Let us take a moment and remember our yardage. :)
Okay.
I've made some progress on my gardenia dress. I overlocked the pieces yesterday. The back bodice is going to be white (as was the plan from the beginning), and I lined it with the same cotton I lined the flowers.
I overlocked the edges in white, then changed the thread for black.
This was one of the first times I can recall changing the serger thread for one garment.
Once I overlocked the pieces, I laid the facing on the front of the bodice and the front of the skirt.
Then came the fun. I placed the flowers according to the drawing I made, pinned them in place and now I could sew them down.
I started with the leaves just to try and see if this kookie project would work to begin with. Then I switched the thread and began with the center flower. I completed three flowers today.
I think its looking good.
Even the back is looking good. Once the flowers are finished I want to add a yellow glass bead in the center of each one. Maybe do a line of thread to create a shadow under some of the pedals to give some depth to the design.I still have quite a few more flowers to go, but I am pleased that this experiment appears to be working out.
Onto other news.
How is everyone doing with the sew-along? I've whipped up some banners so you can label which project is which if you like.
I've also created a flickr group so you can post pictures of works in progress and the like.I've also been thinking you gals (and guys) might need more motivation. Give-aways seem to be popular on blogs, right? I wonder why. I don't like to give something I wouldn't want to get, and because this is a plus size blog, I thought I'd do a plus size give away. But you have to earn it.
In the spirit of Independence day I'm offering as a prize my Patriotic Pack! Included is my WWII repro dress pattern and a trio of good ol' red/white/blue linen roses of my own making from my other repro pattern. These lovelies are for the sewer who completes the Make & Mend sew-along.What you need to do is complete the sew along list and near the end of the month I'll ask you all to make a post on your blogs showing all the finished projects. For those who do not blog, you can use the Flickr group. My favorite sewer wins the Patriotic Pack.
Is that motivation enough? I sure as hell hope so. Now get to sewing!
Wow, nice giveaway! Got to get busy now. :)
ReplyDeleteI finally got off my duff and started American Weekly 3740 (Undated, 1940's. Circa 1947?), which, now that you mention it, was a good choice for Independence Day weekend. I've had the yellow Hawaiian print Aunt Grace for years (it's a 2005 edition print), so it was definitely time to start the project.
ReplyDeleteI just discovered that they cheaped out on the directions for the contrast neckline. They don't actually tell you how to finish it. Ha ha. Well, I guess then they can't say that whatever I do with it is wrong, can they?
I can't wait to see this dress develop, I'm hooked!
ReplyDeleteUse fabric I already have: I'm working on "vintage Vogue" 2960 with fabric that was given to me a couple of years ago: Vintage lightweight white cotton with tiny black polka dots and red floral embroidery. The embroidery forms a border at one edge of the fabric so I modified the skirt of the pattern to accommodate it.
ReplyDeleteAlter a pattern for a new garment: I actually combined bits & pieces of three patterns to make a dress for 4th of July. Took a Laura Ashley McCalls pattern and lengthened the bodice into a drop-waist, used the skirt from an OOP McCall's pattern, and added cargo pockets from yet another McCalls OOP pattern. Turned out so well I plan to make it again.
Repair or Mend: Fixed one of my Victorian repro overskirts. The gathering at the back had come loose and pins holding it in place wouldn't stay fastened, so I replaced the gathering stitches with casings & tapes.
Repurpose a piece of fabric (and also make something for someone else) I'm making a can-can girl outfit for a friend, and some if it is going to involve a black cotton sheet from the thrift store, and a bright pink cotton tab-top curtain panel; these will be cut up and re-used in her outfit.
This is fun. :)