Pockets!

I received an urgent call from my daughter early yesterday morning for some Mom/Granny help.  A nasty flu big was sweeping through her family.
So I quickly gathered a few things, jumped in the car and drove down to the Big Smoke.
I took with me the Seashore Sundress but in my haste forgot to put a little treat in the pockets.

Caitlin looked inside one pocket ... but found nothing.

Then she looked in the other pocket and again, Grandma has struck out and forgot to put in a little surprise.

Well, I might have been fired from being a Gran but was totally redeemed because everyone loved the dress.
It fit perfectly. My daughter loved the fabric.  It was a hit.  Even the empty pockets!
 

I'm going to make up a bunch more dresses over the weekend and pray I don't get the flu bug that was rampant in my daughter's house.


Note to self: Don't forget the pocket treats!

Seashore Sundress

I bought this fabric a few years ago and it was my first on-line purchase. It's Ginger Blossom by Sandi Henderson.
Actually, I bought several different fabrics from this line. Today seemed like a perfect day to use up a meter from one of the designs for the Oliver + S Seashore Sundress.  It's size 3.

Now for the notes to myself so I can bang out a few more of these sundresses using some shortcuts.

First, iron on the interfacing pieces and edge finish the front and back facings (pc# 1 & 2).

Next, add piping to the pocket edge (pc# 3), down the sides front panel (pc# 6) and back panel (pc# 7).
NOTE: end the piping just a hair longer than 5/8" from the bottom edge of the front panel. A 5/8" hem is turned up and this allows for easier folding/ironing/stitching later.

Construct pocket as per instructions and trim the inside of the pocket/piping edge and iron.

Stitch in place  pc# 8 pocket over pc# 9 and pc#3 and edge finish.

Gather the pocket/front ruffle section (above photo)  and the back ruffle (pc#4) using zig-zag over crochet cotton.  
Do it on the wrong side of the fabric.

Gather and pin pocket/front ruffle sections to front side panels (pc# 5) and gently pull out the crochet gathering thread while stitching.
Edge finish.

Attach the 2 front side panels to the front panel (pc#6), edge finish the seams.
Then put piping along the top edge.
Attach the front facing (pc#1) and trim the seam allowance.
Turn and press.

Attach the back side panels to the back panel (pc# 7) and edge finish seam allowances.
Then  attach back ruffle (pc# 4) to those 3 pieces and edge finish.
Then attach back facing (pc #2) and trim seams.

Attach the front section  to the  back section.  When edge finishing the side seams, begin at least 5/8" down and trim away excess piping to eliminate bulk from under arm.

 Hand stitch facings to side seams.

Finish hem as per instructions:
Baste 5/8" hem and fold and press along that line.
Fold in raw edge to meet basting stitches creating a hem.
Stitch.

Spend 2 hours looking for appropriate coloured buttons and then give up because you only have 1 of each ... arrrrgh.

Pattern works up quickly and fits perfectly.   And the fabric shown on the cover of this envelope goes on sale in 2 weeks.

 Just what I need.  More fabric!

Apron and Doll

My daughter called and asked me to make an apron and doll as part of a birthday gift for one of Caitlin's friends.
She wanted me to use this pattern.

I made View A for Caitlin in size 3 and she wanted exactly the same for the birthday gift.  Except it had to be in black and white polka dots or stripes.  And no red at all anywhere.

I had some black with white polka dot fabric in my stash but had to purchase the white with black polka dot fabric.
It's size 3 and works up quickly if you don't make a zillion mistakes as I managed to do.
The photo isn't very good and the background isn't the greatest but it's the best I can do.

She wanted a stick drawing doll too which is basically a pattern drawn like a stick figure and then made in fabric.  It also had to have brown wool hair and attached like it was drawn on.

I hope the pink smile isn't too reddish looking because the child it is going to has a fear of the colour red.
Weird, eh?

Another smocked dress

There are several projects waiting to be stitched together but once again I got sidetracked and made a smocked dress instead.
I was able to cut, pleat, smock and assemble this little dress in one day.
Plus I used up some ancient fabric.

The pattern is from Wendy Schoen and I've made it before.  I really liked the cuff on the sleeve but I didn't have enough fabric to make sleeves.

