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A couple of months ago, I came across a pair of gorgeously distressed and embroidered ladies western boots on sale. I’d been looking at boots for a while and still had my birthday money burning a hole in my pocket, so I went ahead and bought them. (I live in Texas ya’ll and haven’t had any cowboy boots in at least 15 years- when I got rid of my winter white lace up Ropers I wore while in college.)
The sad thing is, I still haven’t worn the boots! I have nothing to wear with them and it is too hot for jeans. I’ve been trolling Pinterest and Google images to see how everyone is wearing this type of boot. Mostly short dresses and skirts in the warm weather and with skinny jeans in the winter.
I love the look of above the knee dresses with boots, so I started my hunt for the perfect dress. I looked everywhere! The problem is, I won’t wear a sleeveless dress and I don’t like anything fitted/structured on me. Out of the blue one day, this top popped up in my Facebook feed.
I loved it! I wear tops like this ALL THE TIME and I knew I could easily make it into a dress. (read the rest of the post and enter the pattern giveaway after the jump.)
Fortune was shining down on me last week when I got an email for Jenny of Seamingly Smitten Patterns, asking me to join her summer pattern tour. Umm… Of course and please, please, let me sew the Lesley Flutter Top!
If you are not familiar with Seamingly Smitten Patterns, Jenny Hall is the creative designer behind Seamingly Smitten. Her sewing patterns are written tutorial style, which means you’ll learn as you sew. All patterns have step-by-step directions with clear photos that are easy to follow and are perfect for beginners. (She has a blog too, check it out here.)
The Lesley Top is a very easy project and the style is flattering on so many body types. (I do think you need to be mindful of your fabric choices.) For the flutter sleeve to truly “flutter” you need a fabric that isn’t too stiff and will drape well. (I used a Rayon Challis fabric.)
The pattern comes in sizes xs to xxxl and in petite, regular and tall. How great is that? Plus it is only 2 pattern pieces!!! I loved how easy it was to sew.
I made 3 tiny little changes when sewing this pattern. The first of course, lengthening it into a dress- I extended the hem line several inches. I also deepened the front neck line, because that’s what I like. (I traced the neckline of a favorite tee right onto the pattern before cutting it out) and I added a little belt.
I debated whether to add a belt or drawstring or to shirr around the waist for definition. (I have another top like this with shirring from flutter to flutter.) Since time was limited, I decided to go with the belt.
As you may notice, I’m not wearing my fabulous new boot with the dress… I’m now on the hunt for just the right fabric. (I think the boots need a solid dress- coral maybe…)
Would you like to try sewing this top for yourself? If not this top, Jenny also has quite a few other women’s and children’s patterns to choose from. And…. She is offering 50% off all patterns during the pattern tour! If you’ve been eyeing a few patterns now is the time!
Or, why not try to win some patterns? There will be 3 winners, each will receive 5 FREE sewing patterns of their choice from the Seamingly Smitten Etsy shop. To enter, fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Don’t miss any more posts! You can follow along on Feedly, Bloglovin’, via blogger using the Google Friend Connect widget, your favorite feed reader, or by signing up via email. Just click on one of the icons below:
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Sometimes it is so hard to find what we want. I think it's wonderful that you were able to make exactly what you wanted. Hope you find the perfect coral fabric to go with your boots!
Thanks so much for sharing your dress and pattern with us at Project Inspire{d}!
Cute Cute dress! It looks great on you. I am going to go and check out her blog and patterns. I love patterns that are simple and easy to sew so you can accomplish something quickly and wear it. I like making harder things like jeans, too but in the summer simple is better. I live in TX, too – so I know what you mean about HOT! It is way too humid here lately too…
I love your dress but I scrolled down to see how it looked with your boots and ….. ah well. I will have to wait till you make this fabulous coral dress!
