A Little Dressmaking.

I have been desperate to share the fruits of my Saturday sewing binge, a binge which I turned over purely to the sewing of things for me and two of the children. Florence's recent posts about her dressmaking exploits have set the off the yearning to follow suit and I found myself itching to run up the sundresses and skirts which have been firmly pushed to the back of my mind thus far due to all sewing time being needed for work on my pipany business (which has been extremely busy with orders for quite a considerable time now - most heartening I must say!).



Saturday dawned and with Mr davey away on business, thus no family-type plans afoot, I decided to bring my beautiful Bernina into the kitchen were I could still be 'with' the girls even if merely in spirit: well, you know what it's like when you actually get to do the things you have been desperate to do for such a long time...conversation sort of slides to a slow, "mmm?" or "yes, of course you can have a drink/biscuits/crisps...". I'm sure you get the drift (please say it isn't only me who becomes the most inattentive parent in the world at such times!)



Unfortunately, dear Dave had taken the camera away with him and I have therefore had to wait until now to share the outcome. This meant a hurried photo session this morning in the garden with Isabella who was not keen and fidgets interminably while I yell - I mean softly ask her to keep still just a little longer. Anyhow, onto the details: first up is this little sundress made from a beautiful soft Liberty lawn fabric I was so kindly given a few years back by a sweet fellow blogger, Elizabethd, on one of her returns to Cornwall.



I was actually lucky enough to receive several huge pieces of gorgeous fabrics from Elizabeth, many of which were vintage Liberty lawns all in the most delicate shades and patterns. So very beautiful. This one has tiny carnation flower in gentle mauves and pinks, the whole just begging to be made into something for the little one.



I was so keen to get going that I didn't make any patterns for the three items I made and just winged it. Now this would usually spell disaster, but now and then there is a feel in the air that tells me I can get away with anything on the sewing front and today that feel was positively singing to me. I lay the fabric down, held a dress of Isabella's against it and cut away! Madness considering the utter beauty of this fabric and not something I would advise, but on Saturday it worked like a dream. I decided to shirr the top section, but not deeply enough to make a whole bodice. I wanted more of an empire line to the skirt and to make sure it has a fullness to it I cut the top part straight and swung out in a wide diagonal for the skirt before beginning the shirring(if that makes any sense?).



The result was slightly too wide at the top so I cut down a strip to make it right. These mistakes come in handy if you have the right frame of mind. For instance, the bit I cut off provided a ready made pocket complete with shirred top which I then shaped to give a curved bottom, the end result being a little like an old-fashioned gathered purse. I could have sewn two pieces the same together to make an actual purse with a long strap to go with it. I suppose I may well try this another time as my girls do love purses.



For the straps, I cut a long wide strip of fabric, turned each long edge under and sewed to hem, and then shirred down the length several times to make gathered strap which will hopefully grow with Isabella. At hte front of the dress I attached them quite far apart, but brought them closer at the back to add a little interest.



Honestly so easy to do and I really love the effect.



The whole dress took no time at all and thankfully Isabella loves it (though it is not the easiest for the climbing of frames, etc, at the park so she informed my friend who had kindly taken her for a treat).



So there is the first of the projects; hopefully the rest will follow one of which will be the dress I amde myself from this fabric and which includes little shrred bits to produce a sort of swagged effect. Oh, you'll see what I mean!



Just had to leave you with this bowl of tayberries all soft and velvety and scrumptious with loads more to come by the looks of it. The children, Dave and I scrumped our way around the garden in the early evening light, scoffing redcurrants, blackcurrants and these beauties which are almost perfumed in the rich oozing juices. Yum.



Bye for now xx