In the flurry of moving, cleaning, unpacking, sorting, working, parenting … and still living … I have indeed made time to keep sewing. The problem has been taking the pictures of my creations. We’ll work with what we have for now, but I hope to start moving outside soon for my outfit shots.
One dress that I finished in time to wear to church today, including alterations!, is my version of Modcloth’s Light-hearted Lunch Dress. There are plenty of floral print dresses out there, and their versatility is obvious. Wear them with a cardigan and boots in the fall and winter, or sandals and a jean jacket in the spring, or on their own in the summer. I knew I wanted one and found a very soft, drapey cotton floral in some of the vintage fabric from my mother-in-law’s last purge of her stash. It has a great variety of colors to match with, but it needed to be lined. As I was deciding how to line it, I had a brilliant idea! (It was all my own, I swear. Pinterest played no part in this creation.) If I lined it fully and care-fully, I could have a reversible dress! (I know, right!)
So I scoured the shelves of the solid cottons at Joann’s and found this muted aqua blue Country Classic cotton that was just perfect. I had to finish off two bolts to have enough, but I love the color. I don’t have many clothes in this shade and now I am thinking I really should.
I completely lined the dress and sewed my topstitching from the blue side so that I could be sure it was neat and straight, while the white thread disappeared on the floral fabric. The floral was wider so I was able to make a fuller skirt than with the aqua, but I don’t mind as it actually serves as a petticoat when I wear the aqua side out.
Isn’t it wonderful? Two super-cute dresses in one!
I did make a few alterations to the pattern that I need to remember the next time I use it, but overall I like the way it turned out. I took 5 inches off of the hem of the skirt, want to add at least 2″ to the length of the bodice to drop the waistline down a bit, and made my usual fitting alterations to the neckline and zipper area, where I always have to take off several inches because I must have narrow shoulders or something. I also had to make an impromptu dart along the neckline to take in the gaps, but I will make sure to pin that pattern piece angled along the fold next time to account for that. I also had to take in a good two inches around the waist. This makes me excited to think that I might have moved down a size or two in patterns! I am going to try a 12 with the next dress I make.
So bring on spring time!
