Snap!

So i *finally* made this skirt yesterday.

With a happy lapped zipper.

In a fabric that i LoVe.

love love luff.

It was a fun challenge "matching" the paisleys....I knew they wouldn't be perfect, as the skirt is somewhat fitted at the top and has six gores. I decided to match them at the hipline and I am so very pleased, as all the swirls and curls took on an unintentional design of their own.

Flat felled seams, pinwale corduroy, 1940's pattern.

Time to make some shirts!

The future's so bright.....

Um, yeah. Won't be doing that again. :)

Shoulda known better than to plan a month's worth of sewing projects ahead of time. Especially around the holidays.

It's not in my nature to get the 'ole ducks in a row anyway......In fact, openly stating I'm going to work on specific projects likely increases my disinterest in them. :) Don't ask why. There are just so many wonderful dresses to make.....and so little time. And I like to change my mind. Alot.

I did complete two in four weeks....which is purty darned good. If I make two dresses every four weeks in 2009, that will be TWENTY FOUR new dresses for my wardrobe this year! And that's pretty rad! So let's look at it like that, shall we? :)

FIRSTLY.....

I was going to make the Claire McCardell dress for the holidays, but I just could not find the right fabric. I searched high and low. And until I find exactly what I am looking for, the pattern sits on the back burner. So instead, I opted for this:

It's Butterick 5243. I made it for my hubby's Xmas party. The day of. Because that is how I roll. Even though I had two weeks to do it, I felt it would be best to spastically throw it together in a few short and stressful hours (I was hemming the sleeves 15 minutes before we had to leave). By the time we got to the party, I was ready for that first glass of champagne, by golly.

I cut a size 16, which are my exact measurements, but the finished product was a good size or two too big. WAY too much ease. My fault for not investigating that first. All the gathers sucked, and the knit jersey I chose was a bit too heavy. I wore it anyway and felt a bit of a frump. Onto the second glass of champagne....

The next day, a good washing on the hottest cycle and a "denim" setting in the dryer did the trick. Now it fits like a dream. I will probably not make it again with the long sleeves....but a short-sleeved version in a lighter knit could be very cute next summer.....in a size 12.

This next one is made from a darling mail order pattern circa 1940. I would run upstairs to see what company produced it, but my legs still hurt from waiting tables on New Years, so I am gonna stay here snuggled up with my puppy dog under one of Momma's quilts.

I am in love with this dress. It's made from a Xmas novelty cotton from Joann Fabric (like 3 bucks a yard or something) but is still fairly soft with decent drape. I love the gold swirlies. And the heart-shaped buttons. The pattern called for ric-rac under the topstitching, but I thought the fabric ornate enough. Here is a picture of the original pattern:

I made a muslin first and the ONLY thing I did not finish was the very bottom of the sleeves....which turned out to be a bit snug. So it's not a dress to go dancing in. But it is fine for sitting still and looking pretty.

Next time I will fit the sleeves properly so I can shake my money maker.

Or heck,

I might just make another dress!