Haute Summer Sewing in Casual Couture

Eileen has made a dress that will carry her from the office to weekend glam with just a change of  her gorgeous accessories! Gotta love a hard working dress.  Thanks Eileen for sharing!

This dress is a third variation of a tried and perfected fit Burda Pattern 5/2010 #140 and 5/2010 #141.  A princess seamed sheath dress gives me several seams to perfect fit and opportunities to change the neckline and add sleeves or not.  There are several sheath dress patterns available in every sewing pattern catalog and probably some in your current collections just waiting to be made. 

The fabric used is the Bamboo Cotton Stretch Sateen from Sew Much Fabric.  It is still in stock! The fabric washes well and presses nicely.  I love couture sewing techniques so much that I found a way to make this dress Casual Couture!  My dress is underlined and lined in cotton/poly batiste which cuts down on wrinkling and absorbs perspiration in this very hot weather. 

 The zipper was sewn in by hand using the prick stitch and the lining put in by hand as well.  I find putting the lining in by hand works much better on sleeveless dresses or tops than by machine. 

 I also sewed a hook and eye and bra carriers.  These techniques work very well when you are traveling and only have needle, thread, pins and small scissors to finish your dress.  Join me at our October 2015 meeting and I will be sharing these finishing techniques.  

As you can see this dress dresses up or down for work, worship or play.  Add a cardigan sweater for air conditioning and or conservative dress codes.  I have another dress cut out of the chartreuse cotton jacquard (sold out but still available in fuchsia) so I will definitely make this dress again!