A Maya Top Maxi Dress

On my social media, anyway, May is THE month for celebrating homemade wardrobes. The last few years I've wanted to join in but with my focus mostly on historic clothing I didn't have much to contribute. This year I decided that I will participate, although in a small way. While I don't have homemade outfits to wear every day I decided to challenge myself to make at least one garment a week to replace something worn out in my current wardrobe. I have sort of run out of sewing momentum and so this is a nice way to keep me productive and focused. (Except for this week. This week has been totally crazy busy!)

The first week of May spring became very summer-like all of a sudden and light clothing became very much needed. I had a favorite summer sundress that has seen many better days. I got this from a thrift store a while ago and have worn it nearly to death the past few summers. I loved it because of the colors, the print, the fact that it doesn't wrinkle and it's floaty and comfortable to wear.

From last summer - I loved wearing this dress!

The last time I wore this dress the thin shoulder straps pulled off yet again and the fabric on the top was fraying more where they needed to be sewn back on. The straps were adjustable with plastic rings and those snapped off on one side. Not to mention, the dress was too large when I bought it and I took it in hastily with uneven darts at each side seam. It was time to retire this favorite dress and make something like it, but better!

I had purchased the Maya Top pattern earlier this year and had bought a length of border printed poly crepe from Wal Mart for a maxi dress. I decided to combine the two to make a great sundress that would be good for the rest of spring, all summer, and into the fall.

The Maya Top has only two main pattern pieces, the front and back. The sleeves are cut on, which is a fantastic feature, the from the shoulders down the garment is not fitted but has a great drape. I had just enough fabric to lengthen the Maya top into a maxi dress, continuing the angle of the side seam down to my desired hem length, but I did cut the back in two pieces instead of one with a seam at center back due to layout on my fabric.

The fabric was pretty horrible to cut. It moved, wiggled, stretched and shrank and was altogether a pain while trying to cut it out. It was a little easier to work with when it came to sewing together. To keep everything tidy, I sewed the shoulder and side seams with french seams. The hem was finished with a narrow hem and the sleeve hems with some cotton crochet lace. I added a visible facing out of the last of the blue linen left from Benjamin's Boone Frock and edged the facing with the same lace. Instead of facing the neckline I bound it with self fabric and added black ribbon ties to close it.

I added self fabric belt ties at the bottom of the facing to give a little
waist definition. 

It has the same loose, floaty feeling of my old dress and the same non-wrinkling, sheer kind of fabric, the same kinds of colors. A plus: No tiny shoulder straps! I like the coverage of full shoulders much better. No visible bra straps! ;)

I still couldn't bear to part completely with my old dress so I cut off the skirt panels and decided to make them into a kaftan-style top. It can be used as a swimsuit cover up, or, as I have been wearing it lately, as a summerweight cardigan over sleeveless dresses. I'm so glad I found a use for this pretty fabric! I even reused those horrid shoulder straps for the front ties. :)

So, for Me Made May Week 1: A Maya Maxi Dress!

Love,
Sarah

Arenite Pants #2

Wow, look, two blog posts in a week! I'm stealing a quick break this afternoon to blog another April project. The two littlest had doctor check ups this morning (all perfect they said! See ya in a year!) and they played hard in the pool on the deck this afternoon. Now, it looks like rain and I have a few minutes before the bus comes to drop off Anne.

These were my second pair of pants from the Arenite pattern and I decided to go up two sizes for a baggier fit. I also added 1.5" in length (I think? I can't remember. . .) and did not add on the wide 2" cuff at the ankle. Instead, I used a 1/2" piece of elastic for a looser, harem-pant style ankle.

The fabric is one of those wonderful and mysterious bargain fabrics from Wal Mart. This slate blue fabric was $2 a yard and has a wonderful drape, a cool feel and a nubbly woven texture.

It made up into a gorgeous pair of informal trousers, but oh man. It was a pain to sew. And it really shouldn't have been, either! It was a series of stupid mistakes on my part but it seemed every single little thing gave me trouble. Trimming the seams for felling? I cut a long sliver out of the pant leg. Oh, and that was after I sewed the pockets in backwards and then realized I had cut 3 fronts and 1 back instead of 2 of each!

At last they were finished though and I was never so glad to see the end of a project. Since then I have worn these a lot and every time I put them on I think, why don't I wear these every day?!

