Saturday, February 4, 2012

3 dresses I sewed..

So the girls went back to school and I finally pulled most of my clothes out of the caravan. The holidays are over.

And with that realisation came the realisation that I can no longer wear the clothes I wore on the road trip. Strange but true. I guess when you wear the same few things over and over and over and over, there comes a time when you cannot wear them anymore. A bit like the end of pregnancy.

So I decided to get busy and create a few dresses.

I love wearing dresses. They are easy. If it is warm, I wear them as is with sandals. If it is cool, I wear them with a little cardi over the top and leggings underneath. And if it is cold, I wear them with a cardi, a scarf and some boots. Easy peasy.


The old sheet dress.

This one is the prototype.
I'm not mad on that sheet design so I wasn't all that precious about getting it right straight away.
I found a picture I liked in a Japanese sewing book. (I'll fill in the details when I can find it).
I found a dress of mine that fits me well.
And I made a pattern.
And I made the dress.
And my farmer boy thinks it makes me look preggers.
But it is super comfy and great for wearing around the farm.


The old curtain dress.

This dress was made from an old hydrangea printed curtain. The fabric is quite stiff and holds it's shape well.
This front of this dress was made from the same pattern piece as The old sheet dress (above), but with the addition of darts for shaping and a longer seam down the front.
The back of the dress was cut taking about an inch off both sides.
All the shaping means that my farmer boy thinks it does not make me look preggers. Yay!
When I finished this dress and tried it on, I wrote on the twitter that I was thrilled that I had nailed my dress pattern.
I love it.


The old table cloth dress.

I made this dress out of an table cloth I'd been saving for a special occasion.
I really love that print.
This time I experimented with sewing the pockets on straight after cutting it out. After the shaping they became a bit crooked. Lesson learnt.
This time the neckline didn't really work. It's too high and the bias binding puckered. Facing?
But it's a great around the farm dress and a scarf hides all the problems perfectly.


And I like the red pockets. I think they're fun.

So now I have three new dresses. Hooray!!!!
Combined, they cost me about five or six dollars, that's including the binding.
And the best part is that I had everything here already. So that kinda justifies my floral fabric collecting addiction.

I think I'm ready for a new pattern now.
Hemming those three dresses can wait.
I'm thinking wrap around, maybe some crochet lace details.....

So that's me.
How about you?
Are you tired of your wardrobe?
Are you making something new to wear?
Are you making anything?
Do you love pockets as much as I do?

Happy weekend. xx

64 comments:

  1. Nothing more satisfying than a thrifty sew that results in extending your wardrobe. Love the pockets too.
    I can recommend the wrap with crochet.I tried this recently and it is a great combination. Be warned if you look - it is orange!

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  2. Love the dresses!
    Why don't you try pressing the bias in to a curve before you sew it on to the neckline of the dress, that should stop the puckering.
    God luck with the next round of dress making can't wait to see the results.

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  3. As I said on twitter I LOVE these dresses, the style, the fabrics, the pockets. I'd love to be game enough to make some dresses like that but I never make my own because of my size - tummy and boobs are too big!

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  4. i think the red pockets are JUST delightful! the perfect mix of matching/not-matching...
    clever lady!

    ~d.

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  5. I love dresses with pockets! I to love dresses and can never have too many. I think you could make the pockets out of cross stitched vintage linen and that would be so pretty! You are clever- they are lovely. Xx

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  6. I know I need to sew - my head is full of ideas for clothes I would love to wear. You look amaze balls, Kate.

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  7. I can empathise with the clothing issue - I am wearing literally the same few items over and over and feel like chucking them out when I get home. I probably wouldn't wear these types of things in 'real life' anyway. Strange. I love your dresses, especially the curtain dress. The pockets are gorgeous. I'm not making anything at all, which is sad - hoping there'll be time again soon. Have a great weekend! xx

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  8. Pockets rule! With young kids there is always the need for a pocket or 3. Those dresses are super cute. I've been collecting old doilies to use for pockets on dresses. Will get to it one day.

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  9. I own two dresses, one bought for a wedding and one bought for a funeral (it no longer fits). I want to be a dress wearer - I'm just not sure how to go about it.

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  10. I like the sheet one best in terms of colour and fabric. Perhaps the binding was not cut enough on the bias? It shouldn't pucker if it was. Facings would also work well.
    Lindy

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  11. Clever, thrifty lady :D

    I was on steroids until recently and I have a lot of weight to lose. I will not buy new clothes until it's gone. Boy am I bored with my wardrobe!

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  12. I made my first ever dress today! I still have to hem it, and I haven't worked out whether I need to zigzag or hem the facing (the pattern didn't say), but I finally did it!

    Alas, I can't really wear dresses until I'm not breastfeeding every three hours or so. I miss them. *sigh* Maybe that's why I'm excited about making some more :)

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  13. I am actually making my first dress tonight, well actually it is the first piece of adults clothing I have ever made. I picked one of my favourite dressed and traced it. So far so good!

    Lets hope I am that happy with my end result.

    I love love love your dresses. I was to scared to used a floral for my dress, but after seeing yours I think I will use a floral fabric for my next one :)

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  14. I don't know if I love pockets, but I do know I love your dresses, all three look perfect to me, and they make me feel like wearing dresses, what I never do.

