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!

Stylish Dress Book Vol 2 - Dress D

...or the table cloth dress, as I like to think of it!

I rather enjoy making things to wear from old curtains or table cloths, as I have here - it appeals to my sense of frugality.  I've made this dress pattern once before; the blog post about it is here.

As the fabic is a nice thick cotton gingham, it is easy to wear and to wash.  It was also easy to make - the pattern is simple with only five pattern pieces, and the instructions are straightforward.

The roomy pockets are my favourite bit: big enough for my iPhone, and for packets of sweets confiscated from naughty children (I have real-world experience to back that one up!).  The neckline is flattering (I think so, anyway) and is big enough to go over my head without a zip.

Now, a lot of bloggers have been documenting their plans for 2014; here are mine... I don't have any! Sewing is my hobby and my joy.  I am going to go with the flow, make things, and have fun.  I'm not going to worry about specific fabrics or patterns, just enjoy myself.

Having said that, there are a few things I have to make: the boys need new trousers, but after several failed shopping trips I can find nothing that will fit both their waists and their heights!  Oddly the fact that I need to make these, makes me reluctant to start: I am a contrary mary.

Ooh! It’s a…..Japanese style tunic

Here is what it's supposed to look like (image from Stylish Dress book vol 2):

 

Here is what mine looks like:

I didn’t have any lace, or enough fabric to make full length sleeves, but I think it works.  The fabric is a blue heavy cotton with white fleck, and I really like it.

Like the dress I made from the same book, it’s lovely and loose, and very easy to wear.  I also love my patch pocket, perfect for posing with:

But remember I’m very new to stitching and made a few errors which experienced people wouldn’t make.  
 

Oops!  However, we all we learn from our mistakes, and I am not down-heartened at all.  I’ll still wear it at home, and each time I see my error I’llI resolve to think through exactly what I’m doing  before I sew a stitch next time

I’m still proud of myself for finishing and that’s the main thing.

My Stylish Dress

Okay, down to business…

Some details on my green dress “Design D” from Stylish dress book 2.  In fact, it is the dress shown on the cover, worn by the enigmatic girl holding the carafe of water and lemons. For some reason.

Oh, how I love this book!  I can sit and gaze at the pictures for hours.   The book is so inspirational, and full of coy downward-gazing models.  Here’s my attempt to look coy in the dress:

Some reviewers of the book have commented that the patterns only cover small sizes, but I found the dimensions to be massively roomy.  I am only a size 8, but even the extra small would have swamped me.  So much so that I lopped three inches off at the centre fold, and it still is a nice loose dress.  It’s also very easy to make, ideal for me as a beginner with no zips, buttonholes or any other scary techniques.  However the instructions do rather assume you know what you are doing.

The fabric is old and was found at the back of one of my Grandmother’s cupboards, but it is 100% cotton and from Laura Ashley.   An opaque and thick fabric, it was left over after my Nan had used the material to cover a deckchair and cushions.  But it was so pretty and bright that I gave it a go.  It was perfect.

Indeed, it was so straightforward that I am about to make another in blue and white check, just like the one on the front cover of the book.

The dress is light and airy, perfect for the summer, but roomy enough for a long sleeve top underneath in cooler months too.  I love it. Love, love, love.