Wednesday 15 July 2015

Where's Wanda?

Hi there, sewing peeps. Summer is here in the UK and it is hot in the South of England. I am so lucky to only live 5 minutes from the sea. Sometimes I can take the seaside for granted, so I am trying to cherish every time I get down to see the beautiful sparkling water.


When I was a teenager, I preferred the sea in the winter when it was strong, rough and climatic.   Nowadays, I can appreciate the calm sparkling summer sea: perfect for paddling in and forgetting one's troubles.


This is our local beach. It is lovely, sandy at low tide and not very busy. It's accessible via a lock at the nearby port, so it is kind of hidden and secret. Though when school is out it will heave, as everyone round here spends all summer at the beach.


Anyway, enough waffle: this dress is the pinafore pattern "G" from Stylish Dress Book Vol 2.  Easy- peasy to make up, and perfect for the heat. The pattern is five simple pieces, and the construction is simple; no zips or closures, this just pulls on overhead. The only alteration I made was to shorten the length so that it finishes just at the top of my knee. The other difference is that I haven't done the pocket yet; this isn't a design decision, more desperation to wear the dress rather than wait! It will be sewn on as soon as the dress is back out of the wash!


I had this pattern on my to-do list since I got my hands on the book.  But I was dithering between this and a similar pattern in Sew Chic. Then Blogless Anna and Marilla Walker made up my mind for me with their stunning versions. 


Anna uses a dark denim, and I think I might try that too come Autumn; for now, I wanted something lighter and brighter. The fabric is a linen-look cotton, and under £5 per metre - bargain!
 

The colour is beautifully bright and vivid. I have since been back and bought some more, as I think it will make great trousers.  The cotton was great to sew with, and presses really well.
 
  

I decided to use an orange topstitching thread, as it goes well with the blue, but it does show up my wonky stitching!  Accuracy is something I really need to work on.  It was a lot easier to top stitch the straps as they were interfaced; the dress isn't, but I may interface the facing next time to help with the top stitching.
 

I started this dress before my sewing break, and I kept fantasizing about ripping out the topstitching and starting again.  But, in the end, laziness won out!
 

As to the title of this post, a very dear friend of mine said "Where's Wanda?" when she first saw me in this!  Note to self: don't wear striped top with it again. The top, by the way, I found in Sainsbury's for £2.50, I couldn't even buy the fabric for it at that price. 



Hope you are enjoying the sun, or - if it's winter where you are - that the sunny pics make you feel just a little bit warmer!

24 comments:

  1. Ha ha. Great photo at the end! You are way more stylish than Wanda. Don't let your friend tell you otherwise. I love the fancy stitch you used on the straps. Lovely detail. And it might be worth investing in an edge stitching foot. I don't have one but am considering it. Apparently it helps with neat, evenly spaced top stitching.

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    1. Not heard of that foot, going to google! Thanks for the tip.

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  2. I love this! You look lovely and summery. The decorative stitching is a fun detail and looks pretty neat to me!

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    1. Thank you, the shoulders are neat it's the rest that's wonky! But very liveable with.

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  3. Hello Louise! I also like your topstitching and your photos are really fun. Where exactly is that beach? I though it was Elmer originally.

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    1. Hello, we are on the south coast very near to Brighton. Very lucky, to have the sea on my doorstep.

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  4. Love the contrast stitching, I have an edge stitching foot and my top stitching is much neater now.

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  5. I love that topstitching! Adds a nice detail to the dress. Who doesn't love a pinafore? :) Looks great on you!

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    1. I lived in pinafores as a child. I never liked things tight round my middle- still don't really.

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  6. Looks like a perfect comfy summer dress! I like the contrast topstitching, especially the decorative stitch on the straps. Very jealous of you being so close to the sea!

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    1. It is fabulous being able to pop down there when it is hot.

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  7. Ha ha ha 'wheres wanda' i didn't get it till the end! And am still chuckling! I love this pinafore dress,. It looks wonderful and fun and nice and cool for the summer! And i have no ides what you are talking about re the wonky topstitching!

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    1. Ah thank you, too kind. The rows are rather wobbly! But for a first go its not too bad.

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  8. Oh this is so perfect!! As I told you on IG, love the stitching. I am jealous of your beach!

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    1. Thank you, it is wonderful to live by the sea. In my 20s I lived in London and I didn't miss the sea but whenever I came home to visit, I craved the salty smell of the sea and would spend hours gazing out to sea.

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  9. Fab dress, the decorative topstitching looks great!

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    1. Thank you, I love wearing it. I can see more in my future!

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  10. I love the striped top with that blue, and the fancy top stitching is a good finish...whats next?
    best daisy j xxx

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    1. Trying to utilise all the stitches on my machine.

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  11. LOVE this pinafore. Also, massive congrats on the M&S charity shop shoes score! The charity shop gods were certainly smiling on you that day xxx

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    1. Thank you, I wear it a lot despite its flaws.

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  12. But the topstitching is so cute!!! And, nevermind the where's Waldo tease. You look adorable with the red and white striped Tee!. Nice to see that you're sewing again!!!

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  13. Thank you. sewing mojo definitely back.

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