I didn't even have enough fabric to make little caps like these that appeared in Sew Beautiful #81 (2002)

Because there was a huge flaw in the fabric too, I wasn't able to use the full 42" width for each front and back section.  There was only 36" for each section but it worked out well just the same.

Size 3.
I don't like the rick-rack trim on the collar. 
Plus, the armhole might be too large.
In my button box, there are 8 cherry shaped buttons which I'd like to use on a cardigan to match this dress.
But I'd have to make the cardigan.
So I'll add that to the to-do list.

3 Smocked Dresses

Thank goodness daisy print fabric is back in style.

I made this smocked dress many years ago and just found it yesterday in one of the many smocked dress boxes in my sewing room.
The pattern is Daisy May by Wendy Schoen. Size 2.

The back calls for a little buckle or a button as opposed to a long tie.

When I made the dress, I wasn't too happy with the collar as it covered up the smocking. I truly thought I had made a mistake and used the wrong size collar.  But after hours of embroidery, I decided just to leave it as is.  Way back then, I didn't know if I was ever going to be a grandma so why fret!

When I saw this article in Fancywork Magazine about the Daisy May pattern, I quickly saw that the collar was indeed supposed to hang over the smocked section.
I felt redeemed.

And later I saw the same pattern made up without smocking in Creative Needle Magazine.

Moving on to another smocked dress; this one came back for an alteration. 

Caitlin had worn it but the sleeve band was too tight. The pattern is from AS&E and when I originally made this dress, long before Caitlin was even a glint in her mom's eye, I wondered if the sleeve band was too small.
Well, it's repaired and it goes back to the owner.

Because the yellow print fabric was busy, I chose to use a light coloured embroidery floss and keep the smocking design simple.

I also found this red smocked dress in the same box as the Daisy May dress.  The pattern is from AS&E.  Knowing the sleeve band would be an issue, I took the sleeves out and re-made them using the sleeve pattern from Family Heirloom Dress (Oliver + S).  Since I didn't have any deep red fabric, I was unable to make piping for the sleeve cuff.

I think I had planned to make a denim jacket to go with the red smocked dress hence the blue embroidery flowers. Plus I have enough red fabric to line a little jacket.  But that's a project for another day!

Twirl Skirt

Many years ago I came across a delightful sewing website. Stop Staring and Start Sewing.

The author had just developed her first pattern called the Edith Twirl Skirt.
I just loved the photos and her smocking which prompted me to buy her pattern.

Check out the image here to see what I'm talking about.  It's just beautiful!

Well, the pattern has been sitting on the shelf in my sewing room for a couple of years now. But since I know a little girl who just loves to twirl, I figured it was time to make it!

It took me an afternoon to make it because there was a lot of gathering. But overall, it was easy and the instructions were clear and simple.

It's difficult to photograph.  Hopefully I can get my model to try it on in the next few weeks.

I followed the embroidery design as it appeared on the pattern.  Next time I will make my own design.

In the pattern are directions to fuse fabric to a t-shirt.
But what attracted me to the pattern in the first place was the smocked top which is her design and can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonag/2738269637/    It's not included the pattern.

However, I have made my own version of this smocked top and that's next on the cutting table.  Well, sort of next.  I keep getting sidetracked!


Note to self:
Skirt made to fit size 3.
Waist is 54cm (21") ;  cut the elastic 7cm (3") shorter to 45cm (18")
DMC:760, 761, 3811 & 734

Family Reunion Dress

I've been hesitant about making this pattern from Oliver + S.  The scoop neck seems rather low and I'm not so sure my daughter will like it on her daughter.

I asked others that have made this dress wondering if they had any suggestions to make he neckline less low.

Well I figured that if I simply made it up according to the pattern, which by the way was drop dead easy, I could see for myself where and what I can do to make the neck less scoopy.

Thankfully I have a vast stash of fabric I can make up a muslin from and maybe, just maybe, the fabric I choose might not be too dated and it will get worn.

I found this daisy print on the purple background. As coincidence would have it, I was in a quilt store the other day and there was the same fabric with a blue background.

