Two-tone sequin mini

I saw this amazing two-tone sequin fabric at the fabric outlet in San Francisco, and I was so impressed with it I had to get a little! I had no specific plans for what to make with it when I bought it, and it was expensive even on sale so I only got 1/2 a yard. The online pictures really don't do it justice - it has a fantastic shine on the iridescent purple-green-blue side, and when the sequins are rubbed the other direction it is a lovely understated matte black. The fabric is very well made - the sequins are sewn on to sturdy slightly stretchy fabric. They had many color combos to pick from in the store, the one I picked reminded me of a mermaid. 

Well this lovely fabric didn't sit for long in my fabric stash! My afternoon project today was making this body-con shift. I used a well fitting shift dress from my closet as a pattern. I altered that pattern a bit by making the front one piece, and by moving the zipper from the side to the center back for extra drama. 

 Here I am sewing the lining to the back side and back yoke.

 Before binding the raw edges with the bias tape, I sewed the outer shell to the lining to make sure all of the edges matched. The bias tape really made the edges look great!

In total, this dress took an afternoon to make. I used 1/2 yard of the sequin fabric plus some netting I had in my fabric stash for the upper back yoke. I also used a 22 inch metal zipper and 3.5 yards of 1/4 inch double-folded black bias tape. I used the bias tape to finished all of the raw edges, and this really helped keep the edges thin and flat. I also thought I might need extra needles, but I didn't break a single needle on this fabric!
I love how rubbing the sequins in the opposite direction changes the color from blue-green to black - and suddenly it looks like a new dress!
I think I just made my 2017 NYE dress :)