S3859 day #2 KCW

My daughter asked if I could start making A-line dresses.
"Sure! No problem" I said figuring I could make some during KCW.

In my stash was a Simplicity #3859 pattern and it filled the bill…or so I thought.

I made view B with white contrast hem and v-neck bodice and used a half meter of a summery greenish-aqua and white fabric.

As it turned out, it didn't fit the bill.

She didn't like the v-neck and she didn't like the bow on the bodice as per the pattern, so I took it off and plunked it on a hairband. She liked that.

When we tried it on, it was miles too big both in length and width.

Miss C usually wears size 5 in RTW but I made size 6 judging by the chart on the back of the pattern that indicated it would fit a 22inch chest and she's just shy of 22".

I didn't get a photo of the ill fitting dress because it was, well, ill fitting.
Off hand I would say it worked out to be much like a RTW generous 6X.

However the good news is she has a dress made and ready for next summer…….

…and with a matching hairband.

Asian inspired Roller Skate

For the month of July the Flip This Pattern challenge is to have some fun with the Oliver + S Roller Skate dress pattern.

I've made it once before however I'm not so sure Miss C has ever worn it.  It was a little big for her and it doesn't twirl.

However she does wear Simplicity 3900. As a matter of fact one of the dresses from S3900 is in my repair bin (it's a deep bin - chock full) because there is a paint stain on the tie. It's an easy fix.

Here are the two dresses from S3900 that I was totally inspired to make from here.

 

So for the Flip This Pattern I thought I'd incorporate the mandarin collar and neck opening from the bodice top of S3900 and fit it to the bodice top of O+S Roller Skate dress.

There's a zipper for the back opening.
The sleeve edges have piping as does the collar and neck band.

Putting in lining to the bodice top was very difficult to do.
The inside of the collar and the lining are not attached, they are butt up to each other. The lining at the neck opening is folded inside itself. Hope that makes sense.

I left off the waistband tie.
Oh, and I gathered just a little bit on the skirt front.

The fabric is "Kyoto Paisley" from Alexander Henry that I got initially to make a handbag around 10 years ago. It popped out of my vast fabric stash as the perfect fabric to use for an Asian Inspired Roller Skate dress.

Size 4.

Arrrr...it fits!

All set for the Pirate Cruise and the costumes fit perfectly!  Good old Oliver + S patterns are dependable every time.
Badminton skort, Class Picnic blouse, Sleepover pj's (template for the vest) Size 3.

The solid red skirt was from a Strawberry Shortcake costume I made for my daughter and now it works for pirate-wear!

S9514 was little short through the waist to crotch causing the domes (snaps) to undo when he crawled around.  Next time around, lengthen through the middle and use larger domes. Maybe cut a little wider too.

 All ready to set sail and search for treasure and those pesky Lake Muskoka Pirates!

And there are some on the port side!

Lots of stripes, reference for more costumes.
Diggin' the funky sunglasses too.

After a sword flight with one of junior Pirates, this lake Pirate makes good his escape into the water.

On shore, there are plenty of Pirates with a chest full of stolen treasure of jewels and coins plus other items that look like they came from the dollar store.

Stripes and animal print fabric; good reference material.

The elder Pirate is claiming the wenches on his island cost a lot of money. It must be an inside joke with his weekend guests.
There were more people participating in this skit that aren't in this photo and they were all having a great time putting on a show.

Fun times at the cottage.
Swimming, Pirates and everyone yelling Arrrrrr, until their throat hurts!

Arrrr...more dress-ups

Two pirate costumes are needed right away. So here they are.
One for Caitlin.....

......and one for Adam.

But first here's is the Pirate story....

Once a week one of the steamships on our lake becomes a Pirate Ship. It's special cruise for families. Everyone dresses up like a pirate and there's breakfast and entertainment from a children's entertainer. He's the fellow standing on top of the wheelhouse.
The ship cruises around the lake looking for other pirates (local cottagers) to attack. On the wheelhouse is also an air-cannon so when the pirates passengers count down ...ready, aim, fire... it's followed by a loud bang.
It's great fun.

Some cottagers dress up their boats and attack from the water.

And some cottagers put on a short skit and attack from shore.

Here are spectators watching some land-lubbers walk the plank.

For the skirt, I used Oliver + S badminton skort.  There are shorts underneath but it was just too difficult to photograph. It's size 3 and so easy and quick to make. Like all the O+S patterns the directions were easy to follow and the results simply perfect.