Getting into Warrior 2. It's cheesy :D Sorry. ;)

They are loose (maybe a bit too loose in the waist, next time I'll make the elastic an inch or so shorter!) and cool and I can do anything in these. Even yoga! Now I have 2 of these pants and really no need for more, but I still want to make more. In the meantime though, I'm glad to have these as much-needed and much-used-already staples in  my wardrobe!

Photos from April Rendezvous

Before I let more time pass and totally forget to do so, I thought I'd post some more photos of everyone from the rendezvous last weekend! (There's a lot. I couldn't decide on just a few to post!) I don't have time to write a lot of commentary, but there are some descriptions in the photo captions. We had a lovely time and I am so glad we had the opportunity to attend. A rendezvous is certainly a very different "flavor" of event than a Civil War reenactment but just as enjoyable and perhaps far more relaxing due to the wide range of periods and impressions portrayed.

The girls and I before leaving home! We are all wearing a version of the
drawstring dress, and Anne's natural curly hair was easy to put up in a regency
hairstyle. She was so happy with this since for 1860's events she requires far more
combing and hair conditioning to get her hair to lay relatively smooth. 

Crystal rock candy was a huge hit with the girls. Purple
for Anne!

And pink for Rosie! Here, she is watching the All Nations group
dance and sing. 

Judah bought an arrowhead. When we got home, he wrapped it and made it into a
necklace.

You can't see it, but Anne bought a pink rock and was
showing it to me. 

The All Nations group that drummed, sang and danced. 

The dancing was very enjoyable to watch and generous invitations to participate were
extended to all of us around the circle. Rosie desperately wanted to dance
so I took her out, where she promptly became very shy and stood frozen to the ground
while the rest of us danced around her.

Up at the kids activity area, Judah and Malachi were busy working on some art. 

Malachi's punched metal picture!

Talking to the tradespeople.

Benjamin was 2 days away from turning 4 years old and had some birthday money
from his great grandparents to spend. He quickly decided on this wooden
double-barrel shotgun. 

Malachi made some new friends. I wish we all could make friends so quickly and easily!

Anne made punched metal art for the first time and was very
proud of her star!

Her dress is like the Boone Frock I made her a few springs ago,
but with a tuck taken at waist level all around for a drawstring to go through.
She was very unhappy about having a green dress but once we got to the event
she decided she really liked it. I wish I had had enough fabric to make it longer but
even at a shorter length the dress still looked nice. It was nice to finally use up
this fabric that has been sitting in my stash since probably before she was born!

The drawstrings for the waist emerge at center back and tie to pull up the fullness
around the waist. She wore her 1860's chemise and drawers under it. 

We walked a little ways into the woods and looked for fossils in the dry creek bed.
I love this photo! But how did Anne get so tall?! 

One of the camps. Someday, when we aren't busy every weekend with baseball, I'd
love to camp at this event with the kids. It's such a beautiful spot!

There were dandelions everywhere and Rosie wasn't letting any of them go to waste!

The boys were drawn to the ax throwing activity. All 3 older boys
threw and so did Anne!

Anne showing off her fossil collection. 

This kid is a natural at almost all period style activities. He threw and got it
on the paper on his first try!

And meanwhile Rosie was obsessed with dandelions. . .I love
this picture of her. Her gown is made of the leftover pink dotted swiss
I used for the girls 1860s dresses last spring. I had just enough for this dress and the fabric
was perfect for the style, and both fabric and style perfect for Rose! I made elbow length sleeves
for her, instead of short puffed ones like I made for Anne. Hopefully this dress will still fit next year.
And then, I will lay it away with a few other treasured gowns to save for the girls and maybe, if I'm very lucky,
future granddaughters who may enjoy dressing up in historical styles from time to time.

Pink cheeks!

And itty bitty black slippers. :) 

David never could quite hit the target but he sure had fun trying!

Malachi 

Anne in line to throw! She surprised me by wanting to try. 

Benjamin wanted to throw, too, but he is still too little. :) 

And here she goes! A huge thank you to the lovely young lady who instructed Anne
and was so patient with her. 

Being unable to throw an ax, Benjamin decided to look for worms. 

His dress is made from a blue linen blouse I've saved the past
few years. I always meant to remake the blouse, which was far too large for me,
since the material is so nice. I never did remake it though, and it was a good
candidate for Benjamins Boone Frock. It is a little short, but paired
with his 1860s trousers makes a passable look for early 19th century. 

I love how the trees are finally flowering. :) 

Love,

Sarah