Triangle Dress

I don't really know what to call this dress, except that it is covered in triangles, so there you go.  (For reasons known only to the Riley Blake designers, the fabric is called "Giraffe Crossing #2", but that seemed like a silly dress title for a grown up garment, so Triangle Dress it is).  

It's a bit different than what I usually go for, but I actually like it a lot.  It is a bit of a closet orphan at the moment, as I don't have a warm sweater that goes properly with it.  I found a brown sailor collared cardigan on Thred Up that should come next week.  Hopefully that will work.

I went for this fabric because I've looked at it several times before (and almost bought when I was still trying things out during the fall of 2016).  I happened to find it on clearance for $8/yard at a fabric shop I've never patronized before, so I snapped up my three yards quick-like.  I have worked with Riley Blake's jersey before and generally like the results.  

My Market Floral Zadie was from Riley Blake, as was an unblogged Coco pajama dress.  So I was reasonably certain this would work with my now-beloved McCalls 7353.  (Seriously.  I'm scheming ways to make this work as a short-sleeved summer dress).  

 I have nothing to note about the construction--I made it up exactly as I did the other two, and realized that my clever plan to trim the pocket seam allowances at the waist wasn't going to work, so I went ahead and trimmed them the same way I did on the other two. (That is to say, I trimmed them after I attached the skirt to the bodice, but before making the self-casing).  I made almost no attempt to match the horizontal lines of the triangles, in part because I thought of it too late, and in part because I think they aren't printed in a straight line (as I found out when I tried to match the skirt sides).  In any case, the print doesn't have strong horizontal lines, so it is okay.

I used some fold over elastic from the stash because I like how soft and comfortable it is.  I used to use it on my Frankendress pattern in the waist casing and liked it very much.  It has enough elasticity to cinch in a bit, but it is soft enough not to feel hard against the skin.

I have some celadon yarn in my bin that will make a nice cowl to go with this dress at some point, I think.  I also have my red one too.  I think my yellow Chinook might work as well.  Oh the possibilities!

In other sewing news, I did some alterations to my long sleeve rayon dresses.  The Menagerie dress felt too long to me, and the sleeves were a problem since I removed the elastic--they really flapped around and got in my way.  So I shortened them 3.5" to 3/4 length, and left enough for a turn-back cuff, and I shortened the hem 2".  I also cinched the back elastic 2" and raised the pockets up 2" (although one of them is slightly off in placement, so I'll probably have to move that one again).  I do like the fit of it better now but I'm a little meh on rayon at the moment.  I just sweat so much in it (like cold-sweating, which is the worst) and don't feel good in it during cold weather.  

The painted roses dress just doesn't fit right, and so despite shortening the sleeves to 3/4 length and taking up the hem 1/2", I'm still unhappy with it.  <le sigh>  I've also been supremely unsuccessful at finding a wool black cardigan to replace the one I have that I don't like (it is too thin, has too much nylon in it so I cold-sweat constantly, and it is a frumpy length on me).  On the other hand, if the painted roses dress is et finis, then I don't really need the cardigan.  So win-win??

 I guess I can be grateful I didn't stuff my rotation with rayon dresses!