Well, this is nice! A Sew Weekly Reunion!
Thanks for stopping by – glad to be back and thanks for organizing ladies.
When I think back to last year, I don’t know how I managed it. Must have been a lot of adrenalin pumping!
I’ve hardly sewn anything this year it seems. A couple of kids’ costumes and some cushions I think! I have been at the gym, which has really helped the sore back I got from so much sewing last year!
So I was relieved that I could use this dress, which I had already started, for this Pantone colour challenge.
It was good to create a whole new dress in a new pattern, and use some colours I wasn’t really sure about.
This pattern has six pleats on the shoulders
Six sleeve darts
Six bodice darts
Two wrist ties
Four metres of hand sewn hem.
That was a lot of marking in sliver gel pen and tailors tacks. Time consuming, but not difficult.
The skirt pattern is my usual semi circular skirt pattern in 4 gores.
The petticoat I purchased in Linden (um, almost) green – was way too short. So I hacked the top band off and whacked on an extended top tier – in a polka dot lining fabric from my stash.
I was really happy with the dress and I had some lovely compliments the day I wore it. The hat was from an op shop for $10 and I managed to rip the hat elastic off it as I arrived home. My feet were totally filthy from all the dust at the venue
I am feeling very inspired to sew, with the warmest winter in Australia in 150 years, (scary) feeling very much like Spring already. I hope I can make time for it.
The Facts
Fabric: Cotton Lycra Sateen – bought in New Zealand for $50
Notions: One vintage metal zip $1, one organza petticoat $30, plus extra lining fabric
Pantone Challenge colors: Acai and Linden Green
Pattern: Simplicity 3621
Year: 1952
Time to complete: 8-10 hours
First worn: The Fifties Fair, 25 August 2013
Wear again? Yes, but I’m not sure where
Total Cost: $80
Quiet Vintage Sewing 