Raspberry Creek Fabrics Favorite Things Tour

Hi friends!

I'm delighted to participate in the Raspberry Creek Fabrics Favorite Things Tour! Be sure to check out the daily giveaways in the Raspberry Creek Fabric Group on Facebook and the beautiful inspiration, photos and tips on each blog!

Head to all the stops on this week's tour:

Monday: Sewjourns, Sewing and Things, and Sew Mary Mac

Tuesday: Life Sew Savory, Made By Kates, and SewSophieLynn

Wednesday: Sweet Mama Life, Replicate Then Deviate, and Stitching and Making

Thursday: Handcrafted By RED, My Sew Bliss, and Kainara Stitches

Friday: It's Liesel, Tessa Does for Love Notions, and Margarita on the Ross

The promo team was given the opportunity to pick the fabric we wanted to share. It was really hard to choose because I love their swim and french terry and cotton lycra. I've also been crushing on their chambrays. I chose this light blue and white stripe french terry because I love the quality of their cotton french terry and how it feels to sew and wear. I also love that it has four way stretch and is a comfortable weight. I'm sure I was subliminally influenced by my girls' french terry Bing Shirtigans since they were always wearing them in the spring. I think I was also drawn to this fabric because of the blog tour title (Favorite Things) and "girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes." (name that musical!) Thank you, RCF, for the beautiful fabric!!




French terry generally equals cooler weather wear in my brain so most of my french terry sews have been hoodies and joggers and the fabric has been perfect for those makes! I live in dresses and skirts in the summer though and realized french terry would be the perfect weight for a summer dress too. The weight of the french terry is perfect to not have to wear a slip with the dress (sorry, Mom!) and to not worry about a little breeze. Plus it feels soft and breathable since it's cotton. :)



I sewed the Stay + Stitch Legends Dress. Terri just released an updated version but if you already own the pattern it's in your account. I stuck with the original version for a few reasons- I already had the pattern pieces cut out, I love the clean finish of the bodice and the burrito method (the updated version has a facing instead of the lining but I think you can still clean finish it? I haven't sewn it yet), and because I wanted the front bodice to be lined because I wanted to play with the stripes and it fit on my fabric better. The updated version also has a more fitted silhouette version and a swing version but omits the gathers at the waist. The swingier view includes pockets, which I definitely had to use.




I have made this pattern once before a few years ago (I actually used one of the early Club french terrys from Raspberry Creek Fabrics!) and didn't love the gathers on me. It was likely a combo of my rectangular shape and the thicker fabric. A friend suggested pleats instead so I pleated it similar to the Made by Rae Geranium dresses I'd made my girls but with inverted pleats (which I'm calling a design choice, not a mistake).



I ended up narrowing the Legends Dress skirt a tiny bit so I could get it to fit on the width of fabric. Somehow in my pocket excitement I forgot to add interfacing to the skirt where the pockets are attached but I did remember to understitch the pockets. :) I also added clear elastic to the waistband to help support the skirt.




TIP- when lining up stripes, make sure to line them up at the seam allowance (not at the edges of the fabric). I also find using (an overabundance) of wonder clips is better than pins for me because my fabric often shifts ever so slightly when pinning.





What are a few of your favorite sewing things? Mine are when a project works just the way I hoped, being able to make clothes that fit, and pockets. Thanks for stopping by!