Hawt.

One perfectly fitting dress under my belt, and I'm feeling confident! (I'll show off the dress once the hem is set. My 401A, with all it's many stitching glory is having a factory only part replaced)

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As my luck would have it, JoAnn's had one of their big pattern sales going on when I was there on 10/30. So I gave a peek.

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The first pattern I snagged, a Vintage Vogue, I've actually had my eye on. But the $25 price tag, even at JoAnn's usual 40% off was too pricey. The sale had them at $3.99, and I pounced!

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I think the lines of this dress are incredible. And hopefully a little, or a lot, slimming.

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While leafing thru the drawer for my first pattern (the patterns were a little mixed up), I ran accross my 2nd $3.99 bargain:

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Love this dress. J says to make it in a rich shade of a lighter green. I'm still trying to figure out what he meant. Maybe he means a richer shade of chartreuse?

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The Butterick patterns were $1.99, or was it 99c? Hrmmm. Oh well, doesn't matter. They were cheaper than normal.

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So I looked thru the book, hoping to find something with structure (a must with my figure), when I found this vintage wrap dress.

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This dress is so simple in design! Perfect for whipping out a couple to wear in the summer. I love a nice, light summer dress with good lines, and this is it!

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So there you have it folks. I bought 3 patterns that I can't touch until January, because I am a busy bee prepping for Christmas. Lots of Christmas presents to knit and sew. 2 rooms to paint in the next 2 weeks. 3 big meals to prep and cook. And a birthday party to prepare and throw.

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Craziness!

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Meet Heidi

Before I start the kids' Halloween costumes, I had a couple custom orders. My favorite is Heidi.

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Inspired by the Shirly Temple version's costuming, this is what I came up with:
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The apron is a piece cut out of a hand appliqued tablecloth. So sweet and perfect for this piece! The costume is one piece, plus a corset to blouse the top over and cinch the waist. We originaly decided on yellow trim on the red skirt, but the trim seemed to take away from the apron, so I kept it simple and made the corset ties yellow.

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Thank you for allowing me to dress your little princess for Halloween, Brianna!

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I can't wait to see pictures!

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A Little Something for Me

I don't make myself very many things. It's a sad fact. I make things for my family, friends, and interweb strangers, but never for me.

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I have, however, discovered that polyester knit is the fabric of the season. Ick. I'm a natural fabrics gal. I can do without the polyester tops, dresses, and pants, that will all become covered in tiny little snags and fuzzies in about one wash.

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I'm shuddering here.

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I get that silk and pure wool, especially merino and cashmere, are too $$$ to find at the local stores, but what about cotton? Wool blends? Isn't polyester plastic thread? Like petrolium based? Shouldn't IT be too pricy to produce with the current cost of oil by the barrell?

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Sadly, the fashion world has also decided that the 80's should return.

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WHO'S IDEA WAS THIS???

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Shoulder pads, styrup pants, neon plaids, skinny jeans, and doe skin fabrics were a part of the past for a reason!

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:::fans self:::

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So, basically, my clothing choices for this fall are tacky and tackier. Gag me with a spoon. Please.

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The upside to the horridness of the mass produced clothing market, is that I have the abilties to make what I want.

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I spent almost 2 hours at JoAnn's, looking through pattern catalogs and fingering fabrics. Thankfully, all 3 kids were more than cheerful to wait. Xavian and Korra looked at Halloween costumes, and Saxton was cheerful to half nap in his stroller.

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I found several vintage patterns that called my name, but am on a budget, so I decided to pick one to start.

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Meet Butterick pattern 6582, a 1960's designed cocktail dress:

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The beauty of the dress is that it's from a time when hour glass figures were celebrated, the necklines weren't so cleavage baring, and a woman's back was considered sexy.

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It's a good thing I'm fond of my back.

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I'm loving style A, the black dress with shoulder bows. I'm going to make the bows detatchable, so that I have the option to wear a cardigan.

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The pattern calls for light weight fraille, crepe, taffeta, pique, light weight linen, or shantung.

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I'm making mine with a deep red suiting weight wool. It's more pratical for actual wear. I don't go to too many cocktail parties, but I do go to church, luncheons, and Christmas parties.

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The dress itself is supposed to hit mid-calf. I'm thinking I'll probably go with knee length.

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I'm making a muslin mock-up of the dress so that I can determine alterations to ensure a perfect fit. This is a first for me. It's also a must, because the dress is supposed to be semi-formfitting. I don't want to waste any of this beauful fabric! Besides, if I were to buy more, it probably wouldn't be on sale, and I'd have to pay $25 a yard. Eeep!

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Wish me luck, as I am excited and daunted all at once. I really want to love the finished product!

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