MUST SEW #6 AND A VINTAGE DRESS

My next project is this circa 1954 Simplicity 4651 which I bought from this lovely Etsy Seller

Bec and I spent some Mummy Daughter Time together on Saturday fabric shopping, and I found this lovely (craft) fabric in Textile Traders .

I'm thinking that the dress pattern would look really nice made up in the Polka Dots....

Love Polka Dots!

It's 100% cotton, and now I'm busy making chocolate coloured bias binding for the pockets and neckline. I bought enough chocolate fabric to make the matching jacket for my Must Sew #6!

Bec found some groovy fabric to make some pj's....she thinks I'm making them...

Muahahahah!

THE DRESS THAT ALMOST WASN'T

Well, that's several hours of my life I will never get back!!

I thought I'd whip up a simple shift dress, and it turned out bigger than

Ben Hur!

Love the sketch on the pattern cover, and it could have been a simple pattern, but for the life of me, I couldn't work out how they did the neckline and facing! My Mum told me that I need to think like someone from 1966 (funny!)

I tried to do it how the instructions stated, but I just couldn't get the thing to work out. In the end, and several days later (and more than enough unpicked facings later...), I put the instructions back in its packet, and just made the whole thing up as I went along!

Its McCall's 8565 (circa: 1966) and I've made it up in a cool wool suiting in the teeniest of hounds tooth pattern. The fabric feels really nice to wear and this is the first time that I have made up a pattern that called for underlining.

Because I didn't want the pockets (no need to make my hips look any bigger), I made a self covered button for the front just to add a bit of interest (to match the buttons on the back belt).

It's not my favourite dress,

it will be OK for work though, and I'm sure it will grow on me over time.

Not sure if I'd ever make this up again.

MUST SEW #2

Well I finally finished this shirt for husby. He likes it. Yes, he does.

So do I.

And Bec.

And Tom.

Tom wants a mini one for him.

It was really easy to sew up, I like the simplicity of the Kwik Sew patterns. I was going to hide the pocket in the guitar panel, but changed my mind and placed it onto the other side (as per pattern instructions). It's more of a balance, I think.

I didn't have to make any alterations, although I reckon I could get away with making a size smaller for the next one. Both fabrics were 100% cotton, but the guitar fabric was actually a craft fabric and I think it really suits the style of shirt. Husby just has to learn how to play the guitar now...

And it actually didn't really take almost a month to make, just when I was getting my 'sewjo' back, Tom's class needed some chair bags to be made up, so I was distracted with that for a while...

Have a super week!

MUST SEW #2

As my New Year's Resolution was to finish off last year's Must Sew List, this is my current project awaiting completion (and starting for that matter!)

Glen doesn't know I'm making this so Shhhhhh!

I am making view "B" with the guitar contrast fabric down one side, but instead of adding the pocket to the plain side, I am going to hide it in the contrast panel.

So will post this project in the next few days......hope he likes it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Wishing you a fabulous 2010...

Keep it safe and keep it gorgeous!

Well I was "blog naughty" these last few months and kind of lost my sewing mojo (whilst getting into the new work regime of mine!) Because of that, I didn't finish my "2009 Must Sew List".

So my New Year's Resolution is to complete the list BEFORE I sew anything else.

Here's what I did achieve...

1. Vintage Butterick 4699 DONE

2. A funky shirt for Glen STILL TO DO (bought the pattern)

3. Animal print shift dress STILL TO DO (still looking for nice print)

4. A funky shirt for Tom (or anything else

he desires!) DONE

5. An apron DONE

6. A jacket or coat STILL TO DO (no excuses here)

7. A few tops/blouses DONE

8. An outfit for Bec (or help her make one) STILL TO DO (no excuses here either)

9. A skirt (or two) DONE

10. A pair of pants/jeans DONE

I'd better get 'crackin' as there is sewing to be done!

WALK AWAY DRESS

This is my version of the 'Walk Away Dress'.

I've used a really nice embroidered gingham from Spotlight with the re-issued pattern from Butterick 4790.



The original pattern was Butterick 6015.

OK. This was a super easy pattern....no facings at all and it just needed bias around the neckline, armholes etc.

This was actually going to be my Christmas outfit and was going along just fine (on Christmas Eve) when I realised that the centre front was only held together by 3 press studs.....

Yeah, Right!

I stopped sewing straight away. The thought of my 3 tiny snaps "popping" after downing the Christmas turkey left me in a cold sweat! I didn't even entertain the idea - I had read a few pattern reviews on this particular pattern, and a lot of sewists suggested making a size smaller than needed, so I had, and it was nice and firm around the waist (the full circle skirt makes it rather heavy, making it drag a little at the behind), so any added pressure would have been disastrous!

So instead of the press studs/snaps, I used a 'hook and eye tape' and it holds nice and firm. And the 'self cover' buttons on the front just hide the sewing nicely.

I love this dress! Perhaps it's my New Years Eve Dress instead...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Rebecca, Thomas and I wish you all a safe and joyous Christmas.