Lovin’ My Little Black Dress!

This entry was posted on April 21, 2013, in Blog Tours, Fun Sewing Projects, Tips for Sewing and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink. 96 Comments

Yay!  It’s my turn to contribute to Nancy Zieman’s Blog Tour!!!

 Sew Knits with Confidence

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As you may already know by now, Nancy has just released a new book and four great patterns featuring the use of knit fabrics.  For my project, I chose to stitch out Nancy’s

“Santa Fe Dress and Top” pattern view #1.

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I am happy to tell you that I am very pleased with the results.  On the whole, this is a straight forward project with many helpful tips sprinkled throughout.  I found the directions clear and easy to follow.  Two thumbs up for NancyZieman!!!  Hooray!

Wanna see my pictures?  OK!  Here goes!  (At the end of this post is a give-away prize so, stay tuned!!!)

It all starts here...

It all starts here…

I traced off the pattern in my size... I'm a small on top and a medium down south. Thanks for making this a multi-sized pattern!

First, I traced off the pattern in my size… I’m a small on top and a medium down south. Thanks for making this a multi-sized pattern!

Next, I cut out all my pattern pieces and threaded up my serger...

Next, I cut out all my pattern pieces and threaded up my serger…

Nancy's pattern tips advised me to mark the fabric's right sides with tape, but I just used colored straight pins this time.

Nancy’s pattern tips advised me to mark the fabric’s right sides with tape, but I just used colored straight pins this time.

I pinned and stitched the bodice tucks in place.

I pinned and basted the bodice tucks in place.

I used my serger to attach the front panels to the bodice.

I used my serger to attach the front panels to the bodice.

As directed, I overlapped the panels by using the center notch as my guide. See me pointing?

As directed, I overlapped the panels by using the center notch as my guide. See me pointing?

I then pinned through all the layers and stitched everything in place.

I then pinned through all the layers and stitched everything in place.

Can you see the serger stitches?

Can you see the serger stitches?

Next it was time to serge the raw edge of the bodice back neckline and then I serged the shoulder seams.

Next it was time to serge the raw edge of the bodice back neckline.

Here's a photo of the bodice fully assembled at the shoulder seams. The neck line and arm holes have been hemmed using the sewing machine's "wobble" stitch to allow for stretch.

Here’s a photo of the bodice fully assembled at the shoulder seams. The neck line and arm holes have been hemmed using the sewing machine’s “wobble” stitch to allow for stretch.  See below for a close-up view…

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Here’s the back neckline all hemmed and stitched using the recommended “wobble” stitch. Note: On a woven fabric, this stitch resembles a lightning bolt. On a knit, it just looks like a normal straight stitch.

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Here’s a close-up of the arm hole hem. Nice, right?  Can’t tell it’s a lightning bolt can you?

After I serged the side seams and center back seams of the skirt, I followed Nancy's instructions for how to put it all together. At the pinning stage, it looked like this.

After I serged the side seams and center back seams of the skirt, I followed Nancy’s instructions for how to put it all together. At the pinning stage, it looked like this.

Once I serged the bodice/skirt seam and turned it all right side out, it looked great!

Once I serged the bodice/skirt seam and turned it all right side out, it looked great!

(Time Saver Alert!) I decided to set my serger for a rolled edge to finish off the bottom hem of my dress.

(Time Saver Alert!) I decided to set my serger for a rolled edge to finish off the bottom hem of my dress.

I LOVE my new dress!!!

I LOVE my new dress!!!

Thank you Nancy for creating such a user friendly design!  This dress will be flattering on most body types and I can’t wait to make some more.  In fact, a couple of the young ladies that I teach at Freedom Place are planning to make their own Santa Fe dresses very soon.  What a truly confidence building project!

Now for the prize!!!

If you would like the chance to win, just make a comment on my blog and I will choose a random winner from the comments.  The winner will be announced and contacted at the conclusion of Nancy’s Blog Tour and the gifts will be shipped directly to the winner.

Here’s what you can win:

All 4 of Nancy’s New Knit Patterns & a Copy of her NEW Book!  YAY!!!

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pattern2 pattern1

SEW KNITS WITH CONFIDENCE book by Nancy Zieman of Sewing With Nancy

Thanks for reading!!!!  Don’t forget to leave a comment!

96 thoughts on “Lovin’ My Little Black Dress!”

  5. Nice description for making this dress. I like the way it was presented. When I finished reading this, I knew I would be giving this a try; sewing on knits has been something I shy away from. I enjoyed my ‘tour’ of your blog, too.

    Reply

  6. Thank you for sharing! Your pictures are so clear and helpful! I’ve had some less than ideal results with knits but this tour is really helping. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!

    Reply

    • Hi Lucresia!
      Depending on the weight of the knit, results will vary. On the knit that I chose to use, the rolled hem hangs very well. I would recommend testing on a scrap of your knit before serging the dress.
      Another option would have been a narrow three thread overlock – it’s like a rolled hem without the rolling and without as tiny of a stitch length. Thanks!

      Reply

  14. That is a nice dress, I’m going to look for that book when go to Nancy’s on sewing weekend. Maybe my daughters would like that dress!! Every woman needs a nice dress for what ever event comes along!!! Thanks for the pics to, makes it look easy!!!