    Oh, and hello from Galicia, reading you secretly

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  15. You are SO clever. Your own design, and all. I have a personal preference for preggers looking frocks myself.

    rachel xox

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  16. Love those dresses. I am not much of a dress wearer ( into my 6th year of breast feeding with little one #3 now) but one day I will get there. Needless to say I am over most of my wardrobe. And if I did have a dress at the moment I would look preggers for sure! The pockets are so handy. If I ever get around to trying to make a dress I would have them for sure

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  17. Fantastic Kate! I like them very much, and yes, I do love pockets, quite a lot in fact.
    I only wish that anything I made for myself didn't end up looking so bloody awful on me, perhaps this is my year.

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  18. I couldn't wear any of the clothes again after i was duffy and my wardrobe got a huge clean out. Lately i am making a pile of clothes in my wardrobe o'f clothes to go...if the day is right and i pick up the garment and i decide i dont want to wear it then goes in the vinnies pile. If i'm not going to wear it on that day, chances are i wont wear it ever.
    ....After all i need to make room for more homemade and thrifted stuff.

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  19. I just made myself some PJ bottoms, check out my post for the ooops factor! Love those dresses, I like to wear them with tights and jeans too :-)

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  20. Oh how I love these dresses Kate. I envy your ability to be able to just whip up a new dress! They look fab.

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  21. i do love pockets and most cerainly love your new pattern. I'm a fan of a skirt:) I make simple elastic waist with a cute little pocket for my girls and for me now too. such a quick sew. I'm also becoming quite addicted to making bias binding, it can make fabric pop with contrast

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  22. I'm a huge fan of pockets. Every skirt or dress should have them. I'm so over my maternity clothes at the moment. But with 2-4 weeks to go, I'm determined to see my time through. I have been buying and thrifting a few new pieces for after bub is born, so that I have some new clothes to make me smile then. I have been making basil pesto and knitting a baby sweater. :)

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  23. Cute dresses Kate!

    I left a comment this morning but that was when I started to lose my identity so I can now see that my comment didn't "stick"... not to worry I didn't say much other than "Cute dresses Kate!"

    I've come back though because I have been thinking about them and thought I'd suggest in a "they're already really great but if you wanted to you could try" kind of way, piping around the pockets! The idea occurred to me when I first saw the pretty frocks and hasn't left me all day so I've just come back to share.

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  24. These are just fabulous. Love the fabrics too. Clever girl. xx

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  25. Kate, your dresses are fabulous. Well done you! I am so tired of my wardrobe, must put some effort into a new look!!! Love the dress/cardy/leggins look you have going there. I haven't made myself any clothes since high school ... maybe it's time?!!

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  26. You look sweet in all your dresses, they look very summery and fancy. I like the pockets on the curtain dress, a little lower. But all the pockets are cute, you could hide lollies in them, and other treasures. Do you fill them up with bits when you are tidying up? Coins, and hair ties and clips and stray buttons? I"m always finding little collections in mine. Back to business tomorrow...bit scared! Lets coffee it up sometime soon xo ps Im rag matting but it's not sitting flat...grrrr...

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  27. I am a "plus size" sahm of 2 boys, we dont have much budget for "cool" mumma clothes anymore & this weekend i made myself a new top (kinda a short dress even) with a pocket too! i am super happy with it, the fabric was about $2.50, 5 years ago when i just had to have it & the cute cotton trim i used on it was from the bottom of a dress i was adjusting for my sister! she will never even remember it was on there! I haven't sewn for myself in ages & now i want to make 500 more :) Perhaps i should have a go at your dress instead. I love them all too xx

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  28. Love these! Dresses and cards and leggings are my uniform. I've been making lots of linen dresses, and experimenting with printing and dying with gum leaves and plants. Long live summer sewing!

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  29. My wardrobe has been the same---denim skirts, old navy tops and hoodies---forever. The only things I've sewn for myself are market bags. However, I do manage to keep the accessories fresh! Love your dresses, and ooohing and ahhing over not only your seamstress-y skill, but that second print. Nicely done, Kate---wear them in good health!
    xx

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  30. Where do you find the time to do this. You are so productive! I should and will find this post super inspiring. But for now I'm just cross with myself for being lazy!

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  31. Actually I like the old sheet one on you the best! It's like archetype farmgirl. I love it. I think I need to make one. You are terrificly clever, you know?! And yes, adore pockets. Mostly for hankies. lots of love xxx PS our chickens are very wet. Yours?!

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  32. Would you ever make them and sell them? Because i would buy five!
    x

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  33. Suck fabulous frocks, great work & so universal.
    Look at your girls all lined up, tomorrow is my big day as my 4 trott off in new shoes & excited hearts. Can't believe my big girl is already in year 8!! Love Posie

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  34. Kate, oh my, oh my! I love, love, love them!!! I have just started a new project...

    "The Yellow Cardigan" (albeit not all about just yellow cardigans, but cardigan love!)

    It has a facebook page, hope you don't mind me uploading one of your pics with a link back to you! Are you on fb? Squiggly Rainbow is... hope you find me! xx Rach

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  35. Kate I LOVE these so much!! How's life now the kids are back at school, how productive we can be!! I'm keeping very busy, when I stop I think of my little man walking in the line up to class & my heart aches just a bit..x

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  36. Oh my giddy aunt yes! I love pockets, I wish all my dresses/clothes had pockets. One day I'll get around to adding them, once I finish all the quilts I've got lined up/on the go I suppose.

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  37. love love love - you should definitely think about selling some of your gorgeous patterns!

    kel x

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  38. perfect dress, realy looks great!

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

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