Casual work on a dress.

Hello lovely people.

Brian and Brandy after being out in the sun too long.

We're in the car because walking got to be too much.

I just took my buttonholes to the next level...

Hello lovely people.

Klingon dog.

I hope you had a good weekend. I did! I went dancing at three different venues in one day on Friday (more on that later this week) and it was a blast.

But before that, another toy came in the mail which allowed me to use another toy that I've had for years.

Simplicity 3701, take three

Hello lovely people.

As I wait for fabric to arrive for another freelance project, I've dived in and made progress on my Simplicity dresses. Well, one of them anyway.

Simplicity 3701, Take Two

Good morning lovely people.

Where am I gonna sit?

I decided to get off my arse and take another crack at this Simplicity pattern. I know a lot of people find it hard to rework a failed attempt. I'm totally one of them, but I really like this pattern and seeing as how my mock up fit so well, I decided after a few alterations I'm good to go.

Simplicity 3701 set back

Good morning lovely people.

I spent yesterday straightening up and mending a couple of things. 

Brian ripped my shirred pillowcase so I patched it up.

More Simplicity 3701 progress

Good morning lovely people. 

I've made this dress six times...

And I'm not tired of it. 

In fact, I have it down to a science and can make this dress from cut out to hem in 7 hours. Yeah baby!

Calico dress commission.

 I love my followers. You all are the most supportive and interested folks I've come across. I'm happy that you all get what you do from my ramblings, and it thrills me when you seek me out and trust me with a garment to make.

One of my readers/etsy customers commissioned me for a dress. The event she wanted to wear it to was a WWII even in her town. She was frustrated with the lack of items in her size, and wanted a nice respectful period dress. 

I was the person to call.

Day Project: Boudoir 'Make-Up' Cape

I remember flipping through one of my early 30s catalogs and seeing something I thought was the most practical thing this side of the Mississippi.

Rick Rack for every man, woman, and child!

OH

MY

GOODNESS

Rick rack is awesome! Seriously.

I want to put it on everything now! I do! There should be rick rack shaped bread pans! I mean come on, how hard would that be? Not too hard for the hefty amount of awesome you'd get!

Rick rack is so much fun, and it looks so great in this dress.

Im almost finished with it. and plan on putting the sleeves and zipper in later today.

The linen works well with the vintage striped cotton. Im adding rick rack trimmed pockets (a last minute decisions).

Ive also cut out my next dress. No rick rack for this one (although Im tempted).
More to come!

Calico seersucker progress.

This dress is almost complete. I cant get over how easy this pattern is. I guess its because there are no buttons. Ive attached the front and back bodice pieces to their skirt pieces. I always match up my dresses by the waist seam.

I overlocked all the pieces, except for specific areas. The curve at the neckline is on the fold and Im not that good with my serger, so once add the facing piece (pictured) the raw edge will be covered. If you haven't noticed by now, I face EVERYTHING.

Hence the scalloped sleeve. I just finished facing it and hand tacking the facing down from the inside.

It is a bit odd seeing this on Onda. I mean, she has no ease, and I had to pin it to her so Im all questioning the dress. Sigh. IM sure it will be fine. Once I put the zipper in (before I add the sleeves), Ill do a real try on like I always do.

I even cut out my next dress, the linen number from my WWII pattern. Im super excited to use the rick rack. I think its the only reason Im making the dress.

Project announcements!

In my eyes, Nick Cave can do no wrong.

Alright its summer, and since Ive sold most of my summer dresses, I figure I need to make some more. I haven't been sewing these past weeks. Ive needed to work on some other creative projects which are coming along, but I do need some dresses for the hot weather.

Thats partly the reason, the other was I had no fabric. But, the beauty of living where I do is that in downtown there is this fantastic fabric district where you can bet fabric by the pound. Of which Im not kidding. One store, Michael Lavine, has a loft where they take their remnants and if you don't mind digging, you can find some great fabrics.

So here are my projects for the next few weeks.

Ive put the blouses on the back burner because they are rayon, and I need cotton. Im still working on my 20s dress that I posted a few weeks ago. Its nearly complete, I just put it on the back burner. Im going to try and finish it this week.

Also, my awesome dress I eluded to is still in my thoughts. I just hadn't found the right fabric for it until my last fabric excursion when I came across two fabrics that would work perfectly. I just have to save a bit to get them.

But here is the pattern Im using as a template. I know, you look at it and you think, "How in the world is THAT awesome?!" Oh, dont worry, it will be.

Im going back to my WWII dress with some solid color staples. I found these fabrics at the loft I mentioned for $2 a pound!

I haven't decided on the contrasting panel colors yet, but Ill look through my current stash to see what I have. The two below are both cotton. I forget the name of this weave, but the linen below is the same weave.

Cotton eyelet for $1 a yard. You can hate me now.

A calico cotton seersucker. Im also going to make breeches from this fabric too. Squeee!

This linen I am going to make from the dress too, but seeing someone else experiment with rick rack and seeing how awesome and undertoned the garment came out made me decide to give it a try. I never rightly know how to use it, but while shopping I came across this all cotton rick rack and well, I said what the hell. For the contrasting fabric on the pattern Im going to use some vintage cotton I have. I think these will work out rightly well.

Also while at the loft, I came across three pieces of a lovely dark kaki linen which will be PERFECT for my Du Barry suit but safari themed!

Oh! I cant wait. Its going to look so cute!

Also as I try and make all of my repro patterns, Ive cut out my WWII apron. I just have to put it together.

And lastly Im going to make a few more roses from my repro pattern. At my vintage getaway one of the ladies gave me the silk lining from a 19th century garment.

It was just too lovely to throw out, so I backed the shattering silk to red tissue paper. I first tried linen, but that didn't work. Now the silk handles like paper, but its translucent and so lovely and Goth. I think the roses are going to look spectacular.

So thats what's been in the works. Ill keep you all posted!