    Reply

  25. Your dress looks wonderful. I was watching Nancy’s TV show where she demonstrated some of the techniques in this book. I’d love to have a copy. Thanks for the opportunity.

    Reply

  27. What a flattering neckline and bustline! I haven’t garment sewed in years (got seduced by quilting), but this might just be the inspiration I need to try it again. Very nice design, and the pleating/gathering at the bust is very attractive.

    Reply

  28. I’m just getting back into using my serger and sewing clothes for myself again. I prefer knit fabrics since they fit more comfortably than wovens, so I’d really love to wind this prize!! Thanks for the tips you wrote about along the way. By the way, is the “lightening bolt stitch” a zig zag stich? I’ve never heard a stitch called that before…

    Reply

    • Hi Rita!
      On all the latest Janome sewing machines and also on many of the other brands, the stitch menu offers a “stretch stitch”. It is not the usual zig zag stitch. The picture of it on the machine menu actually looks like a bolt of lightening to me…. In Nancy’s pattern instructions, she refers to a “wobble” stitch. The picture shown in the pattern looks wavy & not like a lightening bolt but I think both stitches accomplish the same effect of allowing some stretch in the seam. She uses Babylock machines so, I’ll have to look at a Babylock to see the “wobble” stitch in person. 🙂 Thanks for reading!

      Reply

  30. You made it look so easy. Thank you for the wonderful construction pictures. The Santa Fe is truly the pattern to choose.

    Reply

  33. I love this pattern and enjoy sewing on knits. Instructions were very easy to follow.
    Thanks for opportunity to win. Love, love Nancy Zieman.

    Reply

  35. Nancy has been my favorite since I started watching her since 1985! She has kept sewing alive and fun during a time where not too many were sewing for themselves, including me. I ready to jump back in, so this would be perfect. hope I win, and thank you for hosting the giveaway.

    Reply

    • You Are the Winner of StitchinJenny’s Blog Tour Prizes for “Lovin’ My Little Black Dress”!!!!
      Please contact StitchinJenny with your mailing address so your prizes can be mailed to you asap! 🙂

      Reply

  45. I’m just beginning to sew with knits; this pattern is tempting. Thanks for posting how to attack the project making it approachable.

    Reply

  46. I like the dress. Hope this means knits are coming back. Many years ago I made most of the things with knits and enjoyed them.. Need to be careful with the stretch of the knits. Great Job!

    Reply

  53. I can’t wait to get these patterns and the book. I always learn something new from Nancy even though I’ve been sewing going on 60 years.

    Reply

  54. This look’s like a pattern I would enjoy trying. And I have a new Babylock Evolution to try it out on. Am I lucky or what? Now if I could extend that luck to winning the patterns………:)

    Reply

  55. Great little tutorial. You’ve also inspired me to make this cute little dress. Looking forward to spending some quality time with NZ’s book, patterns and my new Evolution serger.

    Reply

  58. Wow! This makes up into an awesome “little black dress”! Thanks for the close-ups of the various steps. I’ve been a huge fan of Nancy’s for decades, and would love to have her patterns.

    Reply

  60. I love this pattern, I wish her pattern would have included a DD bodice. With other par reruns I have tried the adjustments and it just does not work. I would love the book though just to get the additional tips.

    Reply

  64. Your LBD looks GREAT! I felt a little intimidated by the look (the crossover front bodice, but you made it look so simple. Thanks for the great little tutorial and for the give-away opportunity.

    Reply

  66. Love this look! Pretty yet in a comfy knit! I’m also different sizes between top and bottom!! Love multi-sized patterns. 🙂

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  69. Thanks so much for the excellent pictures and detailed tips you provide along the way. I’ve seen where Nancy goes over more details about the wobble stitch in her segments on knits. Such a great method for someone who does not own a serger to get professional results! This new book looks excellent; I particularly like the ruffles on the top on the front cover.

    Reply

  76. Thanks for all the pictures and inspiration. Your dress looks great. This Santa Fe dress is a popular choice. Thank you, knithappy

    Reply

  77. I think I will try this pattern. Your comment were very informative and I also think it willl look good on all body types.

    Reply

  79. Hi Jenny, love that dress a couple of others on the blog tour have made it too. I would love to have it in a couple of different colors. It looks really easy and comfortable too.

    Reply

  80. I love your little black dress too. thank you for sharing pictures of the project in progress. When I make mine, I can check to see it it looks like yours along the way!

    Reply

  81. Wow, thanks for the pics and tips for your little black dress version of Nancy’s Santa Fe pattern. I like the idea of the rolled hem – good idea!

    Reply

  82. l love this give away. What wonderful patterns. This dress would look lovely on my daughter for work to dinner. I know she would love it.

    Reply

  83. So many ways you can use a little black dress to make your wardrobe interesting. Good knits are very forgiving & they don’t ravel (Yea)!

    Reply

  84. I would love to read a good book on sewing knits. I have a lot of experience with wovens, but find that knits are another thing altogether.

    Reply

  86. It looks like a lot of bloggers did the dress or skirts, and they look stunning,
    All of the ideas are so great.thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  87. Thanks for the giveaway! I am quite a newbee at sewing clothes, so I have not tried knits yet, but I am looking forward to it…

    Reply

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