A Summer Dress and Bag Making

Easy and Fast Dress Pattern

 

 

 Decided to turn some pretty poly jersey fabric into a cute light weight summer dress.

 This fabric drapes beautifully giving the gathered skirt a really feminine appeal.  Still to be hemmed and photographed on my body.  I love the fit and it's very comfortable.

Another Make-up Bag

I pieced some fabric leftover from the black and white duvet cover and ironed on some fleece 

for more body.  I think I'll line this with a stiffer poly lining fabric instead of the usual heavy nylon fabric I picked at Value Village for $1.49. 

Floral Brocade 

Some Finished Objects and Some Objects in the Planning Stage

Finished the apron and made a pair of matching pot holders.  I love the gathered skirt so much!  And the big pockets.  I quilted as I went for the pot holders.  So fast and easy!

 

Anyway, the gathered waist on the apron got me thinking about some summer dress sewing.  So I dug up some suitable fabrics from my stash.  Three cottons cotton/blends and a lovely border print rayon.  The rayon will gather so beautifully without a lot of bulk.   

It will become my first  Cambie dress.   I just love the waistline and the sweetheart neckline.

 Then I found some floral sheer fabric I bought two years ago.   And a remnant I think would be the perfect lining.  I just have to decide on a style I like.   I like the shape of both dress patterns shown below.  I'd go knee length though.

Least of last was my funny Valentine dress!!   Made from a couple pieces of fabric found at Value Village last fall.  I bought it with the intent of making my granddaughter a Christmas dress otherwise I wouldn't have had any red fabric on hand - I never wear red!  So it was a fun project and I used up every bit of fabric.  The lace has been in my stash for 30 years........

Warm Weather Dress & Tulips On A Winter Day

Decided to make a dress for warmer climates - Hello Mexico!

Last week I began one part of my New Years Plan - to get back in shape.  I belong to Curves, it's a nice workout for the mature women....LOL   So I went 5 days in a row, missed Saturday & worked out at home on Sunday.  I've been watching my food intake & I ended up throwing the rest of my Christmas chocolate into the trash - there wasn't much left at all, but it was very symbolic for me!  Not soon enough though  :(
I had to add an extra 1/2" to the sides of my pattern.  I'm OK with that cause I know I will fit a size 12 this year!  My tummy already feels smaller.  Yeah!!

The fabric is a poly knit, really slippery but very nice drape.

I started sewing it today & aside from the slipperiness, it's going to be a breeze to make.  I dropped the back neckline about 6".  I don't get why a lot of summery dresses have neck hugging backs.  The gathered section in the front will be quite a bit lower too.  I'll see when I get there.

Tulips on a wintery snow day - our first snow this winter!

Pretty but.............Spring's a lot prettier!!  Still making earwarmers, I posted them on Ravelry.  I really need to figure out how to link to other sites this year.   I wish I could share my Pinterst too.  I'm so addicted to that site.

Finished top & skirt

Sewed a little yesterday, finished the skirt. I love that the elastic waistband is cool & that it can shrink with me. I'm seriously working on shedding at least 10-15 of the pounds I gained after quitting smoking.  It's been almost 4 years so I guess you could say it's about time!

I took the sides of the top (view B - size M)  in an inch on both sides .
I cut out another summer top (M4444). I altered both necklines, the front only slightly but I dropped the back neckline 5 ". I cut the sides on an imaginery line between the S & M cutting lines. I hate facings on casual clothing, so I'll be binding the armholes & neckline with the scraps.

After that it was back to sorting out & downsizing this time my laundry room which besides having a full size washer & dryer set, also contains an apartment size freezer, two book cases, one for recipe books & one for canned, packaged goods, a cedar chest and assorted totes & boxes of things I think I, or someone else, may need someday. I'm not a hoarder but  do have to keep an eye open! I've got two more rooms to go through and then I'm going to have a garage sale. This will only be my third in 30 years. I figure I need to take this opportunity to get some nuch needed work done around the house, after working full time for eight years.