All in one day!

I bought this fabric last summer, in a fit of ill-advised retail therapy. I had the idea for this dress in my mind, and couldn’t find the exact fabric I wanted (this ain’t it) and was on the verge of ordering something expensive from far away when I saw this $5/m 100% mixed fibres jersey at Fabricland. Flimsy to the point of being see-through, no body at all, but whatever it was a $7.50 investment in not spending $75.

Then because it was crappy and unsatisfying I just packed it away with my stash.

I’m getting ready for a charity bike rally this summer, and planning to make cycling bibs (long rides need comfortable clothes!). I’m not a big stretchy fabric person so I thought I should practice before I break into the fancy technical fabrics I bought, so I thought “I’ll make that dress.”

Then it occurred to me—I had leftover beige jersey from the leggings I made for my Megumin costume ($5/yard at Fabricland, I bought ½ yard). Maybe I had enough to sort of line it halfway? At least the parts that matter? Doubling the fabric would give it more body too on top of being no longer transparent.

I sketched a pattern onto the fabric with a washable marker, starting with the back piece of a dress I’ve made three times (here's a flowered version and plain black version, I also made it in grey fleece-backed jersey), adjusting the shoulders as I went, and tweaking the front pice to include a dart. Couldn’t find the sleeve piece so I just traced it off a dress, freestyling the cap (this is what I did for the Megumin dress too).

I am so pleased with the result!

If you look too close you’ll see the seams are a bit poor, being just a zigzag (I experimented with the stretchy cam on my Supermatic but it only wants to go backwards?) but overall it looks exactly how I envisioned! I will probably tack down the lining in a few spots to prevent the raw edges rolling, but will totally wear this as-is (when the weather improves). Not bad for about four hours of effort and a total cost of about $12!

Summer sewing has begun!

Shopping for something else and found this watermelon fabric I couldn't resist at 50% off. Bought a half metre for $7 and made this halter top: 

In my backyard showing off my clematis 

Sort of improvised as I went along, just sketching out a pattern based on measurements directly on the wrong side of the fabric. I am so happy with it I might try to trace off the pattern onto paper so I can make again (maybe as a dress?).

I also made a skirt, that one I at least took pictures as I was making it, thought I had done that for this as well but it appears not!

Me Made May week 2

It's Me Made May week 2! Summer dress season! 

Copying the summer dress manifesto I posted on socials:

You might see someone wearing a summer dress and think 😍 and feel compelled to express your feelings! Here are 2 tips on how to do that in a way that will be appreciated:

1. Wear a summer dress 💃

People wearing cute summer dresses almost always appreciate seeing other cute summer dresses. Be part of summer dress season by wearing one yourself!

Not a dress person? Try other grownup clothes, anything made of woven fabric with button closures is a good place to start.

2. Compliment the dress! 

Comments like "OMG that dress is adorbs" or "that colour is amazing on you" are 👍 

One caveat: the *only* people allowed to comment on summer dresses are people who are themselves wearing summer dresses.

So: wear a summer dress, see a dress, say "I love your dress!" And maybe they'll say "no I love YOUR dress!!" This is the ideal summer dress season interaction.

V-back Fit-and-flare in polka dot cotton poplin 

Gingham ruched and ruffled with handknit cardigan 

Black and white V-neck 

Ruched V-neck in black knit 

Vintage party dress with handknit cardigan 

Finished!

Finished the Argil tank! Very happy with it! Great pattern all around—well-written, interesting construction, a nice balance of mindless and interesting, and easy to see progress by the stripes. 100% would make again!

I really like the yarn as well, Mandarin Petit from Sadnes Garn. 

My clematis is a hit in the backyard too!

Subway knitting returns

Back to the office means back to knitting in public! At least on rainy days when I'm not keen to ride my bicycle. 

Currently on the needles: the Argil top in cotton, I can see getting a lot of wear out of this over the summer!

All my commuter gear 

Cutest dress ever?

A silly corner of my brain thinks all my problems will be solved if I can just find a cute enough dress. Could this be it? Femme-ier than usual for me but I am just in love with this fabric. The pattern is actually reminiscent of a jersey print I got from the Queen of Suburbia destash a couple of years ago. That one was a bit pinkier, flowers and splotches where this is cherries and polka dots. 

Started with laying out the pieces I drafted:

Bias cut so I can wriggle in (it's all ties, no zips or buttons) and the rectangles at the top are just to give me an idea if I have enough for a bottom ruffle (think I'm okay). It will be cut on the bias as well. All the scraps will be wrangled into ties and loops.

The top has just enough coverage and structure to go without underpinnings (I hope): 

The lower edge is curved to my ribcage, centre seam so the parts that need it are mainly straight grain, ruched to pull  it all together. I decided to cut an extra ruffle from scraps and finish with a bow:

Will this dress finally be the one cute enough to solve all of life's problems? Only time can tell...