YES, I FORCED IT....
...I mentioned forcing sewing motivation in my last post. Yes, I forced it. I know you are supposed to just go with the motivation flow, but this time I refused to enter into a dreaded sewing slump. I purchased the fabric for this dress on a Hancock's "zipper run". A Zipper Run, in case you don't know, is when you run into the store to pick up ONLY a couple of zippers, BUT exit the store with a couple of zippers and a few yards of fabric. Sound familiar? The run could just as well be for other small, low cost notions, i.e. thread, buttons, one pattern etc.; but the end results are always the same - you buy more than intended.
My eye always wonders over to the side of the store that has the so called bargain fashion fabrics. You never know a treasure just might be lurking over there. That day while looking for a low cost/cheap muslin knit I eyed a winter white embossed fabric and thought "that would make a cute retro dress". If you remember, I'm still slightly involved in my "All out Dress Palooza".
There have been times when forced sewing motivation has produced less than desirable projects - an all out mess to tell you the truth. But this time the end results were just the opposite. I used this pattern for the second time this season.
I made the long sleeved version changing the belled sleeved to a regular sleeve, and making my usual pattern alteration to remove excess sleeve ease. Because the winter white fabric was slightly transparent I also lined the the dress (minus the sleeves) with a nude knit tricot because they didn't have anything suitable in off white. I hemmed the dress so it would be slightly longer in the back to accommodate lifting caused by my high derriere. The dress fits perfectly, and is well suited to add to my Fall Retro Dress Collection.
I think I'll pair it with brown accessories and boots when it goes back to school with me in January (sounds so far away doesn't it?).
I've got a couple of easy peasy accessory projects coming up next. Hope all of you are having a wonderful after Christmas day! Is anyone out there sewing besides me????
BOOKS ACQUIRED
- Pants Sewing Guide
- Denim Revolution
- Pants for Real People
- Jackets for Real Peopls
- Easy, Easier, Easiest Tailoring - Palmer & Pletsch - Gifted
- The Sewing Machine Attachment Handbook
- Ribbon Crafts
- Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers
- Successful Serging
- Making Trousers for Men and Women
- Couture Sewing Techniques
- Singer - Perfect Plus
- Cool Couture
- Couture, The Fine Art of Sewing
- Singer Sewing Reference Library - Tailoring - GIFTED
- The Perfect Fit: The Classic Guide to Altering Patterns - Creative Publishing International
- Fit for Real People
- DK-The Complete Book of Sewing
19 comments:
The dress is very chic, I love white for winter! Yes I've been sewing but only a pair of dolly pants!
I love it! Especially with a hat.
Love your take on winter white. Hope you had a great holiday!
Beautiful, I really love the fabric and the style
Love the retro dress and think it will look great with brown accessories. No sewing happening here yet, but I have a quilt to finish by January 3rd. My sewing (for real) will start after that. So tired after Christmas Day but will try to get motivated today!
I love the dress, a great style. I am not sewing yet, but I'm hoping to get to it this week again. I spent the weekend before Christmas sewing a coat for a friend's daughter (that was supposed to be done in October). It is finally done and it arrived to them before Christmas. I took the rest of the week off for the holiday. Now I need to finish that jacket (for myself) I started in the spring!
Pretty dress !
No sewing here today but I'm off the week so it's a possibility LOL
Very nice dress... I do the zipper run too and blow the budget every time....
Pretty dress and got me to thinking about the winter white double knit fabric I have but wasn't sure what to do with it. I also did a run to the fabric store saturday morning to pick up a few patterns for my giveaway and ended up buying more stuff. I sewed a little bit yesterday but for the most part lazed around since my family celebrated xmas on xmas eve.
I really like that dress!!!
Also, what is your alteration for removing excess sleeve cap ease?
Winter white! I love it! A perfect holiday dress.
Sometimes you just have to give yourself a nudge to get back in the saddle. I haven't sewn in a few days, but I forced myself to finish a knitting project.
Gorgeous dress!! I'm seeing it with an animal print bag, small and understated. I did a zipper run this morning, bought four lengths of fabric and almost forgot the zip I went in for.
What a cool dress! Love it. I make curved hems on most of my garments, too.
I'm doing a lot of patternwork and cutting- my sewing machine is sick. Oh well, it's stuff I'm pleased to be working on so it's all good.
Faye, that dress is great. I know you'll enjoy it in January, a long, long time from now....
I helped my daughter cut out a suit on Christmas Eve, and she started sewing it today. I had to finish the jacket, because she got mad at the collar, threw it on the floor and left (lots of rip-out), and the skirt has no zipper or hem. Looks like that's the next thing I'm doing. But it's nice to make something for someone else, especially since she's opening her very own law office in January, and I'm happy that she thinks I can help her with her business wardrobe!
Merry Christmas a day late; I'm glad the Zipper Run made you so productive!
Oh that is soooooo pretty! It is going to look amazing with brown accessories.
Love winter white too. Good on you to force it, and ah, a zipper run...
If I had a Hancocks in my area, I would be in trouble most of the time. Our JoAnn's has improved but I can normally go in and get out without buying "extras".
Love that winter white dress; lucky bargain find for you. I think brown accessories will work well with this. Very nice style dress, rather a classic piece to wear often.
Ye,s those "zippers" can be expensive sometimes. I love cream colored dresses or pants worn in the winter. It is different and so chic looking IMHO. Your dress has very flattering lines. Now that Xmas is past and guests have left, I get to sew, yeah!
Ooo, I love this! What a great choice of fabric!
Post a Comment