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Butterick 5451

B5451B

Misses’ top, tunic and dress: Semi-fitted, wrapped sleeveless top A, tunic B, and A-lined dress C have collar, attached tie ends and narrow hems. I made View A, size 18.

Pattern Sizing:
FF (16-18-20-22) I made 18.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes.
Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Likes: The wide portrait collar adds a nice feature to a basic wrap pattern. I also like that the front is a full wrap and isn’t too low cut. The straps are nice and long and leave enough for a nice bow.
Dislikes: None really.
Fabric Used:
Momo by Moda quilting cotton. I wanted to try the shirt length in this pattern before committing to the quantity of fabric needed for the dress length. Even at the short length it takes a lot of fabric because of the size of the collar. I had this fabric in my inventory and I liked the color.  (My daughter doesn’t like it because I used this fabric to make her a pencil case last fall and now that is what she associates it with! LOL)
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
B5451
None. The only slight alteration I made was to pull the inside edge of the bodice up about a 1/2" at the shoulders to try to circumvent any gaposis.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, I like the pattern and do want to make the dress. I just need to find the right fabric.
Conclusion:
Cute wrap pattern. Pretty easy to sew. Takes a lot more fabric than you think it will because of the size of the collar and the flair of the peplum. I had to piece my fabric for one of the front "skirt" pieces because I was just a bit shy of enough to cut it whole.

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New Fabric: Basic Grey & Sandy Gervais

I started this post back on Dec. 16th and for some reason it never got published. Never mind, it is still gorgeous new fabric. ENJOY!
(Oh and tomorrow and Saturday it will be 20% off along with all my other new and hot fabrics!)

Basic Grey Urban Couture by Moda 
Basic Grey Urban Couture by Moda Basic Grey Urban Couture by Moda Basic Grey Urban Couture by Moda Basic Grey Urban Couture by Moda Basic Grey Urban Couture by Moda 
Urban Couture by Basic Grey

Sandy Gervais' Tranquility by Moda 
Tranquility by Sandy Gervais

Sandy Gervais' Tranquility by Moda 
Bird Panel from Tranquility.
I love the deep rich colors in this panel and the versatility. Each bird panel is 12×12 inches square. One yard has nine total squares plus a narrow border of matching quilt labels. There are a variety of ways this can be used. Each panel can be cut apart and used as individual quilt blocks, pillow tops or small decorative wall quilts. It can be used as straight yardage for home dec projects like a shower curtain or use a yard as a cheater fabric to make a quick and easy lap quilt.

Sandy Gervais' Tranquility by Moda Sandy Gervais' Tranquility by Moda Sandy Gervais' Tranquility by Moda 

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How I Shop for Fabric

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My Freespirit rep dropped off a half ton of fabric samples for my enjoyment today. I think I’m getting better at this fabric selection thing. I’m much faster and not nearly as overwhelmed by all the choices as I was the first time. I can unroll some of these fabric headers and give an immediate “meh” or “nope” now. Sometimes my reaction is more of a “Hmmmmm?” and I set it aside and come back to it with fresh eyes after looking at others.

Above are the selections from Amy Butler’s latest, Midwest Modern 2. I hate to say it but her newer stuff is quite often as not getting a “meh” reaction from me. I only selected five from the new colorways and added two from the original Midwest Modern to round out my current selection. I also added four prints from her Daisy Chain to match up some of the orphans from my first order from this line. I still think some of my numbers must have gotten mixed up on that first order because I *know* I ordered some of these dark blues and pinks that didn’t come in my first order. (That’s why I’m taking pictures this time so I know what I decided on!)

I’m also a little frustrated annoyed disappointed that her colors don’t match across collections. She has an olive in her Midwest Modern and one in her Daisy Chain that are close but not quite. Also I’ve found that often she’ll have a pattern/colorway in a collection that doesn’t really *fit* with anything else in the collection. I read on a fabric blog recently that Kaffe Fassett keeps pretty much the same color palette from one collection to the next and adds and subtracts to keep things fresh. But that way if you have an older fabric in your stash you can still find something new to coordinate with it. Of course my impression of Kaffe Fassets collections is that he just uses ALL THE COLORS so it doesn’t really matter!

A new line and new to me designer is Snow Flower by Dena. This was one of those bundles of fabric that I opened and my reaction was, “oh yeah!” I wanted it all, but you know that isn’t happening. :( So instead I did what I’ve learned is the best way for me to stock fabric, I select one or two of the colorways in a collection and go from there. (I’m sorry I can’t find this collection online anywhere yet.) After I decided which colorways I want I pick and choose from there. I loved the brights and black set in this collection so I chose a wide selection of these. I really don’t have a lot of really vivid brights and no black at all right now in my stock so this will fill in some much needed holes.
november 003 november 002 november 001 
I’m also really in love with acid green and chocolate brown right now and aqua with green is a hot combo too. I think this collection is going to be really popular. I know I’m looking forward to sewing up some bags or girly dresses out of it this winter!

My Moda rep was also in at the end of last week with her bag of goodies from Quilt Market. I don’t have pictures of what I selected from her but rest assured, it is awesome! They have added some new designers who are really adding a fresh face to their collections.

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