BLOG ANNIVERSARY WEEK 1 WINNER; ANNOUNCING WEEK 2 PRIZE...

 ...many THANKS for all the well wishes on my 4th blog anniversary! 

I reviewed this book in this post.

The week one prize winner is....

TANYA
over at SEW SASSY AGAIN/EATING PINS

Tanya I hope  you enjoy the book as much as I have!  Please email me your address and the book will be in the mail to you next week.

NOW ON TO WEEK TWO OF THE CELEBRATION...

PRIZE TWO IS connected by my love of blouses and tops - 4 blouse/top Patterns from each of the Big 4 Companies. Sizes range up to size 20, and all Patterns are UNCUT.

Please comment in THIS post to let me know if you are interested.  Again, you must be or become a follower to enter.

FINISHED PROJECT: 

My very first winter LBD is finished!  Started last Sunday, worked on bit by bit during the work week, final fitting adjustments and hem today.  Yes, I already have one summer LBD but really needed a winter version too.  You might not see me wearing this dress until Fall '11 ya'll because we are back up to 75 degrees this weekend.  The daffodils and tulip trees have entered stage right, pretty soon the Bradford Pear trees will make their appearance, and my sinuses acting really crazy - I think Georgia's spring is knocking at the door.  But here's my rendition of a slightly modified Vogue 8413 View D and some particularities about it:

• I have L-O-V-E-D this dress since I first saw Angela wearing it way back in October '09; really wanted one like it too; thanks for the lasting inspiration Angela!

• I wanted this black ponte roma knit so badly when it first hit Hancocks - that was in Fall '09 too.  But fabric had a strange thick white mark throughout the entire length of the bolt so I couldn't buy it.  They kept saying they would get more in but never did.  I bought this piece in North Carolina during my Christmas '09 visit with my kids.  It lived deep in the closet stash since that time.

• A bit of "OVER THINKING" entered the picture at the beginning of the project.  Before I cut I held the front pattern piece up to see if the the bodice would be long enough.  Didn't think so - so I added 2" to the bodice of the pattern.  I did not make a muslin because I didn't have a similar fabric that I was willing to sacrifice.  Lisa helped me fit the bodice last Sunday and I thought it was just the right length.  Now, I'm having second thoughts about it - thinking it's too long.  I've thought about going in to make the adjustment, but I do not want to sacrifice the time it would take to do it. 

• I opted for full length sleeves vs. the 3/4 length ones.  I'm sort of cold natured and  figured I can push them up if needed, but If I'm cold I'll have the long sleeves to keep me warm. 

•  Working Black on Black (black fabric & black thread) is a real JOB!

• I tried my best to figure a way to make the dress w/o a zipper, but because of the collar that ended at center back, didn't think it would look right w/o one.  I'm still not absolutely sure how far to place the zipper from the seam line with the invisible type. 

• I MIGHT make this dress again, but if I do, I won't fool around with the bodice at all, and I'll go down a size too.

"SEWN" editor Elizabeth recently wrote about pattern company choices vs. being dedicated to one single company.  I guess I'd categorize myself as a "Liberal Arts" sewist because I like designs from and use them all, but lately I'm finding that I beginning to have a real affinity for Vogue Patterns.

Until my next post, enjoy your weekend...