If this one looks strangely familiar to you all, it is because it is.  It’s the second version of my last make from Serendipity Studios and it’s another Madeline dress.  I made it a bit differently this time, with that exposed zip I oh so love, and I went ahead and added a little contrasting hem band to it.  I can’t say yet if I like it any more than the other, but I don’t like it any less.

I did everything the same with this one except for adding that exposed zipper.  I still need my hand held while doing this specific kind of zipper, so I had to watch the video tutorial as I went.  Those who don’t remember, I went with this one from Professor Pin Cushion.  I did have to redo it a couple of times.  Once because the back part of the center band was not lined up properly, and even though it was only slightly off and I would never see it except when hanging it up or ironing it, I knew it would drive me crazy knowing it was that way.  Then, because of the exposed zipper, I ended up with my seam allowance a little bit snugger than I would like.  I measured this beforehand, like the video says, but the fit was a little affected.  I fixed this by sewing the zipper to be as exposed as possible and that extra bit of room made all the difference.

This was pre-zipper let out, and you can see a little bit the wrinkling under the right arm.  The dress feels better on now, and I am hoping the wrinkling isn’t as bad anymore.  Now, about the fabric.  After my last make, I had to stop by a local quilt shop a couple of weeks ago to see if there was anything new.  This particular place, Sew Many Ideas, stocks some very original and high quality fabrics.  It has been awhile since I have left that store empty handed.  I like also how everything is arranged in color coordinated displays.  It makes it very easy to pick out some matching pieces.  I say ‘matching’ like I know what I am talking about.  The two fabrics that I used looked wonderful together side by side in the store, but I was doubting my decision once I washed them and had them stacked on top of each other.  The contrast is a bit brighter than it looked, and I was kind of surprised by how my zipper matched the main fabric better than the other orange.  I picked the zipper out at a different place with no fabric sample in hand.

The fabric is called ‘for you Zen Chic’ by Brigitte Heitland for Moda.  I googled it, and found several from her collection that I love.

Overall, I think the colors blend well together – at least I am telling myself they do – and I am happy with how it came out.  Oh, yes, I did make a hem band to add a little to the contrast.  The pattern has instructions for this, I just made mine a little smaller than the recommendations.  And the name for my dress came from the fact that I had old I Love Lucy reruns playing in the background as I made it.  It used to be one of my favorite TV shows back in high school, and I recently found it available on Amazon.  I guess the splash of  orange helps make ‘Lucy’ an appropriate name as well.

And that is all I have to say about this one.  I have sewing on my mind, but also wine making.  My free time this week is going to be shared between the sewing machine and the computer as I am looking for more wine making supplies.  Until next time… Thanks for reading!