I’ve been sewing a lot lately, but mostly small-ish things, nothing showstopping.
Dora has come to believe that she needs a kid-sized copy of anything I make for myself, so we can be twins. Since I have a habit of buying more fabric than I need, it’s a nice way to use up the extra.
Here is a Dora-sized version of my Anna dress. I was trying to find the simplest possible dress pattern for a kid and chose the Poppy dress pattern. It was basically fine, but the method for attaching the lining to the bodice was really weird; I much prefer the burrito method.
While my husband and daughter were away for the weekend, I snuck over the the Fabric District and got some amazing fabric OMG. The haul included some beautiful slate gray silk, from which I’d like to make a tank top.
I settled on the Grainline Hadley top — I love the neckline — and used the yellow technical polyester I got at Tessuti Fabrics to make a wearable muslin. I chose to line the top because the fabric is so sheer, which led to some hilarity as a result of not fully thinking through how to finish the armholes properly. I eventually wrestled it into submission, though, and the top is actually a dream to wear, lightweight and floaty.
I graded out at the hips from a 12 to a 14, which was a mistake, as it looks a bit maternity-ish, but despite this, I’m delighted with how nice the technical polyester is. I’d never sewn, or indeed heard of it, before, but I really like it.
I’ve needed a simple black skirt for awhile and elected to make a pencil skirt from Alice Prier’s book, using some scuba I got at the Fabric Store. Alas, the hip curve is way too steep on the pattern as drafted, resulting in some unfortunate hip-poochiness. I apparently don’t care, though, because it’s become a total wardrobe staple since I made it. I should really fix that hip curve, though.
All the kids are really into these two-color sequins that change color when you run your hand across them. Dora requested an outfit made from them, and I obliged. The skirt is the circle part of her Sahara dress, and the t-shirt is from a Simplicity pattern (I’ve forgotten the number). It’s a big hit, both with her and her classmates — she says people pet her all day when she wears it.
Another Fabric District find is this stretchy gold…something, obtained from Michael Levine for $5 a yard. I love it. I’d wanted to make a t-shirt dress out of it, and made one up using the Plantain tee pattern. However, I’d gotten a little too clever, attempting to add pockets, and it ended up bagging and pulling and generally looking sad. So I took the scissors to it and turned it into a t-shirt, which I like very much.
Of course, Dora wanted her own version, so I made her a t-shirt dress by extending the length of the t-shirt pattern I’d used for her sparkly sequins outfit. She HATED it, because apparently it’s too plain and doesn’t look like a dress. She did consent, however, to wear it tucked into her sequined skirt, so all is not lost.
Next, I’m making the amazing Vogue 1513, from a black ponte with a sea-green satin lining. I really hope I don’t screw it up, since it’s looking phenomenal. Basically my Dress of Dreams. Dora, of course, wants her own version, which is going to be interesting to pull off.