Would you believe that I couldn’t fit all the garments I’d sewn for myself during 2011 into one mosaic? Oh, you could. Okay. Here is part 1.
I haven’t decided what my favourites are. I’ll post part 2 tomorrow and think a little more about which of these garments have been the most successful, and why. Hopefully some themes will emerge!
Vogue 1250 seemed to be the dress pattern hit of 2011. There are a multitude of reviews of this dress on Pattern Review and examples of it around the sewing blogs. I have made it before, and wouldn’t be surprised if I make it again. There are only three pieces! The upper back, the front/skirt back, and a small strip to stabilise the back neckline.
I used a fairly lightweight polyester (probably) knit from Darn Cheap Fabrics (recently on the $2 per metre bargain table, but I paid more). It has some texture throughout. This time I shortened the dress an inch or so at the “shorten or lengthen here” line, as well as shortening it through the bodice slightly as I had done previously. Rather than using the textured knit for the back facing strip, I used some cotton/lycra that I had on hand due to it’s superior recovery. I thought that it would hold up better and give a neater back neckline.
This is size 14, the same as last time, but even though I’ve lost weight since the last time I made it with the clingier fabric I will probably wear a full slip underneath to smooth things out and reduce the cling a little. I followed Kay’s suggestions to deepen the front cowl self-facing, which worked a treat. The self-facing on the previous dress had a tendency to flip out a little, but with this modification it drapes much better and there is no risk of it flipping forward. She also has suggestions for raising the armhole – I didn’t bother.
This dress is incredibly quick to make, and flatters most sizes and shapes. A definite winner! I’ve seen it altered to maxi length as well…hmmm, maybe I should give that a go…
This mosaic contains the non-garments I made during the last year. Actually, I fudged it a bit, because it does contain some patchwork that is still in progress and generally I like to keep these mosaics to what was completed. Whoops!
This is day 4 of bunkering down in the air-conditioning. It is like an oven outside! But I’m going to have to venture out to the shops for fruit and vegies at some stage, probably sooner rather than later. We are now having the proverbial lazy holiday (or stay-cation as I’ve heard them called). All staying in our pyjamas for hours upon end – on day 1 of the holidays the kids didn’t even get out of their pyjamas – and watching copious amounts of television and movies. Spending time on the internet. Enjoying Christmas gifts. Playing Words with Friends. Entertaining refugees from the heat and being fascinated by the workings of a knitting machine. Planning fabric shopping trips. Investigating family holidays to Bali. Not having to be anywhere at a particular time. Swapping between crochet and sewing and planning and playing. Going with the flow. I still have a massive holiday to-do list including such stimulating activities as “tidy the craft cupboard” and “purge the filing cabinet” along with “empty out the hall table drawer”. But hey, there are plenty more days left of the holidays, and I am fitting in a small chore each day. It’s Clare’s 9th birthday coming up on Sunday, so I’d better reluctantly head upstairs (it’s hotter there despite air con) to the sewing machine and construct another dress. It’s tradition!
