new doors (open)

Well, after talking about it a while ago I have finally set up that Etsy shop. I’ve called it by my Dutch name (which I don’t use day to day) Roosemarijn. In Dutch you can add “tje” to indicate something is small. As my creations will be small (toddler) size it seemed appt. I’ve had a difficult time trying to decide on a price. Clearly above the cost of materials, but how much more?

Well, wish me luck. I certainly don’t expect to make much money, but hopefully it will be fun!  Do you think this will win over my first customer?

A UFO (unfinished object) takes off

Some projects take longer than others. Then there are the few that really excel in creeping in to a corner and remaining undisturbed until the dust (metaphorical and real) settles on it. This quilt can take pride of place in being the longest stalled UFO I had. We’re talking 4 years ago when I sewed the initial 2 meter by 2 meter blocks. 

So, why the delay? I got the top finished, but then figured it was going to be very hard work to quilt given the size of 3/4 version minima tic bernina. I discovered a taste of this when making a quilt for a friend’s baby which was 1.5 meters in length. My sister offered to help out (she quilts and has a machine specially designed for it) but as she lives in Holland it wasn’t a case of just popping over.

So the years rolled by. Earlier this year she helped by doing the first set of quilting lines (stitch in the ditch). Then the thread ran out! So, it was up to me to continue it at home. I finally summed up the courage earlier this week, and got down to marking all of the lines for where I would quilt. I was going to quilt both top to bottom and side to side. I’ve done one way. We will see if in the future I pluck up the energy to complete the other side! 

The fabric is from an Amsterdam Dutch reproduction antique fabric shop. Beautiful, but also expensive. So I quartered each fat quarter to save on fabric and reduce wastage. Here is the result…….

no contest – at least I’m won over!

well, given the high standard of competition for the Pattern review vintage competition I am realistic about my chances of winning. But this was about me trying something I hadn’t had the courage to do previously after my bad experience with the vintage PJ pattern. Suffice to say in this case using my sloper has paid off royally and I am very happy with the fit. 

A few things discovered today after road testing it. Annoyingly, the little buttons at the front have a tendency when rubbed by my bag strap to undo themselves. I wear a cross over strap for extra security so I guess its just something I will have to live with. I’ve not worn a dress before with quite so many buttons! The size of the skirt does mean it tends to catch the wind a little more than other designs I’ve made so I have had a bit of a tugging down experience when cycling today. Having said that, its extremely comfortable to wear.

 

 

nearly buttoned up!

It needs a final press, and it’s missing the hook and eye at the back collar (off to the shops tomorrow I go) but this is pretty much the final image – house mate is currently out so no photo at the moment of me wearing it. 

Tomorrow I’ll share some more photos in proper day light, but here is a preview……

a floral interlude

We interrupt the usual sewing updates with a brief flurry of satisfaction. Yes, I’ve bought some more fabric. It’s going to become a Kwiksew mini romper outfit when it grows up. But right now, it just looks beautiful…..

closing moves

After a burst of activity the line drawing has become more of a reality. I am now busy sewing on the 12 buttons. Haven’t had to do that many on a dress before. The next step is the zip and collar, and then I’ll finally add the sleeves and hem it. I’m really pleased with the fit and I love how well the fabric has worked out. The final dress will have a much shorter hem, as it’s quite deep. So, here’s what it’s looking like……. 

 

If you look at the bottom of them, you should be able to spot the black lace I have added as a finish. The pattern recommended it, and as I am trying to be as faithful as possible I decided to go with it.

tickled pink by butterflies

So, in case you have not noticed by now, I rather like making dresses. They are comfortable to wear, flattering, practical, easy to put together in the morning (just add shoes), the list goes on. However, not everyone shares my love of dresses. Specifically, one independently minded 2 year old little girl who I like to sew for has already decided they are not her favourite thing. 

Dear child, do you not know how many glorious creations you are passing on? I was not about to have my future sewing plans so easily thwarted. No, it was time to up the anté and create something which would win her back. This, dear readers, was the mission I chose to accept (as the gauntlet had been thrown down so to speak). 

I did my research and plotted carefully. I made it in her favourite colour (pink). It was not too disney like as she has ignored all costumes from her mother. For this I used fabric from my mother’s attic, as she has quite the stash of various leftover pieces. Of course I wasn’t about to just sew up simplicity 2461 without any modifications. Of course not. That would make life faaaaar too simple. I decided to make it a reversible dress, so ended up removing the zipper and replacing it with poppers. I also did some colour blocking. The pinafore is from an old curtain. In some ways this is not a pink dress, it has green credentials.

Anyway, by this point you are probably wondering what the thing actually looks like. Behold, who could not love this dress?! I mean its got butterfly pockets.

So, hopefully by this stage you will also be thinking I’m on to a winner. Fortunately I can already tell you the answer, as her mother has told me it’s been a hit. Hooray! more dress making miniature opportunities are available in the future. All is not lost.

so I gather….it’s all going well so far

so this vintage experience so far has created the following observations…

 

* if altering a pattern remember to alter all corresponding pieces as well. Fortunately the facing shoulder seam is quite short in width so it doesn’t matter too much!

*  I like to have a few more markings to help me evenly gather large sections of fabric. Eyeballing it to ensure its even is rather time consuming

* I always knew I didn’t have a vintage sized body. But I’m feeling rather like I did when I was on holiday in Japan and all the clothing looked like it was made for teenagers, it was all so petite.

* vintage pattern fabric recommendations can be a little, well, odd. According to the pattern envelope this should be made (amongst other things) from batiste or voile. Seriously??? unless you lined it you’d surely never go out in public it would be so sheer.

Finally, some photos of progress so far. The front has taken a little longer due to adding 12 time consuming roulou loops.

checking I’m not going to get in a tight (collar) spot

I’m not used to the type of mandarin style collar in the dress I’m making. I would rather not end up feeling strangled by my own dress. So, a quick check was in order before embarking on the cutting of my lovely red fabric. I think (fingers crossed) it will be ok. Hard to tell entirely of course what it will be like when all of the hooks and eyes are attached but it looks and feels ok at the moment.

I’ve taken advantage of the still remaining natural light to take some better photos than the ones uploaded last night.

 

The back will have a centre seam in the real thing. I was being lazy and cut it on the fold.

toile pays off

Well, I am honestly pleasantly surprised. The muslin of my dress bodice is actually fitting quite nicely. I should really trust my sloper a bit more! It’s time to get some rest, but it looks like I can move on to my lovely red fabric soon…