You Can't Overdo a Good Thing!

If you're anything like me, when you find the perfect pair of shoes and they fit like a dream, you buy one in every color! Sewing garments is the same - when you find a pattern that works, you can't just make one, especially if the style is versatile and goes anywhere.

We love the ease and comfort of Sandra Betzina's Vogue 1336 dress.  Laurel and I both made tunics from this pattern for our Sandra Betzina Trunk Show in November at the store.

Since you can never have to much of a good thing, we made it again - this time using a different print, but using the same nylon mesh for the sleeves and hemline bands. Nylon mesh is so versatile for jazzing up a simple pattern - use it for sleeves, neckline treatments, and if you're real brave, why not try it as a "peek-a-boo" strip in a dress or t-shirt?

 

Here's another of my favorite patterns - Victory's Satsuki dress. We've made it as both a dress and a top.  I love the comfort and style of this design. (Are you starting to see a pattern here - "comfort" and "ease?") But I also love the femininity of this design.  Whatever your body type, it will be flattering.

So why mess with success? I found this wonderful silk knit during one of my buying trips and I loved the way the print almost had an ombre look.  I immediately thought of the Satsuki dress.

I'm thinking that it's going to need one of Laurel's special Obi belts. You can learn how to make this great fashion accessory on FabricLady's Obi-Belt How-To.

We put these posts up as drafts before we publish them for our readers and look what happens - Laurel made a custom Obi Belt, just for this dress! She used a scrap of our boiled wool, picking up the deep brown in the knit and lined it with the print. Also a jewelry maker, she used some beautiful glass squares as the focal point for my belt. They will pick up the soft turquoise colors.

She secured the glass beads with a border of brown glass beads strung on thin wire. Clear jeweler's glue was added to fix the two elements together. She used Aleen's Super Fabric Adhesive to glue the finished embellishements to the belt and then secured them with thread. A few embroidery and machine stitches were added for detail.

Oh my!!! What a special gift for FabricLady!

This Satsuki dress and the Sandra Betzina tunic are perfect styles for working here at the store. In the cooler months, I can pair the Sandra Betzina with leggings and the Satsuki with boots. Come into the store and see our huge selection of knit fabrics and add one of these "Go-To Fashions" to your Spring wardrobe.

Creatively Yours,

Suzan