Week 4 of my Weekly Dress project - Lisette Sew Your Style 1419 from Simplicity

This pattern was pretty easy for me. No real challenge to my skills. All of the elements in this dress were skills that I have already mastered. I am supposed to be doing this as a way to expand my knowledge and skill base so I should have picked a more complex pattern. The thing is, this is the style that I like and it was already in my pattern stash.

 I knew I would adore this dress so I purposefully made it too big for me so that I wouldn't be tempted to keep it. I need to sell some of these dresses or I can re-invest in fabrics in order to keep this project going.

 The fabric for this dress cost me about forty dollars plus about 8 hours of my time so I think it is a steal priced at only $84. (If you are looking to purchase it, you'll find it here) Maybe later down the road, I'll make this dress again for myself because I love it! I especially love that it has pockets.

 I love pockets in dresses.
I made the sleeveless version. The only adjustment that I made was to shorten the dress. I shortened it to 20" from waist to hem. I added a tiny tack at the base of the front facing because I noticed that it kept flipping up when I hung it on a hanger. I'm pretty obsessive about how things look from both the inside and outside so it just drove me crazy. I really prefer a lining rather than a facing for this reason. Maybe my future versions of this dress will have that adjustment. I'm confident that I can make this dress in various sizes so this would be one that I'd be happy to create for custom projects.  Let me know if you want one.

Extra Super Cheap Cross Stitch Pattern for fans of the X-files

Lately I've become obsessed with Cross Stitching.  I used to cross stitch all the time when I was a kid but pretty much abandoned it as I grew up mainly because I hated the design options.  I hate the country style stuff and teddy bears and although I like flowers, hate floral prints and most cross stitching patterns fit into these categories.
I made this one in college...

I have no idea what sparked me to try it, but I decided that I'd try my hand at making my own cross stitch patterns so I could stitch something I actually like.  The first one came out great and I've gone nuts!  I've drafted up about a dozen patterns and have so many ideas for more.  I've only had time to stitch one of them so far and I'm about 3/4 of the way through a second one.  Here is the first (excuse the fact that it is wrinkly and isn't framed yet) ..........

I don't have a bunch of finished projects to show, but that has never stopped me from sharing!  So here are a few patterns that I have created so far....

I've posted a few up for sale on eBay, but I am so excited to share these that I'm offering up my first design for crazy super cheap. Only a buck.  This one...

If you liked the X-files or UFOs, and you like to cross stitch and you have a dollar, click the button below.  The finished design will be just under 5"x7" if you use 14 count aida cloth.  It uses 15 colors and the DMC color chart is included with the pattern.

7/10/14 UPDATE:  I have removed the offer for the cheap pattern.  I gave out way more of these at a buck than I ever intended because I kept forgetting to come back and shut this post down.   Sorry.... but the deal is over so if you'd like to purchase a pattern, they are still pretty cheap at only $4.99  in my Etsy store.