The Stashbusting Olive My Knits Dress

Apologies for briefly turning into ModCloth -- what with the Put a Bow on It! top and now a ridiculous homophonic pun (also called a polyptoton) -- but I really couldn't resist. 

After getting back to TCOCC a couple weeks ago, I had to do some major cleaning in my sewing room. Since we had subletters at our apartment over the summer, I kind of just threw everything into the sewing room for storage. Well, while I was tidying up and re-inventorying my stash (I'd kind of forgotten what I had while I was away), I was slightly horrified at how many knits I had from two years ago -- before I started blogging, and before I really even got serious about sewing, in fact. Back then, I didn't know anything about natural fibers or wardrobe planning/coordination; all I knew was that knits don't ravel and oooh! that's inexpensive and pretty! Since we're going to have to move at the end of the school year, and after reading about other sewing bloggers having had to pack up their stash and move, I decided that I need to do some pretty serious stashbusting now. I've got a lot of wovens, too, and quite a few wools that I should also tackle, but stashbusting knits takes less energy and thought, so I'll start there. Also, the knits are the oldest items in the stash, and the more time passes, the more danger that I'll never get to them. Mind you, I still like them, but they're just not as shiny and attractive as newer fabric, so I don't ever reach for them first.

Ummm, let's talk about that skirt hem for a sec.

So, in my quest to use up my stash, I pulled out this teal, olive, and brown print that I've had forever. I actually bought it three years ago because I loved the colors, and then I realized (and rightly so) that my skills weren't up to par yet and I would only destroy this lovely knit the way I almost did with my salmon-colored disaster. However, I didn't have this epiphany this until after I'd cut out the skirt, and crookedly at that. But that's fine, I'll pretend that the asymmetric hem is totally on purpose. I was originally going to fix it, but now I kind of love it.

It's called a design element, okay?

The top is just a cap-sleeve tee, the same pattern as this dress, but a little longer so as to get the slightly bloused look on top of the belt. Putting it all together was pretty ridiculously easy, especially since the top of the skirt perfectly matched the width of the bodice, so it was just a matter of pinning it together and sewing a zig-zag stitch. And now that I've done so many neck bindings, even this one went on super quickly! Seriously, I busted this dress out so fast, my husband couldn't believe that I'd just made a whole new dress (and a presentable-looking one at that -- nary a hippo or lion or superhero in sight!) during his nightly COD:MW3 session.

I'm so glad that I picked up this vintage belt just this summer, as it's the only one in my fairly extensive belt collection that works with this dress! Somehow, all my other ones look wrong. Thankfully, the dots on the fabric are also dark blue, so it mostly works with the belt elastic. When I purchased the belt, it was much too big, but that was an easy fix -- just unpick, measure, cut, and stitch -- done in five minutes. Gosh, I love knowing how to sew.

Summary:
Fabric: 1.5 yards of cotton-blend knit, printed with teal, olive, and brown shapes that remind me of actual olives
Notions: None!
Techniques: Neckline binding
Hours used: Dare I say, one?! Yes, it was that fast, to cut a top from a pattern I'd already vetted, and sew literally less than ten seams. I am falling in love with knits and how they don't need seam finishing all over again.
Will you make it again? Yes! If ever there was an instant gratification dress, this is it.
Total cost: I bought this fabric such a long time ago, it feels free. But to be honest, it cost $4. The belt was $7.
Final thoughts: I loved Aleah's nautical dress that's versatile enough for any occasion, whether that be work, hanging out, or going out to dinner. I think this dress fits that bill, although the colors definitely read more autumnal in my mind. Wearing knits is so comfortable, and this cut/style is like cake for me, but fun cake because of the colors. I can't wait to pair it with boots and a teal cardigan for fall!

I'm seriously in love with all different fractions of circle skirt -- have you noticed that all my latest projects have been deliciously twirly?

I've got four other major knit projects planned, but the next one up isn't going to be quite so cake-y (although if you're looking for cake dresses, check out the Tiramisu dress pre-sale!). See, I wore my Mucha Maxi this weekend, and my husband was so taken with it all over again that he actually put in a request that I make another form-fitting maxi dress. This is the first time that has ever happened; usually the request is that I not make such weird things...

Have you ever gone about systematically stashbusting? Where/how did you start? Has your sig-o ever requested that you make more of ____?