27.6.14

Oliver + S Croquet Dress (Revised)

Not too many words with this one.  I actually finished this one a couple of weeks ago.  I used the Oliver + S Croquet Dress pattern.  I have made it once in the past and decided to make a few changes.


I added more width to the skirt portion so it would be more gathered and have a bit more flow.


I also skipped the elastic in the waist band.  I wanted a comfortable summer dress.


She loves it!


The only regret I have is the eyelet lace on the shoulders.  It makes the neck a bit too small.


Not one to let his sister get all the attention, we have a photo bomber.


Still hope to sew one more dress before I retire my sewing machine for the summer.

25.6.14

Garden Party Dress (oliver + s) #2

After making this pattern for Carolin I kept thinking of ways to make it for my other daughters.  They are getting older and more picky but I really want to be able to sew some things for them yet.  I took them with me to the fabric store and we picked out fabrics for their own versions of the Garden Party dress.


Last week I finished Melissa's version.  She chose a black with white spots polyester fabric (very slippery fabric) and I paired it with a black cotton voile to line it with.


 I made quite a few changes to the pattern to make this work as the pattern doesn't include lining and the construction of the dress doesn't really lend itself well to lining either.  First I separated the front bodice and skirt and added seam allowance to each piece.  For the top of the dress I cut out both fabrics and then basted each piece together and then treated them as one fabric.  For example I cut out four sleeves, two in the spotted fabric and two in the black voile.  I basted each spotted sleeve piece to a voile sleeve piece and then after that treated them as one single fabric.  It worked out very well over all.   Then for the skirt I sewed the outer layer and the inside voile separately then gathered them together and stitched them to the finished bodice.  The original pattern has you sew the skirt pieces onto the bodice first and the stitch up the side seams which would not have worked with a lining. 

One other change I made was to run elastic through the waistband.  Melissa is quite picky about loose fitting dresses.  I'm pretty sure she thinks it looks to childish.  I also put a hook and eye closure in rather than a button and loop.

Anyway, she is happy with the dress and so am I.  I do wish I had made it a tad larger, but this will do for this summer anyway.


I hope to make another Garden Party Dress for Deanna.  I have plans for different alterations to make it look different again.  Then I'll take a photo of all three girls in their very different dresses.

23.6.14

May Stars

I worked on this quilt through out the month of May (hoping to finish it that month too) thus the name May Stars.  I made it to hang on one of my very bare family room walls.  I picked out some of my favourite prints out of my fat quarter stash as well as my scrap bin.  It was pure joy to work on, picking out pairs of prints as I went along.


The project kind of stalled when it got the quilting stage and to be honest I'm not overly happy with the quilting (my machine was acting up too).  But now that it's bound I find myself liking it again and am ready to hang it on the wall.


The colours are bright and cheery and definitely 'me'.

Enjoy your week!  My kids have 1.5 days of school left and then it's summer break.

19.6.14

Winner

Totally forgot to pick a winner last night!  But just did it and the winner of the Seashore Dress, Top and Tunic is...

This pattern is so lovely, and so are the fabrics you picked to sew it
Thank you so much for the opportunity to win one!


Congratulations!!  Send me your email address and I'll get Jessica from Gracious Threads to send the pattern to you!

13.6.14

Seashore Dress, Top & Tunic Review and Giveaway!

Last week I had the pleasure of testing a new pattern for Jessica of Gracious Threads.  The Seashore Dress, Top & Tunic.  From the listing:
"The Seashore Dress, Top and Tunic features a lace covered yoke, cap sleeves, and shoulder buttons for easy dressing. Its size range includes 2T-8. "
I sewed up the tunic length in size 8 without the gathers.  I used this pretty cotton lawn I had from Connecting Threads, some blue broadcloth and my very last piece of lace from the girls dresses last year.
The pattern was very clear with lots of pictures.  It printed out accurately and was easy to put together.
I found the neck a bit small in the size 8 that I made but she has since adjusted the pattern.
These girlies are growing up way too fast!!
You can find this and Jessica's other Gracious Threads patterns on Etsy or Craftsy.

She's also kindly offering the pattern for me to give away to one of you!  Comment below and I'll pick a winner the evening of Tuesday the 17th.