After a couple of years focussing on quilting and gift sewing, with only a small amount of clothing sewing, I recognise that I need to update and refresh my wardrobe. Items are falling apart, with a number of favourite shirts pilling and developing wear holes across the front (well yes I really need to develop an apron habit in the kitchen to protect my clothes).
My first step …. update my project board. **the pink dots are things already cut out**
No 5 on my list is some pj’s, a new pattern. I am seriously in love with my fabric, so I decided to do something I don’t normally do, and do a toile for the pattern. I think the universe decided to give me a hand.
This is my favourite summer house dress; it must be at least 4 years old, and is wonderfully soft and cool to wear.
But, that habit of mine of cooking without protecting my clothes, means that the fabric has broken down at the front, creating a wear hole and tear.
I decided to use this dress, as fabric for a toile for my PJ pattern, the Ella Cami by Designer Stitch. There a couple of good reasons for this. I am thick through the middle, but narrow back and shoulder, meaning that I need to test and alter most patterns. And, my love affair fabric is lawn, so hideously expensive …. I don’t want to stuff it up.
I cut up the side seams, saving the shoulder straps to re-use. I lay out the pattern, realising my first hurdles. The frill piece most definitely wouldn’t fit, resulting in less gather, but that didn’t bother me too much. However, there was no way I can fit the facings onto my available fabric. I have decided to cut strips of the left over fabric instead, and bind the neckline/armholes. I think I will actually finish my final version this way, as I think its a less bulky option.
The finished top ……. is too big. Yep, despite all my careful measuring, I have enough fabric under the arms, to need to consider a tuck/pleat to make this version useful. I also need to consider the centre front, which is a little too wide.
I have another dress that is also in my UFO box, so I am thinking I will need to re-trace the pattern, and make some adjustments.
