Aloha Spirit - Muu'muu to Woo'woo!

My MIL found this muu'muu at the thrift store.  

I love the fabric print.  It's so me.

Except that it is a tent!

I was determined to turn this frumpy muu'muu into something gorgeous, as the fabric deserves.

Here is the muu'muu on:

Plenty of fabric to work with.

I saw this dress on pinterest and I loved it.

It inspired me to want to make something similar.  

I used this as my inspiration for my aloha dress refashion.

The aloha dress, I felt, needed a tank top, rather than sleeve top.

I grabbed my favorite pattern (which I used in my last post) for the bodice/top.

I used pattern E, because I liked the extra fabric on the strap.

For the bottom, I used my favorite skirt pattern and used pattern E.

I pressed the muu'muu and laid out the skirt pieces first on the bottom of the muu'muu.

Then cut the pieces for the bodice that needed to be on the fold next.

Then the pieces that did not need to be cut on the fold with the remainder of the muu'muu.

Here is the finished product!

I am sooooo happy with how it came out.  I think it can go casual or dressy.  Well, beach dressy ;).  

For the bodice top, I just evened out the bottom with the serger and hemmed it. 

I added a zipper to the back of the bodice.  I used what I had on hand, so unfortunately the zipper doesn't unzip all the way.  I have to pull it over my head, so I inserted the zipper upside down, so it at least unzips to the widest part of my torso.  Luckily, it worked and pulls on and off easily.  

No wiggle worm needed.

I think my muu'muu went to Woo!Woo!!

I love the peek-a-boo midriff.  

I also love that I can wear these pieces separate or together.

Now I just need to know where the next Luau is.

Mahalo and Aloha!!!

Thrifted Jersey and Netting Dress

I received some blue sports jersey fabric from my MIL.  She found it for next to nothing at the thrift store.  I don't know the exact type of fabric it is, but it was definitely cheap, mens gym short type of fabric.  It's like a stretchy polyester blend.  I, originally, wasn't sure what, if anything I could do with it.  I loved the color and there was a lot of yardage, so I held onto it until an idea came to me.

Fast forward to a day at Joann fabric store.  I have been wanting to try out the lace overlay trend.  I was looking through their clearance rack and I found this black, stretch netting.  It spoke to me … it said, "I can make that cheap, blue fabric look expensive!  So I bought it because I do anything fabric tells me to do.

Here are the fabrics close up:  Nothing fancy.

I used this pattern.  Another favorite of mine.

I cut both fabrics for all the pieces, except the bodice lining, which I just cut the blue.  I serged the black netting onto each piece before sewing the dress together.

Here is how it came out:

Please excuse the back picture.  I didn't zip it all the way up and hadn't gotten the hook and eye latch on yet, but wanted to get the picture of the back done anyway.

(Busy mom, you know)

I like how the black netting gives it a shiny look.  It really classes up the blue gym short fabric.  

It's really comfy and stretches to fit.  I'm not exactly sure where to wear it, but I think it is versatile enough that I can take it from day to evening.  Especially a beach bum like me who rarely dresses all that fancy.

I have some red and purple fabric like this now.  I hope I can find a creative and stylish way to make use of them.  The overlay worked well, so maybe I will give that another go in a different way.

We will see!

Pastel Plaid Button Up Dress

This McCall's pattern is definitely a big favorite of mine.  

I think I have made at least two other dresses with it and I recently made a third.  

I know there will be more, too.

I was in Downtown LA Fashion District picking up some interfacing, zippers, lining fabric and gingham fabric for my mother-in-law.  I was NOT there to buy ANY OTHER FABRIC.  

(Good luck!)

I came home with 3 yards of this pretty, plaid, pastel, lightweight linen fabric that "would make the perfect summer dress".  I think I also came home with a yard of $10 Pokemon fabric that Aubrey "had to have."  

Downtown LA Fashion District is NOT a safe place for me.  More like a giant candy store.

I finally got around to making my dress and here it is:

I like the colors a lot.  

Blue and brown are my favorite colors.  

I like the hint of pink.  It softens it up a bit.  

I used vintage buttons my other mother-in-law gave me.  

I have yet to try the long sleeve version of this dress.  That might have to be my next project for this pattern.  The collar is a bit tricky on this pattern.  The more I do it, the easier it gets, so I want to make an effort to use it a few more times, so I can get it down.  When you find a pattern that fits your body and you love, once you get it mastered you can make them pretty effortlessly.  I could easily own 10 dresses made from the different options in this pattern. 

I need to head back to DTLA soon to get more zippers.  

Maybe I will find the perfect fabric that I'm not there to buy.

What are the odds ;)?