!!

Summer Truffle

      Dang you summer, doing that thing where you're arriving one minute and then suddenly it's august and where the hellz did you go?! But at least I got one dress out of ya ;)
     This is Colette's Truffle pattern, minus the drapey thing. I wanted a quick summer dress, and Truffle proved a good choice-- sleeveless, scoopneck, barely any pattern pieces.

  Just look at this knit, it's so summery and cute! While in Costa Rica during May I chanced upon a fabric store, delved into their remnants and returned to the States with several treasures. I knew I wanted this to be an easy, casual summer dress the minute I saw it. I mean, it's sunglasses and scribbled hearts; I didn't really have a choice. The hearts even have glitter! Come on!

I made the skirt more of an A line than it originally looked. I just used a ruler to draw the side seam lines out at more of an angle. I didn't need a zipper since I used knit fabric. This made the sewing even quicker, I whipped this baby up in a night after getting really frustrated with a different dress and throwing it aside. I wanted to make something quick that actually turned out how I wanted. One truffle later, confidence = restored!

I had a bunch of gaping at the back neckline, so finnegled this V thing to get rid of the excess fabric. It got the job done, I think, but next time I'm just going to take some width out of the back pattern  piece before I get into the fabric. I don't know though, I think my odd little pleat thing looks nice, I'll just call it a design element.

 As far as finishing goes, I just turned everything under and topstitched it all down with a double needle.

 All in all I'm happy with my Truffle. It's bright and cheery and comfy--it makes me want to go find a beach and lay out all da

Oh yeah, one more thing-- look at my adorable bunneh! He's such a cutie :)