Yes, a whole day! Radio 4, Autumn sunshine, happy chickens clucking and scatching outside the door, and the hummm of my sewing machine.
I haven't had much chance to sew for the past few weeks. The children all went back to school or college, and in some cases new schools. Ernest has started (and loves!) playgroup, and weekends have been taken up with University open days for India.
Today was the first chance I had to work on my dress for Fall for Cotton.
I initially thought I might sew the whole dress using my treadle machine, but I'm simply not practiced enough with the treadle yet, so I took my trustly Lily down to the shed.
This is the first time I've done any dressmaking in the shed, and it went well, but I need to refine the flow. too many trailing wires and too much mess. I'm sure, the more I work out there, the more I'll learn how to make the space work.
I at least finished my dress.
More on that to come...
Meanwhile just look at this fabulous kimono made by Hannah Harris using my free Kimono tutorial. I love her choice of fabric, and the addition of pockets.
I haven't had much chance to sew for the past few weeks. The children all went back to school or college, and in some cases new schools. Ernest has started (and loves!) playgroup, and weekends have been taken up with University open days for India.
Today was the first chance I had to work on my dress for Fall for Cotton.
I initially thought I might sew the whole dress using my treadle machine, but I'm simply not practiced enough with the treadle yet, so I took my trustly Lily down to the shed.
This is the first time I've done any dressmaking in the shed, and it went well, but I need to refine the flow. too many trailing wires and too much mess. I'm sure, the more I work out there, the more I'll learn how to make the space work.
I at least finished my dress.
More on that to come...
Meanwhile just look at this fabulous kimono made by Hannah Harris using my free Kimono tutorial. I love her choice of fabric, and the addition of pockets.
I have heard that some people are having difficulty accessing some of my tutorials on their Ipads, apparently this is a quirk of Google, where some of my tutes are hosted. I'm working on moving my tutorials elsewhere, and they should all be moved in a few weeks. Meanwhile if you can't access any of the links from my tutorials page please do let me know, jeanette at lazyseamstress dot net or leave me a comment below. I can always email you the pdf.
Today is the last day when everyone is off school or college. India goes back to college tomorrow, Eden goes back to high school, Angus starts high school, and Sid goes back to primary school on Tuesday. I start childminding again on Tuesday and Ernest starts playgroup on Friday!
It's a busy week. In another universe it might be busier still. I'm not really certain how I feel about this being the week Florence would have started school had she survived.
It's a busy week. In another universe it might be busier still. I'm not really certain how I feel about this being the week Florence would have started school had she survived.
This morning we had a wander around the gardens at Tatton Park. I love the gardens there, especially the kitchen garden. The children all enjoy the maze. Though today only four of them were with us. India is off doing her own thing much more these days, something I should probably get used to.
There is a definite autumnal feel in the air already, and thoughts turn to Autumn sewing. I'm kicking off this Autumn by joining in the Fall For Cotton sewing challenge.
The idea is to sew something vintage with 100% cotton fabric, even the lining has to be cotton. I actually really like sewing with cotton. The last dress I made is 100% cotton with a 100% cotton lined bodice, so this challenge is right up my street.
I'm using this pattern I bought recently from Stockport Vintage Village. It looks early 1960's to me, but if anyone knows better, please do let me know in the comments.
I'm currently debating which of the two fabrics in the photo to use.
The grey fabric is a 100% cotton I bought from a local quilting shop. I initially planned an Elisalex dress in it, but I think it might work well for this pattern.
Also pictured is a red/rust coloured cotton I found in a local charity shop. I've done a burn test and it's 100% cotton. I paid only a few £'s for this fabric, and there is lots of it, although it's very narrow. Honestly I'm not crazy about it, but I think it's one of those fabrics that looks better sewn up, and I think it will suit this style of dress, maybe with some nice trim? (Wonder now if non cotton trim is allowed?)
I think maybe I could make a wearable toile/muslin with the red vintage fabric, and use the grey for the final dress, but regular readers will know I have reservations about wearable toiles/muslins already.
Decisions, decisions.....
The idea is to sew something vintage with 100% cotton fabric, even the lining has to be cotton. I actually really like sewing with cotton. The last dress I made is 100% cotton with a 100% cotton lined bodice, so this challenge is right up my street.
I'm using this pattern I bought recently from Stockport Vintage Village. It looks early 1960's to me, but if anyone knows better, please do let me know in the comments.
I'm currently debating which of the two fabrics in the photo to use.
The grey fabric is a 100% cotton I bought from a local quilting shop. I initially planned an Elisalex dress in it, but I think it might work well for this pattern.
Also pictured is a red/rust coloured cotton I found in a local charity shop. I've done a burn test and it's 100% cotton. I paid only a few £'s for this fabric, and there is lots of it, although it's very narrow. Honestly I'm not crazy about it, but I think it's one of those fabrics that looks better sewn up, and I think it will suit this style of dress, maybe with some nice trim? (Wonder now if non cotton trim is allowed?)
I think maybe I could make a wearable toile/muslin with the red vintage fabric, and use the grey for the final dress, but regular readers will know I have reservations about wearable toiles/muslins already.
Decisions, decisions.....
I couldn't decide initially if the pattern was late 1950's or early 1960's, but seeing it sewn up, it has a definate 1960's vibe I think.
The pattern was one I found at The Vintage Village in Stockport. A one size pattern with no markings other than punched holes to show the pattern piece number, the grain line and dart placements. The pattern had been used before, so notches were already cut out.
Ordinarily I would have just used the pattern pieces, but following Rochelle's excellent post on tracing vintage patterns I was
shamedinspired to trace this pattern, which I did using Fabribaste.The pattern came with scant instructions, more an order of work really, but that suits me just fine.
I made no adjustments to the pattern which is a size 40" bust. I expected to have to take in the waist and hips, and looking at the modelled photos I probably could have, but my waist measurement fluctuates from 29-31" in just one day, so I don't like to fit too closely in that area. Plus, lets face it, I'm not going to wear 1950's/60's style corsetry every day, and although I do wear vintage inspired shapewear daily, they don't quite give that nipped in waist look on the pattern illustration.
The pockets were constructed in an unusual way, at least I've never made pockets this way before; the side front panels were in two pieces, upper and lower. These pieces were joined and the seam becomes the bottom of the pocket by folding up the bottom piece, which is then secured in place with the side seam, and the pricess seam to the front centre.
The princess seams were tricky as they are square at the top, more fiddly than anything, and I'm not 100% happy with my work on them, though of course only another seamstress would notice, and only then if she was looking really closely, so I will live with them.
I trimmed the pocket edges and hem with some organdy ribbon.
The zip is an invisible zip and was bought in a charity shop some years ago.
The whole dress cost me less than £10, since the fabric was also bought for around £2 in a charity shop. The most expensive item was the pattern.
I've really enjoyed taking part in this sew along, and I think I will make this dress again in another fabric, this time a fabric that doesn't clash with my hair...though personally I like orange and pink together!
PS, I did press this dress, most of this photos were taken on a walk after a drive in the car, and this fabric creases!