Here’s something I made recently… a rather lovely, if I say so myself – slip dress that I feel is perhaps almost too pretty to even wear!
This is the new Simone slip dress pattern by Closet Core patterns, I was lucky to be picked as a tester and I also luckily had a short length of pink satin in my stash already, plus a very short length of cream coloured lace that was fortuitously the exact and perfect length for the project… one of those projects where it was all just very lucky and fell happily into place.
I initially wasn’t going to post pictures of my actual self wearing the slip, these are the fitting pictures I sent off to Closet Core for pattern feedback… but I think they’re ok really. One of my all-time goals with this blog in the first place was to get over my awkward attitude towards photos of myself, so I shouldn’t revert now, hmmm?
The slip was of course quite easy and fun to make; I love testing patterns and trying to make things carefully. I was very careful in lining up the edges of fabric to my table before cutting out and I measured the bias with scrupulous care; and I think that paid off. However, despite great care in stay-stitching the back top edge; I must have stretched that bit out just a bit because it flips out against my back, so *shrug*
Anyway, it’s certainly turned out quite lovely in my opinion 🙂 and of course the satin is beautiful to wear; so I’m very happy with this useful edition to my wardrobe. I’ve already worn it a couple of times underneath other things; which feels like a very swish thing to do! I always feel like this when I wear my ivory Ruby slip too…. maybe I should make a few more!
I finished off the bottom edges with a skinny triple-stitched hem, and the side seams using french seams. btw, I just love this (above) picture! these finishes look so lovely in satin. The stronger pink colour in the close-up pictures is much closer to its real colour than the slightly washed out colours in my modelled shots, I don’t know why it’s like that!
Oh! my #use30 pledge came into play again, hip hip hooray! I managed to polish off another 1.5m with this here lovely bit of frippery; so I’m up to 17m down, and with 13m to go!
I’m back on track!
Yes, it is still extremely hot here. And I am dying a little bit in these photos. But what can I say? I found all of these coordinating fabrics in my stash -mostly leftovers! – and each one was the perfect size to cut out the individual pieces for the skirt. Win! And I also had the acorn brown merino, that I’d bought last year during a sale from the Fabric Store. So I feel like this is a totally seasonally inappropriate outfit that was nevertheless just crying out to be 🙂
I guess the title says it all really!
Oh, I also made the little white T-shirt I’m wearing too… it’s a modified Closet Core patterns Nettie, as usual. I have often joked to myself that the last thing I need is another white top… but I was recently forced to throw out my previous small, short-sleeved white T-shirt because it really was disgracefully shabby from over-wearing… and I’ve really missed it! White cotton jersey was thrown my way by Mum just recently; actually quite a massive length of it, like enough to keep me and the whole family in white T-shirts for the rest of our lives, I think. Thank you Mum!
I’ve made lots of Closet Core patterns’ Ebony tees and dresses for others and this is the first one for me! I finally used this absolutely beautiful, delicate grey/green wool knit that I bought in Tokyo, one of of our trips over there. It’s beautiful stuff, with an almost lace-like texture to it, but unfortunately it had developed a few little moth holes over the years since I bought it.
I stitched the outer and lining together around the neckline, and under stitched using a wide, shallow zigzag stitch. I also handstitched them together at the underarm points, just to anchor the lining inside secretly.
These are made using the piece from Butterick 5583, and the fabrics are all scraps and leftovers from other projects. One of them is from one of Cassie’s old skirts, another two are from Craig’s old shirts, and one of the boys’. The other cute prints are all from the leftovers from Craig’s surgical caps, fabric originally from Spotlight. The backing is thin cotton towelling, that I already had in my stash too.
Last month I also devoted some time to updating the pj situation in my life, and in little Theo’s life too! It suddenly got really really cold overnight, and my fave old bunny pj’s, that I still LOVE btw are sadly too thin to really cut it any more…
I really loved the industrial-chic vibe of the Closet Core patterns Blanca flight suit pattern as soon as it came out… loved the zippered breast pockets, the front opening zip, the front hip pockets, the er.. bottom? pockets; sorry have momentarily forgotten the technical term for those things. Anyway… such a plethora of fabulous topstitching possibilities! I actually love top-stitching, it’s one of those calming zen activities that pleases my inner love for well-ordered neatness… and just the pure and simple visual joy of looking at that evenly dotty line marching its way across cloth. *happy sigh*
Note to self though; if you’re putting in a walking vent ad hoc, cut it way way too long to start with. You can always cut the top down if it’s too long, and if it’s not? This simple precaution will save you a heck of a struggle later on.
