Its About Time

This dress has been finished for a while. See, I have this dilemma: let my crazy husband take pictures of me with his propensity for making me look like a 7 foot tall amazon woman, or setting my camera up on the tripod and using the self timer. Neither option is great, but this time you are getting the crazy husband option. :) This dress is made from fabric I bought in Florida. It was labeled 'sari' fabric, and it has a seashell border on the edge. While it wasn't something I would ordinarily choose, I really liked it and wanted to try out using a decorative border. The pattern is a Project Runway/McCalls number, so you have a lot of different options when making the dress. I kept this pretty simple due to the richness of the fabric. I am on the fence about the sash. I like the idea of it, but it is so slippery that it doesn't really stay in place. I am pretty pleased with myself that the placket in front lays down nice and flat, and the mandarin collar stands up like it should! (Those things are a pain in the neck) And confession: Mom installed the zipper. I know, I should be a big girl and do it myself, but this fabric was tricky to work with.

Just In The Nick Of Time!!!

Here is my project for the July Dress Challenge! This one is for my daughter, who will be turning three soon. This dress was made from an older McCalls pattern, one I actually bought back in high school or college. I bought it thinking that someday, I just might have a special someone to make it for! I did make several alterations to the pattern, including changing the closing from zipper to buttons. I had the perfect buttons from my Grandma C.'s button box, and I just had to use them for this dress. The other alteration I made was to eliminate two additional panels in the skirt. I can't imagine sewing it with all the panels. It was hard enough sewing all the layers; I can't imagine if it had been bulkier. The reason I left out a few panels was that I made the dress using two curtains I found at a yard sale for about a buck a piece. I was able to carefully arrange the pieces so I had exactly enough for the dress. There was not a scrap to spare, I tell you, not even enough for a matching purse! The band on the bottom of the skirt front was part of the curtain. Of course, I used the existing curtain hem so that I didn't even have to hem this puppy! To compensate for the lack of extra panels in the skirt, I am making a petticoat (?) to go with it. I cut apart the layers of the slip from my wedding dress (NOT the dress itself!) and will be using that for the petticoat.

Who Is That Sassy Lady?

Well, I'm glad you asked. That is our mother, the lady that started this mess! :) She taught us how to sew and is our go-to for all technical sewing issues. We've even coerced her to get back into sewing in the last year or so, and to participate in our July dress challenge. She whipped up this spiffy little number after seeing the pattern modeled on a mannequin at the fabric store. Now both Rachel and I want to try out the pattern for ourselves!

Dress Month Continued - The Danielle Dress

Here is my first official July dress. I used a free pattern from Burda which you can get here. A few months ago I picked up this quilting fabric and it reminded me of the curtain clothes from The Sound of Music and everytime I look at it I want to climb trees and break into song. I've had the Danielle pattern for a long time now and on a whim the other day I decided to sew it up using this fabric even though it strays from the normal colors in my wardrobe (black and gray). This is an easy pattern with lots of darts and a couple of pleats on the front. I like the neckline and the high, fitted waist and the invisible zipper up the back. I really enjoyed making this dress and am happy with the way it turned out so much so that I am currently making another one in red crepe de chine. If I ever vanquish this unruly material I will post the second dress!