PR&P Week 4 - Bees are Buzzin' and Love is in the Air!

I am looking forward to sharing this look with you this week!!!  I had a lot of fun and many "grrrrr" moments while putting the look together!

 

The final product is a reversible a-line dress (one side has an applique and one side is plain) and a chiffon peasant dress with a sash.



The "grrrr" moments came when I was trying to work with the chiffon.  I've never sewn with it before and I had two ideas in my head before I finally gave up and decided to go with a peasant dress.  One idea was to create a simple bodice and attached gathered skirt.  I cut out a silky polyester light pink fabric that I had in my stash and basted the chiffon over it.  However, when I was trying to do the bias on the arm holes it started looking reeeeaaaallly bad! lol!

The second idea was pretty close to the first, but I was going to follow an Ottobre pattern.  Again, I wasn't happy with the way the sleeves looked so I trashed that design too.  It's a good thing I bought a bunch of this chiffon print!!!  (Super cheap at JoAnn's!)

Finally I figured that I could get away with a peasant style dress and it sewed up super easily!  I even used shirring on the sleeves!  I have some left over so I may try to come up with some other shirred chiffon top - maybe a halter or swimsuit cover up for the summer!

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I knew that I needed something to go under the chiffon so I had some left over pink polka dot cotton in my stash.  I even re-used the sash that I made for week 1! (See it here!)

Since I was going to make the a-line dress to go under the peasant dress, 

I figured I would make it reversible AND

......................get ready to read the next part in monster truck commercial voice........

Get TWO, TWO, TWO looks in one!!!

:-)

Little Miss Futie (Singer Futura) helped me create the adorable 

"Bee Mine" design on one side of the a-line dress!

 

I originally bought a Singer Futura 200ce in April or May last year.  (you can see my sewing room set-up with the old machine here)
And as soon as I finished the stripes and polka dot look for week 2 it decided to quit on me!!!  The power wouldn't turn on no matter what I did.  I took it apart, tried plugging it into different outlets, etc.  It's in a box waiting for an electrician to take a look at it.  I'm thinking after I get it fixed I'll probably try to sell it or maybe use it as a back up machine.  Fortunately I have a super supportive hubby and he was totally fine with me upgrading to the new version of the Singer Futura!  This one is the XL-400
 

I bought it the day after my 200ce busted and Amazon had it delivered 3 days later!  There are two things about it that I LOVE
1.  I can control the speed of the stitches
2.  I have a 6x10 hoop which means more embroidery area!!!

It's really fun to find cute applique designs to embellish t-shirts or clothes that I make!  I love this little "Bee Mine" design from Planet Applique and it is perfect on the dress!  And again, since the dress is fully lined/reversible I can just turn it inside out so it's plain pink underneath the chiffon!

 

And I'm a sucker for big buttons!  I love the pop that it gives to this sweet dress!

 

Thank you so much for reading!  I love to read your comments and I would be ecstatic if you wanted to follow my blog!  I have two upcoming guest posts in the next couple months!  (Sumo Sweet Stuff and Welcome to the Mouse House!)  I would love for you to get an update when they are posted!  Feel free to follow with RSS, Google Friend Connect or e-mail!  The links can be found on the right side of my blog! :-)

I can't wait to see what adorable Valentine cuteness pops up on the Project Run and Play link party!