For the blouse I used Oliver + S Class Picnic pattern. Another quick and easy pattern. Size 3. I put large ric rac along the front between the yoke and bodice front. Plus I added a little pirate bling in the form of lace on the sleeves.

For the vest I used the pattern pieces from Oliver +S Sleepover pyjamas. Using the front and back bodice pieces as a guide for size for the back and front width as well as for the armscye, I lay tracing fabric over and redrew the shape I wanted for the front of the vest.
For the front closure I used a little bit of black velcro so Caitlin can do up her vest, or not.

I traced a skull and crossbones on Steam-a-Seam then ironed and stitched the pieces in place. Unfortunately I didn't have any stabilizer to put behind the applique so it puckered like crazy. Right now time is of the essence and driving an hour to another town isn't an option.

Overall it looks just fine and perfect for a child's Pirate Cruise.

Digging out vintage pattern S9514 I also found some scraps of red stripe fabric that I used for a dress up outfit I made for Adam's mom when she was a child.  I also used this pattern to make overalls for her brother when he was little nipper.

Adam is such a chubby baby that as I measured exactly his width on the striped fabric, only two white stripes lined up, as opposed to white and red, and right in the middle too!  Arrgh.  Oh well. It is what it is and this only a costume.
Again, I didn't have stabilizer so the applique is somewhat distorted.

 

So, what is a Pirates favourite letter in the alphabet?
Arrrrr you say?
No!
It's the sea!

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?

Easter Bonnet

Last month I made Caitlin an Easter Coat from a wonderful wool called Doctors Flannel. The coat fits Caitlin perfectly, however it needs a bonnet.

I've made the large scalloped brim bonnet from this pattern before, so I decided to make the view that has the little tulip on the side, minus the tulip.

I had just enough of the Doctors Flannel leftover for the outside of the bonnet. I made size large.

For the last two nights of the Olympics, I sat in front of the TV and stitched the same bunny and flowers on the bonnet that I put on the coat.

It's difficult to photograph a bonnet, so I stuck it on a fence post and it seemed to work well.
Then I dropped my camera in the snow and the lens got covered in ice.


So I moved indoors and the pepper mill became the bonnet stand. I wish the brim was larger like the scalloped one is.

Thankfully, my lens thawed so these photos came out clear. I stitched the back during the final men's hockey game.

And thankfully, Canada won. WOOT!

And thankfully all the Doctors Flannel (in this shade) in my stash is busted!

Vintage Simplicty 4625

Just love the price on this pattern. 35¢. Is anything 35¢ these days?


The pattern was indeed easy, but the instructions assume the seamstress has sewing experience. Perhaps experience gained in Home-Ec class which isn't a standard class nowadays as it was in my highschool years.


What this dress needs is a crinoline. Gosh, I haven't thought of a crinoline in decades. Maybe I'll make one just for this dress. The one I had was lined in a soft satiny fabric, then a layer of tulle to make it stand out and then an overskirt in a Bemberg type lining. It was always fun to twirl in a flowing dress when wearing a crinoline.

The back has a huge sash. The wind is blowing the dress and it truly looks like it's twirling.

Fabric is 30's repro. Click on image to get a better view of the fabric. Ric rac is new, not vintage.

First project completed.

There are 2 meters of this fabric in my stash. Here's what I did with it to try and use it all up.


The dress and bloomers are from Simplicity 4243 and the bonnet Simplicity 2908.

For this project I got to use the 3mm rolled hemmer that I haven't had a chance to use before now. Plus I used the pointy tool. I don't know what it's called, but it was handy.

Instead of casing, as called for in the pattern, I chose to zigzag over elastic.

I used to use this method years ago when I made smocked dresses for my daughters. It's easy.

The results are good too.

I also got to use some tracing paper and the tracing wheel. Two items I haven't used in years.

So here's the dress completed.

The bonnet.

The bloomers.

The outfit on Caitlin.

I have a 1/2 meter of the fabric left over. I'm thinking of assembling scraps of 30's fabric and make a baby quilt. Another project for another day.

Simplicity 4243 Size Medium

My first project in the challenge will be to try and use up 2 meters of this vintage style fabric using Simplicity 4243.


I like the vintage style of this dress and plan to use the pattern for the bloomers, main dress and sleeves and use off white for the contrasting collar and hem band.

I liked the '30's style figures on the fabric and that's why I bought it.

Periwinkle blue is such a lovely colour and works well with the pink, green and bright yellow accents.


I didn't have a particular project in mind when I bought the fabric.

Since the pattern only calls for less than a meter of fabric, I'll be making several items in order to use it all up!