Great dress! Love the fabric and the pattern! Lovely out fit! Hope you have a wonderful day! Hugs from Portugal, Ana Love Craft http://www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com
Great top/dress .Could wear a turtleneck under in winter and pants. I can't seem to stop myself thinking of other ways to get use of something to wear. Depending on fabric used this could be a seasonal type of dress. You look really nice in the dress, I figured that's what you'd do when you said you could make it into a dress. You look good in that bigger neckline, could you also make it into a vneck? I do not look good at all in that type neckline so if it could be made into vneck I'd like to make it. I'd make it tunic length and no body wants to see my legs below the knee let along above it eeeekkkk lol. Like the sleeves covering my old bat arms too. lol again. Getting older doesn't mean people want to see bat arms and yukky legs. Besides I have 2 long scars starting above my knees and going a ways below, and way too much cellulite above the knees. Confession time I guess. Despite all that I'd like to make this dress/tunic. Can hardly wait to see dress you make to wear with your boots. Happy summer sewing days
Thank you! I definitely prefer v-necks as well. I want to try the v-neck next, I think it would be easy to do by creating a facing. I would also love to try some sort of embroidery around the V. Maybe by hand or learning to use some of the fancy stitches on my machine. I also think a drawstring is the best choice if you want a belt (I would add it by sewing a strip of fabric to the inside and threading the drawstring through that way.) It would keep the "blousing effect" in place. ~Jamie
Good Afternoon Jamie, I love your flutter dress…. the name makes me think of sunshine and butterflies. Way back in the 1960's when I was a teenager, we used to call those sleeves bell sleeves…. admittedly they were worn a little longer. I would love to make this dress, as I am returning to dressmaking after many years of abstinance. Best wishes Daphne
Jamie your dress is AWESOME and you look FABULOUS in it!! I cannot wait to see those boots that you have! I hope you find just the right fabric to rock those boots soon!! Thank you for being a part of the pattern tour!! Jenny Hall Seamingly Smitten
This is beautiful, Jamie! Thank you bunches for linking up and partying with us this week!
So cute! Pinned. Lou Lou Girls
Sometimes it is so hard to find what we want. I think it's wonderful that you were able to make exactly what you wanted. Hope you find the perfect coral fabric to go with your boots!
Thanks so much for sharing your dress and pattern with us at Project Inspire{d}!
Love the pattern and the flutter is fab!! Kudos, Jamie!
Poppy
Cute Cute dress! It looks great on you. I am going to go and check out her blog and patterns. I love patterns that are simple and easy to sew so you can accomplish something quickly and wear it. I like making harder things like jeans, too but in the summer simple is better. I live in TX, too – so I know what you mean about HOT! It is way too humid here lately too…
Thanks Kimberlee, I wore it today to pick up y kids from VBS. I am definitely loving this dress, can't wait to make a couple more…
Great dress and looks fabulous on you! I like the same style dresses!
VERY FUN DRESS! <3
I love your dress but I scrolled down to see how it looked with your boots and ….. ah well. I will have to wait till you make this fabulous coral dress!
Great dress! Love the fabric and the pattern! Lovely out fit!
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Hugs from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
http://www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com
Great top/dress .Could wear a turtleneck under in winter and pants. I can't seem to stop myself thinking of other ways to get use of something to wear. Depending on fabric used this could be a seasonal type of dress. You look really nice in the dress, I figured that's what you'd do when you said you could make it into a dress. You look good in that bigger neckline, could you also make it into a vneck?
I do not look good at all in that type neckline so if it could be made into vneck I'd like to make it. I'd make it tunic length and no body wants to see my legs below the knee let along above it eeeekkkk lol. Like the sleeves covering my old bat arms too. lol again.
Getting older doesn't mean people want to see bat arms and yukky legs. Besides I have 2 long scars starting above my knees and going a ways below, and way too much cellulite above the knees. Confession time I guess. Despite all that I'd like to make this dress/tunic.
Can hardly wait to see dress you make to wear with your boots. Happy summer sewing days
Thank you! I definitely prefer v-necks as well. I want to try the v-neck next, I think it would be easy to do by creating a facing. I would also love to try some sort of embroidery around the V. Maybe by hand or learning to use some of the fancy stitches on my machine. I also think a drawstring is the best choice if you want a belt (I would add it by sewing a strip of fabric to the inside and threading the drawstring through that way.) It would keep the "blousing effect" in place.
~Jamie
Love the dress!! It looks great on you!! Love it!1
Thank you Crystal!
The dress looks great (even without boots).
Ha ha, I chickened out on the boots.
So glad I follow this blog.
So sweet of you to say! Thank you,
Jamie
Good Afternoon Jamie, I love your flutter dress…. the name makes me think of sunshine and butterflies. Way back in the 1960's when I was a teenager, we used to call those sleeves bell sleeves…. admittedly they were worn a little longer.
I would love to make this dress, as I am returning to dressmaking after many years of abstinance.
Best wishes
Daphne
It's a good one. As much as I hate cutting out and taping together patterns, the result was worth it.
~Jamie
Love your take on the flutter!
Thanks, Gloria!
Jamie your dress is AWESOME and you look FABULOUS in it!! I cannot wait to see those boots that you have! I hope you find just the right fabric to rock those boots soon!! Thank you for being a part of the pattern tour!!
Jenny Hall
Seamingly Smitten
Thanks for inviting me Jenny!