Which just goes to prove the old adage, what goes around comes around. Although that adage wasn't pertaining to fabric, but hey, it'll do.

I piped the neckline in question and didn't even notice the join in the piping that is almost in the middle of the neck. Arrgh.

Oh well, it's just a muslin.

So when I make this dress again, if my daughter likes it that is, I will cut the neck portion thicker.

However, I have seen a really good addition to the neckline here (click here) and it is absolutely stunning.


This dress is size 3.
Note to self: check where the piping joins next time.

More vintage fabric

Way back in the early 80's I was a Laura Ashely fanatic. 

I had Laura Ashely dresses.

Laura Ashley home dec fabric.

Laura Ashley wallpaper.

And of course yards and yards of Laura Ashley fabric.

Here a sun dress I made today with vintage Laura Ashley cotton fabric from my stash.

It's Size 3 using the re-sized Itty Bitty Dress that can be downloaded here.

On this project, I got to use my ruffler attachment that's been sitting in a box for a year or two waiting for me to try it out. This skirt ruffle was set at 6 and I cut twice the hem circumference from the white fabric.

I still have lots of this fabric leftover so maybe I will make a sunhat and some undies.
 

FYI: Laura Ashley died in 1985 from complications after falling down stairs at her daughters country home where she had been celebrating her 60th birthday. The company is still in business but to me,  the fabrics just don't seem to be as fabulous as they were when she was the designer.

Seashore Dress

Using Oliver + S Seashore dress, I made a size 3.

I used pink seersucker and piped the front, back and pocket section with white cotton piping.

The whole dress went together really quickly despite lots of interruptions.  But if I could have just sewn without having to stop, I'm sure it would have gone together in under 2 hours.

Note to self: next time try a contrast fabric for inside the pocket.

Playdate Dress

Using Oliver + S Playdate dress, which is now sadly out of print, I made Size 3.

The fabric was a powder blue pique type of cotton which I'm fairly certain my mother bought some 30 or more years ago.  Finally, it's getting used.
I found some pink cotton that matched one of the flowers in the fabric for the bib, and again, it was cotton that must be in the neighbourhood of 30 years old.
Not sure about the buttons though. I think they were a more recent purchase.
For the bib section I used a white pique that I bought last year.

The other day I found these little shoes that match the pink cotton in the bib section perfectly. So like any good grandma, I bought them!

Note to self: When I make this dress again, put a ruffle around the bib section instead of flat piping.
In the front pleat, experiment with a contrast fabric.

Music Box Jumper

I have all of the Oliver + S patterns ever made with the exception of the Sleepover Pajamas. 
But I haven't made outfits from all of the patterns yet. 
That will be the next goal and hopefully use up more fabric stash.

First up is Music Box Jumper using the alternate view with a single pleat in the front.

It used just over a meter of corduroy fabric and took about and hour and a half to make. Talk about easy! 
But it took me a whole day to get around to sewing the buttons on,  down the back.

Size 2. 
Note to self: next time don't use a plaid fabric. It required too much thinking to line up the bodice with the skirt taking the center pleat into account. 

Sewing mojo is back.

Slowly, I'm getting my sewing mojo back.  It's been gone for such a long time.

And for such a long time, I've been trying to get at this pattern designed by my friend Judith. It's new on the market and she gave me a copy to try it out.

 Just after my grandson was born, I cut out pants from a lightweight brown wool that had a light green fleck in the pattern, along with a fleece top in the same light green.  It looks rather grey in these photos, but it's a light minty green.

I didn't make the shirt in the pattern. Instead I took a Onesie and using steam-a-seam, cut a bow tie shape using the pants fabric and fused it in place.

Also using the pants fabric, made piping for the jacket.

The whole outfit went together really quickly. I especially like the way the pants turned out with the little faux fly front.

The pattern was easy to follow and Judith has included TONS of sewing tips, ideas, how-to's in the pattern. I made the whole outfit in just a few hours.

Trouble is,  I cut the fabric out awhile ago and used pattern size 11 lbs. My grandson has grown like a weed ... correction ... like a tank,  and he's now 20 lbs and climbing fast.  So this outfit won't fit.

But I got lots of ideas in the process.  

And I'm sure I got my sewing mojo back too!