I don't have any "in-progress" shots. Anyway, I used this pattern:
I forget when exactly I started working on this dress--either late January or early February. I put it down in the middle and when I picked it up again it still took me two weeks to finish it. Apparently, I was not feeling in a very "sew-y" mood. I don't have any "in-progress" shots. Anyway, I used this pattern: I ended up with a minor alteration by not ruffling the panties and I didn't put the rick-rack all the way around the skirt because I should have put that layer on before the stuff around the 'bib'. You may notice a slight gap at the bottom of the button area. I had forgotten to wash my material first and because I know sometimes it shrinks I like to do so. Also, I knew the rick-rack wouldn't shrink, so I washed the dress before I put the rick-rack on. Well, when I washed it, the angled back opening ripped out and in order to re-sew it where it wouldn't rip out again, I had to square it out....thus the slightly unseemly gap back there. All in all, I think the dress is cute regardless of the fact that it didn't turn out as "perfect" as I had hoped. Still, I don't think it's going to come apart any more and I suppose if you didn't know the back was supposed to look a little different, you'd never know the difference.
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Ever laid eyes on a piece of material and knew instantaneously what you were going to make out of it? Well, that is exactly what happened last year when I was going through our "shirt stack". (We re-purpose men's shirts into aprons and children's clothing. I've found that anything over a Size 2 romper is almost impossible to get out of even the biggest of men's button up shirts.) Anyway, I looked down and saw this soft flannel plaid shirt--with all the right colors for Autumn...and classic hunting jackets! I knew immediately what I was going to do and put it into my "to-make" pile. Well, I didn't get around to making it until much more recently than last Fall. Even at that, it took me roughly two or three weeks to complete as I was very particular with details--and I also dealt with my Lyme kicking up during the making. (And seriously, when you literally feel that you cannot keep your arms high enough to rip out a seam, you'd better not be sewing!) And then, when all I had left was buttonholes and buttons, I managed to break my left arm while doing my evening chores! I laid the pattern pieces out several times in an attempt to get all the edges cut so that the plaid would match at the seams. Next I waffled back and forth about whether or not I was going to line the jacket. Lining won out in the end: I dug around until I found a grayish, creamy colored shirt to cut up (by the way, these things are always washed before use!) I thought for a while that I wasn't going to be able to use it after all as a Goodwill worker had accidentally swiped some permanent marker along one of the sleeves. However, with some slight manipulation, I conquered. In the long run, I am very happy that I decided to line it. Once I started the actual garment construction I ended up ripping the side seams out once or twice to get the plaid matched as best I could--but it was the pockets that really took time. I think I ripped the two of them out, collectively, about six times. BUT...it was worth it! I forget exactly what it was, but I had a minor issue with the collar...nothing huge, but something that I only remember that I don't need to do again. Once all the joining seems were together for both shell and lining, I set about prepping to put the lining in--in essence stitching down the facing flaps and hemming the jacket body and sleeves. Once that was done, it was time to actually put the lining in! I forgot to tack it along the side-seams until I was all but done, so I decided against ripping the whole thing out in order to do so. Other than that, I basically followed the directions on the pattern. I did go and look at some of my own (store-bought) blazers and have some ideas for putting lining in the next time to make it look perhaps a little better. Still, all in all, I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out: After about three weeks in a cast, I decieded that I would go ahead and give the buttonholes a go. I managed. I can't brag on my buttonholes even with two fully functioning hands (I don't quite understand why I have difficulty with them--in principle they are SO simple), so I think these came out alright for all that. Anyway, here is the finished "Hunter" Jacket: ~~Racheal~~ |
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