The resort collection begins - Olivia Wrap Dress

Lovely seamstresses, well wishers and internet randoms who have found their way here, I do believe I've made one of my most favourite garments ever! My latest project for Stitch 56 is a sleeveless version of the Named Olivia Wrap dress. Check it out here!

If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know I'm a bit of a planner. I love planning my sewing, my knitting, my holidays, my grocery list, and reading about others' planning. We've recently booked a little holiday away to a lovely tropical island, which of course requires some delicious wardrobe planning in anticipation. I'm a notorious over-packer, so have been looking at posts such as this one for lessons in restraint ideas.

I fell in love with this beautiful beautiful viscose knit from the Cloth Shop in Ivanhoe when planning my Olivia dress. I've had terrible viscose experiences before but this fabric was just wonderful to sew with - it ironed well, it enjoyed being fused for hems and it coped very well with unpicking. Clearly there is viscose and there is viscose!

It's such a great pattern. The fit is spot on, there is no gaping with the bodice wrap and the skirt overlay would require a cyclone to result in unseemly flashing. Take care with adding the correct seam allowances in the right places, and if you intend to make it sleeveless without redrafting the armscye be aware that you may have some gaping that requires a little fiddling. I found I had to take it in a bit at the side seam and added a dodgy but genius fix on one side where I threaded very narrow elastic through the armhole hem to tighten it up. I hemmed the armholes in the flat, threaded the elastic through, then closed up the side seam and caught the elastic in the side seam. You can't tell it's there at all. I really am Macgvyer.

But this lovely little frocklet is not the first piece in my Resort Collection! I realised as I was writing my Stitch 56 post that I had forgotten to post here my last project for Helene, so go check it out too! I made some swish little silk shorts using the Merchant and Mills 101 trouser pattern. I'll be making a full length version in the very near future, in a lovely drapey Gorman denim from Clear It that I suspect most Melbourne seamstresses have a piece of in their stash!

Other projects on the list for the Resort Collection? Grainline Maritime shorts, a couple of new Maria Denmark tees, a Cali Faye Basics tank dress, Marilla Walker's Maya top, an Alder, and maybe maybe a jumpsuit! I know - the excitement is going to my head..... 2 months to go!