Into Every Girl's Life A Little "Bling" Must Fall - Simplicity 1716

Sometimes you just know.  Even though at the time of purchase I had no idea what I'd be using this red faux sequin knit for, I just knew that whatever it would become, would be nothing short of fabulous! Certainly the price was right at Jo Ann Fabrics:  60% off - in the halloween spirits? - really?...okay whatever!  What to make?  What to make?

The most recent Hobby Lobby Simplicity Pattern sale is where I picked up Simplicity 1716.  It's just what I needed to showcase this fabric. I made View D and added the long sleeves.  Simple, quick and easy.  Four pattern pieces total - front, back, sleeve and back facing.  I love this dress!  Version two coming soon.

I cut the back on the fold (not suggested by the pattern) and can see where the extra fabric "gathers" but don't mind it so much.  However, I will not follow suit for the second version.  Somehow I misjudged the length (the pattern clearly states that this is a "mini-dress" but somehow I missed that!) and ended up having to add this "band" to the hemline.  I think it adds about 4 inches.  I cut two rectangular pieces of fabric, stitched at one end, folded it lengthwise,wrong sides together and stitched it to the dress.  The band side seams are aligned to the dress side seams.   

 I tried a couple of  "unconventional" methods with this dress, in an effort to not waste any fabric.  The short version of my story is that there were about 8" (about 4" along each lengthwise selvage) of fabric that was unusable since it had no "sequins" (diamond shaped foil) on it.  So I played with the layout.  As a result, I ended up cutting a "two-piece" sleeve which I stitched using a French seam.  There is a seam along both the under arm and the top of the arm.

The dress (with the exception of the sleeves) is lined with a black slinky textured knit that I had in stash.  I'd purchased it from Jo Ann Fabrics a while ago and had since, asked myself why had I purchased it in the first place.  It wasn't really enough to do much with - just a little over a yard.  Needless to say, it came in handy for this project.  I did manage to "save" some of the faux sequin fabric...probably enough to highly accent a new project...a baseball tee perhaps?!

This all too simple dress turned out great!  At one point, I tried the dress on prior to inserting the sleeves (the real View D) and had a flashback of Vogue 1250, a pattern in which I had no interest at all - partly because of its popularity.  Then something clicked.  I get it!  Now I know why soooo many women had made that dress.  Quick, easy, cute and just fabulous!  I get it now!  Sometimes it takes me a minute!

Until next time...PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!

@Sally A...I tried!  Maybe next time! ;-)