Week 2

Look, I don't know what the hell is going on with these pics but pete was itching to do something else and I was tired of telling him to take it again. So here you go. I promise it's cuter in person. 

Also, I'm still fiddling with it. I think I want to shorten the sleeve, cut the neck in a V and bind it with another color. But a picture cannot relate just how utterly comfortable this is. I want to make like 87 more. Girl Charlee better watch out because I will be buying all the knits until I have a drawer full of these.

Do you want to make one? It's ridiculously easy and based off the One Hour Dress thought process that was popular in the 1920's. The idea was that you could start on your dress in the afternoon and wear it out that evening. Just make sure you don't need a jersey knit that requires five years' worth of stripe matching before you can cut the damned thing. You can buy a pdf booklet here that will give you a detailed and imo, harder than it has to be instructions*. Or you can give the following line drawing a gander and, using a tee shirt whose fit you like, give it a whirl as I did.

I really suck at tutorials so bear with me.  You're gonna fold your tee in half and lay it along the fold. Line G should be right above your hips, and yes, you are cutting into the fabric at G. Sew up the shoulder seams, then the armhole curve, and the edge of the skirt. Then you gather up all fabric and stitch it to the hip seam.

Is that English?

Let me know in the comments if you want a detailed tutorial and if you talk pretty to me, I might be tempted to oblige.

* I do recommend the pdf in general though as there are plenty of variations that can be made using this technique. I'm imagining a version from white batiste with embroidery and lace insertion.

** I just realized that this fabric came from Michael Levine, Inc in Los Angeles. My friend went out there for a visit and scoped me out some sweet little knits, this being one of them. There was a tag stapled to one of the lengths, long since lost but I was browsing the site and all of the sudden it occurred to me where I'd seen that logo, on this very fabric. YAY!

A good start

My hair look gorgeous, does it not?

Well, here it is, my first Sew Simple of the year. Three pieces, front and back cut on the fold and sleeves, four if you count the strip I cut to finish the neckline. I used McCalls 6571, view A. I'd give you a review of the pattern but I didn't use the instructions. The fabric is a ponte knit I pulled out of the red tag section at Joann's. It was 50% off and called to me from among the poly chiffons, mostly because of the thin silver stripe between the white and navy. I'll try to get a better picture when I wear it ice skating tomorrow.

We're going to play don't ask, don't tell when it comes to the fiber content. Just know that it feels like heaven and I want to live in it. My only regret is that I didn't add a bit of length to it. It looks just perfect but that's because I've not hemmed it. I might never hem it. The ponte won't fray. It does look a wee but unfinished though. You tell me. To hem or not to hem?

Like a boss

I'm sure I'll be kicking myself in a few weeks for taking on so much but for now, let's go with it. As I still have a tee shirt to finish let Bear Allen kicks my ass, I'm just going to be a lazy heifer and let the creator of #sewingdares, the lovely Gillian at Crafting a Rainbow do all my explaining for me. So yeah, go here.

I suppose this would be a good time to pimp my twitter, right? 

Also, here's a sneak peek of my first tee.

I'm late, I'm late

The week does not end until tomorrow night, yes??

Therefore, I still have at least 24 hours before I'm in a rabbit stew regarding my self imposed one Simple Sewing Challenge, right?

Right.

It would be done already if my stays pattern hadn't come in the mail and set my little heart aflutter. I've already traced off the pattern and cut out my muslin.

I should probably do that post about my Davenport ensemble sometime soon, huh? And I still haven't located the fabric for pinky's dress, which has to be done this weekend, the fabric locating I mean as I intend to present it as my next Sew Fortnightly Challenge. I ordered up a yard of silk batiste, some voile for the fichu, and batiste for the lining and petticoat. As soon as it all arrives, I promise to provide pictures.

ARE YOU HAPPY, BEAR ALLEN???

She knows I love her.