Flutter Sleeve Knit Dress

I had this dress in my head for a long time and whipped it up in a flash last week. I used the bodice from Sew-U Home Stretch that I altered to fit me earlier this year for this dress.  I drafted the  flutter sleeves using Dixie Diy's tutorial over on Sew Caroline's blog.


I have always been averse to gathered waist skirts and dresses, but recently realized that if the gathering is minimal and the waist is fitted it can be flattering. The skirt is just a rectangle, measurements taken from a recent successful project with a gathered waist. I gathered the skirt, then serged it to the bodice, I also added elastic to the waist so that it would be a little more fitted. The gathered ruffle is just double the width of the skirt, gathered and sewn on. I'm not usually a ruffle person either but I think it adds a cute bohemian vibe and I like the way the skirt swishes when I walk.



I also used Dixie Diy's tutorial for binding the V-neck, thanks for being awesome Dixie! Mine isn't perfect, but the best one I've ever done. I should have listened to Dixie and zig zagged on my first try but I got brave and used the serger.

 

 The fabric is from Girl Charlee and is one of my favorites that I have purchased from there.  I had originally intended to make this a Maxi dress, and Frank was opposed.  I asked my facebook friends if most men dislike long skirts and I never realized they were so controversial.  No matter, when I held the long skirt up to me I realized it was much more flattering knee length on me.
 
Here is a detail of the V-Neck binding. You can see it got a little bunched up at the bottom, but overall I'm happy with it.
 

Fort Worth friends might recognize this wall as the side of Melt, our new Farm to Cone gourmet Ice Cream shop.  I talked Frank into taking pictures of my by bribing him with ice cream.  It is a rare treat for us these days, but isn't this a great backdrop for my dress?!