Spotty '60s Retro Dress

The two weeks of sunshine in Ireland have faded away into the traditional bank holiday weekend weather of wind and rain. Trapped inside by this inclement weather, I have decided to catch up on blogging, and share some of my recent sewing projects, which I have been churning out in the last couple of weeks.

I've finished my spotty 1960s dress, which I started a couple of weeks ago, and am planning to wear to a wedding next weekend. (I hope for everyone sake the weather is much better next weekend).

The pattern is a Butterick 1960s reprint (#6582), with two skirt variations, a tight 'wiggle' skirt and a much fuller skirt. I had already tried the wiggle skirt version of this pattern, but it was not successful - the shape wasn't right for me and the fabric did not have enough give in it.  However, I still liked the pattern, and I've decided to give it another go, this time with the fuller skirt.

The pattern was good, with clear instructions. Having decided I need to take more care with my sewing and do everything properly, rather than just rushing to get the project finished, I took extra care with this project. When I got to an instruction I didn't understand (in this case under stitching), instead of just skipping it and fudging the next step, I looked up the term and taught myself what to do. I also had lots of fun with my new pinking shears!

As a result this project took me longer, but I think the final outcome is of a better standard than my usual sewing projects. The main change I made was to take about 5 inches off the bottom of the skirt, I'm not a big fan of the calf length hemline of many vintage dresses, and I don't find them very flattering. As a result my hem is not as perfectly straight as it might be, but with such a full skirt I think I just about get away with it.  I did have some trouble getting the gathers right on the shoulders, partly as I used slightly too heavy interfacing on one side.

I was planning to make a fabric belt to go with the dress, as suggested in the pattern, but I happened to find a nice white belt with a flower buckle when I was out shopping last weekend, and I think it goes really well with the dress.

The net petticoat I made last year is, I think, an essential addition to the dress, as without it I think the skirt is too full and heavy, which makes it hang down very heavily. Plus I made the petticoat nearly a year ago and have not had a chance to wear it yet!

Sorry about the quality of the photographs - as I said at the top its grey and wet outside, and the light inside is not great. Hopefully, I get some better ones next weekend at the wedding.

Rose Colette Macaron

This is a mix of a final Me Made May post, and a pattern review. I actually made this dress a month of two ago, but I've had to wait until it finally stopped raining and the sun came out for me to give it a proper outing.

The pattern is the second Colette dress pattern I have used, see here for my Colette Crepe dress. This time I decided to give Colette's Macaron a go, described as 'a flattering and curvy dress. Includes a bodice fitted with darts, along with a contrasting top yoke, sleeves, and narrow midriff band. Short sleeves are gently scalloped along the sleeve hem, echoing the shape of the bodice'. The ever practical Colette have include pockets in the pattern, this time cunningly hidden in the front pleats.

As with my previous experience of Colette patterns, I was really pleased. The pattern was well designed, and the instructions were clear and easy to follow. My main issues, I think, resulted from my choice of fabric.  I used some brightly pattern lawn, provided by my faithful fabric mule. (Its part of a Salwar Karmeez set which means I not only get two piece of matching fabric, but also a matching shawl - although I think it might be a bit OTT if I wear the shawl with the dress!)  Although lovely, it is very light weight and I don't think it is quite strong enough to hold the structured pleats of the skirt. I also thinking its just on the edge of being too short (I normally like to hide my knees), but this is personal preference and I should have thought about it before I started. 

Would I make this again? I think I probably will - I think I would use a slightly heavier weight fabric, which I think should work with the pattern better. I think the plain fabric york and the patterned skirt works well and I'd certainly use the plain/patterned combination again.  Possibly with spots,  I've seen other examples with spots which work well, and can a girl ever have too many spotty dresses?

Or spotty jump suits? Sorry couldn't resist a (not entirely relevant) picture of spotty man - a childhood favorite.

In other news - With the fine weather finally arriving in Ireland, and having foraged out a supply of elderflower, I've been bottling the late spring and have made my first batch of elderflower cordial for the summer. You can fine my how to post on making elderflower cordial here.   

Still knitting

Despite the name of my blog you might be forgiven for thinking that I have given up on my knitting, but this is not the case. Haz still has wool, and she still knits. So what haz I been making?

This top, which is from Susan Crawford's A Stitch in Time. Vol II, which was a Christmas present. It has loads of lovely designs, and it was hard to decide which to make first, but in the end I went for the 1920s Jan Sweater. The pattern is fairly straight forwards, apart from the little eyelets, and there were a few occasion when I had to rip back because I was out of sequence. The top is knitted in Drops' Baby Alpaca Silk - which is beautifully soft, and very reasonably priced. Full details of the project on Ravelry here.

