Mission Maxi Dress

Pattern 3:  The Mission Maxi Dress!  To see completed dress click here

A good friend of mine is getting married on Folly Beach on Saturday, and I need a comfortable, cool dress that will also look good with flip flops.  I decided a maxi dress would be perfect, and I have been dying to make one ever since this pattern arrived.

http://www.fiveeighthseams.com/product-p/p-jc-maxi.htm

http://www.fiveeighthseams.com/product-p/p-jc-maxi.htm

I know some of you may be thinking I'm awfully brave to pick a project that requires knit fabric,  but I have alot of experience working with knits.  There are so many cute skirts, shirts, and dresses made out of knit that I decided long ago to overcome my fear of knit and just attempt to make things with it.  I've had some frustrating experiences and a few horrible outcomes, but I've learned from all of them.  And with the help of my best friend, the serger, I can now tackle most knit patterns with little difficulty.
We have great new knits in a variety of yummy colors that are soft, have great stretch, and drape well, and I really couldn't decide which color to use.  And then I remembered a recent fabric trend you probably have been noticing in retail stores called color blocking!  Here are a few examples.

I've decided I am going to attempt color blocking with my maxi dress!  I have  never tried anything like this, so I recruited advice from one of our incredibly talented sewing teachers, Becky Smith.  Becky suggested I cut the maxi dress pattern out of muslin (or any other inexpensive cotton fabric) first.  Then, I could draw lines on the muslin to represent places where specific colors would go which would give me a better idea of how the finished project would look.  Once I settle on the design of the color blocks, I could simply cut out the muslin and use that as the pattern to cut my fabric (also making sure I add a little when cutting to account for seam allowances).  What a genuis idea!   I am taking her advice and plan to start working on this tomorrow.  I figure I better start early in the week in case it doesn't turn out well so I will still have time to shop for a dress to wear to the wedding on Saturday!  I'm not being pessimistic, just preparing for the worst (remember tragedy occuring with Pattern 2 and the wrong fit of Pattern 1)!  Here is the fabric I chose.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you'll see me wearing this very soon.