The “Paint Me a Hello!” Maxi Dress
My favorite dress of 2011.
Name & Location: Amy, San Francisco
Blog: Sew Well
How long have you been sewing: Two years.
Why did you want to commit to The Sew Weekly Challenge: Sharing common goals with others keeps me inspired to sew each week, regardless of whether I complete an entire garment. Plus, the Sew Weekly was the first sewing blog I found, which gives it a special place in my heart.
What do you love most about sewing garments: I love the creativity in making something unique, and the heirloom quality of each finished, handmade project.
What do you hate most about sewing garments: It’s frustrating being a novice. My sewing is slowed as I research the proper way to insert an invisible zipper into a bias-cut skirt, set a sleeve, create bound buttonholes… It’s exciting to learn new things, but I often wish it wasn’t so slow going.
What do you want to accomplish this year with regard to the challenge: I want to create a deeper and broader handmade wardrobe and get to know more of the sewing community while I’m at it.
Your biggest non-sewing goal of 2012: I have big goals professionally, but I won’t bore you with them. Instead, I’ll let you know that I want to run a three-hour marathon this year.
What are your favorite sewing/fashion blogs: I’m not a fan of having favorites. There are a lot of talented people out there, and I feel lucky to have gotten to know a few of them over the past year of blogging.
The Facts
⁃ Fabric: “Paint Me a Maxi Dress” silk and cotton blend from FineFabrics.com
⁃ Pattern: Vogue V8182
⁃ Year: 2006
⁃ Notions: Invisible zipper
⁃ Time to complete: Much of the summer
⁃ First worn: September 18, 2011
⁃ Wear again? Yes, I already have!
⁃ Total price: $100?
You Can Do It: Favorite Dress from 2011
My favorite dress from 2011 is the maxi dress that I struggled with most of the summer. Preventing the ruching at the waist from being a saggy mess and inserting the invisible zipper into the bias-cut skirt were just about the end of me. But, I persevered, and I ended up with a keeper.
That’s lovely – must have been rewarding to finish it.
Thanks so much. And, yes, it was very rewarding.
loved this dress FOREVER.
that shot is so cute, like you’re pooping up out of sew weekly :)
hehe, pooping. (totally immature, I know, but I’m surrounded by 14 year olds right now!!!)
Thanks, Oona! I hope you mean “popping” though?? Hehehehe!
I’m with Oona – I’ve loved this dress forever! You look incredible!
Thanks, Lizz! I really appreciate you compliment!
Thanks, Mena, for the feature spot! You rock!
Your dress is lovely as is your photography…simply beautiful.
Thanks Cathe! My husband is the man behind the photography. I’m a bit shy in front of the camera, but a year of posing for sewing blog photos has helped make me a bit more comfortable.
Cathe said it best – so beautiful!
I’ve always loved this dress! So cool to see you on here :)
Gorgeous dress! I love the print. And very cool looking location.
What a stunner! Love everything about this dress, great job!
This dress is so gorgeous– it’s been one of my favorites for a long time, too! Love it!
What a stunning dress and beautiful fabric! Best of luck for the challenge and your three hour marathon :D
Love the painted on stripes – gorgeous dress.
I loved this dress and would be so proud of all the work–just lovely. (And I’m still thinking about that 3-hour marathon! Go you!)
simple yet elegant – just lovely.
Yay!!! So glad you’re here!!! That dress is a knockout, and well worth a summer. I’m pretty pokey with everything, too :)