NPRINS

Dear readers, If you remember I created the 1944 House dress where I blogged about it HERE . I did two techniques very different from my normal process. First, I underlined the dress -- a different technique than a lining. The fashion fabric was very sheer. I chose a black batiste for the underlining.  In retrospect, a lighter weight voile fit the project better -- the batiste is a bit dense - making the dress a tad bit heavier -- and causing my fingers to be sore pushing the needles through the fabric for hand-stitching the finishes.   Threads  has a great article on underlining that discusses the change of hand for the fashion fabric (click on the link to go there).   Overall, I did find the underlining much easier to sewing rather than a lining in this project.  I serged the fabric fabric and underlining together and assembled the dress as I would if no lining was involved.   I did think a red voile might have been a better background color -- but couldn...

Dear readers, If you remember, I produced a 1944 House Dress in June.  I love it. I love the snaps, and it's so comfortable.  One of my favorites. However. I didn't add the pockets. What do you think -- do the pockets add to the dress?  I'm thinking about it.   The print I think is enough.  The pockets below are not folded yet for the SA, and are pinned to the dress for conceptualization. Yeah, OR Nay: J. thought the pockets made the dress too costumey.  I tend to agree.  But when I was reviewing the pictures after an absence -- I had to ask. XOXO, Pam

Dear readers, Since having minor foot surgery and staying home for two weeks - this second week I have been sewing my head off - I've completed this reproduction dress, a pair of knitted fingerless mitts, and a quick shirt. First, my completed Decades of Style  1944 House Dress.  I bought the fabric online from Gorgeous Fabrics  last year .  (Note to self:  I am going to start attaching tags to my fabric with date and source).  The colors of this dress were inspired by a Rose Bowl game here in Pasadena - actually the BCS Championship in Pasadena (Univ. of Alabama v. Univ. of Texas).  I thought I am going to make a dress to wear with my brother to the next Alabama championship - it's only taken me over three years. Please note I couldn't get the color quite right . I tried to lighten then darken it.   I also chose not to attach black pockets - J. thought it would drive the dress into costume territory (not that this is necessarily a bad thing). I u...