I started the top in March and my aim was to get it finished so I could wear it as part of Me Made May, which I have successfully done. Plus I have found that it goes very well with my new vintage trousers.

Working on two of my New Year knitting resolutions; to knit selfishly and to use up my stash, I've headed straight into another knitting project for me.

The electric blue Drops Vivaldi came from a knitting swap years ago, and has been languishing in my stash for ages. I love the colour, its just I've failed to find a project for this. Eventually, I decided on this pattern, so headed down to the Constant Knitter to find the second colour. I intended to get a white/cream contrast, but in the shop I was taken by the contrast between the lilac purple and the bright blue and decided to risk it. Its a bit more unusually than blue and white, but I think its working well. The pattern uses 8mm needles so it is flying along, and I'm well over two thirds of the way there. More details of the project on ravelry here.

Ts for one

I mentioned earlier in the week that I had realised I was a bit short on tops, so deciding to take the bull by the horns I've ordered myself a couple of Sewaholic Patterns. I started on the first one, Renfrew, this weekend.

Renfrew is a t-shirt pattern, with three options; round neck, v-neck and cowl neck, and three sleeve length options; short, mid-length and full length. All of which are interchangeable.

I tested out renfrew with some floral jersey I've had in my stash for ages, and have never found a use for. I decided on the round neck option, and short sleeves - partly because of a lack of fabric.

This is the first Sewaholic Pattern I've used, and I was really impressed. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow, and it took just a couple of hours to whip up. I'm pleased with the fit and I like the use of a wide band of fabric at the bottom, it gives the top better length, and stops it riding up. My main issue is I don't really like the fabric that much and am not sure how often I will wear this top.

I finished the t-shirt on Saturday morning, and on Saturday afternoon headed into town to go to the cinema. (Avengers Assemble - in case you are interested, and it was really good fun.) Now Dublin Woollen Mills is not exactly on the way from my house to the cinema but its not far out of it, so it seemed a shame not to drop in. I picked up a bit of striped jersey in their closing down sale, and have just cut out my second renfrew. Mid-length sleeves and a cowl neck this time - which should make good use of the nice drape of the fabric.

Date for the diary - Dublin Sewing Meet-up for May

Just to let everyone know that the date for the Dublin Sewing Meet-up for May has been set. Friday 25th May, from 5pm in the Constant Knitter, and everyone is very welcome. Thanks again to the lovely Rosemary for allowing us to use the space above the shop of the meeting.

This months meeting is going to be a social gathering, so bring along your projects for a stitch'n'bitch. In addition we are going to be holding a fabric/pattern/notions swap. So bring along any bits and pieces from your stash you don't want any more, and remember one sewistas' rubbish is another sewistas' treasure!

Directions to the Constant Knitter can be found here and if you want any more details give me a shout.

Me Made May 2012

You may be forgiven for not realising that I am taking part in Me Made May, a group challenge designed by So, Zo to encourage us crafty types to wear our fantastic hand made creations. It's nearly half way through May and so far I've kept my pledge to wear at least one item of hand made clothing each day, and have  managed 3 hand made items on one day. 

Amy Butler Lotus top made from some vintage fabric, with my annis hand knit shawl.

These two go really well with my new me made trousers, which I'm still delighted with. Despite one of the guys at work asking me if 'Popeye knew I had stolen his trousers' - how rude!

As with One Week, One Pattern earlier in the year I'm handicapped by cycling to work, which stops me from taking a photograph of myself before I leave the house. And as I have the oldest mobile phone imaginable, it doesn't have a camera in it. 

I have found the task easier than self-stitched September last year, mainly because I now have two pairs of home made jeans, which go with most tops in my wardrobe. However, what I have realised is that I'm quite short of tops in general, and home made ones in specific, so I think I need to set myself a little top making challenge.

Here is the only other picture I've managed to take this week, my Colette Crepe dress which I wore out for dinner two weekends ago.

Back on the wagon...

... both the sewing and the blogging one.

I'm at the age when all my friends are getting married, and its heading into the height of the wedding season. The next one is set for the start of June, and I'm planning to make my own outfit. I know what I want to make, and  in fact its so well planned that I have the shoes, petticoat, fascinator and bag all ready. But if I don't get a move on that may be all I have to wear!

So, what am I planning to make to go with this delightful little selection?

Its Butterick Retro pattern 6582, originally from 1960, which I've had in my stash for some while, and some turquoise blue spotted crepe, which I picked up on sale over Christmas. I've made one previous attempt at this pattern. I tried making the tight skirt version two years ago, but it didn't work. Wrong choice of fabric, and not the most flattering design for my shape around the hips. However, I'm giving the pattern another go, but trying out the second design with the fuller skirt, which should work out a lot better for me!