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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Work in Progres and Fabric Shopping


I am not going to actually show you the partially completed bodice of the dress I'm working on, but I will show you the pattern and fabric I'm using.

It's a high-quality quilting cotton that spoke to me in the fabric store and said "Make me into a shirtdress". And who am I to argue with the talking fabric in my head? While I am excited about the finished dress, I am not so excited about the actual things I have to do to finish it, like setting in sleeves, so it is progressing slowly.

I considered several vintage shirtdress patterns before choosing a current one from McCall's, not only because it was on sale, but also because the ones I've seen on Pattern Review look a lot better than the one in the envelope illustration. Also, the vintage pattern I most favored would have required some modifications and a muslin, and I was just too lazy for that, though considering the cost of this fabric, I should have probably done one anyway. I am making view E, with the 3/4 sleeves.

Today I stopped (made my husband stop, actually) at Alco in Muleshoe. We hardly ever go to Muleshoe, and so I always stop in to see if their tiny fabric department has anything interesting. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't; if they do, it's a whole 'nother headache to get someone to actually come and cut your fabric. But this time I was in luck. They had some nice quality cottons on sale for 50 cents a yard. Luckily I only had about $3.00 (most of it in change) or no telling what I would have come out with.

I have been trying to sew more from my stash, and thus reduce it, but if I keep running across stuff like this, it isn't going to happen.

6 comments:

bee said...

You actually make sewing sound fun. You have some very unique fabric. Maybe I will get to see the finished product some day.

Lisa said...

I love shirt dresses. I think they might be my favorite style dress. That first fabric in the bottom picture would make an excellent one as well. I'm scared to sew one, I am afeared of button holes.

Packrat said...

I'm blog stalking.
Cute fabric! As to that new pattern, I think it is retro with different sleeve lengths added... Unfortunately, most of my patterns are packed away, so I can't go look. :( Shirt dresses are so classic and classy looking. Happy stitching!

MadeByAmanda said...

Lisa - when I bought that fabric (the off-white with blue and green) that's what I thought I'd make. But I have shirtdresses on the brain right now. Who knows, I may change my mind.

P.S. - Do not be scared of buttonholes, they are not hard. I used to be scared of them too, but doing one shirt that buttons down should cure you of it.

Anonymous said...

My daughter is 15 and LOVES shirt dresses! She wears them modestly closer to the neckline, 3/4 sleeves and longer. The first one she made short like the pattern; and she is now contemplating ways to creatively 'lengthen" it with a border, or something else. It's good to see girls in dresses again! I am anxious to see it when you decide on fabric!
God Bless you!

Melynda said...

I think it is probably against the law to pass up fabric that is priced at .50 per yard. Yes, I'm pretty sure I've read something to that effect, somewhere.
Excited to see what you come up with.