As much as I love my fabric stash, or maybe because I love it, I sort of have a hard time sending the precious folded yardage from its cozy place under the cutting table out into the world to become a dress, a blouse, or a skirt. I kind of just want to hoard it. Trouble deciding how best to use it is often my biggest obstacle. It usually takes me forever to figure out which fabric to use with which pattern.
This project was a no-brainer though.
And the pattern is now my favorite. This is the shirt version. The contrasting bands on the bodice were much easier to do than I anticipated; the construction is like a reverse facing. And the overall shape is super cute. I even lined it with muslin, something I've never done without step-by-step instructions.
This design is probably going to be a staple of Lauren’s summer wardrobe. I will change one thing: the horizontal bands are slightly smaller than the vertical ones, which is a bit weird—I’ll make them the same. I have big plans to make the dress—and more shirts—as soon as I decide which fabrics gets the privilege.
