A Sundress

Last year for the Fourth of July I made a sun dress that had little flags all over it. I was thinking about wearing it for Memorial Day too but the dress is a little too small and I don't love it as much as I did last year. While I was on etsy I found this child's dress pattern, Simplicity 3981.

The description says Simplicity Pattern No. 3981- Girls -Simple to Make- one piece dress and jacket. Dress has shoulder straps, back zipper, corded piping at waistline, and full gathered skirt. Jacket has back button closing, notch detail on front and is faced or lined. Short sleeves or sleeveless, with or without contrast collar.

I love the simple white sundress with a blue ribbon and a red ribbon border. It's not too over the top. You could wear it whenever but at the same time it's great for the Fourth of July or Memorial Day. 

Obviously it's too small, so I figured I would keep an eye out for a simple sundress with a plain straight bodice like this one. Fortunately I happened upon a free pattern today for just the sundress I was looking for!

Horrockses Fashion is a british brand established in 1946 selling bed linens. The Linens are adapted from many of their original dress designs from the 40's and 50's. They don't have any dresses yet but on their website they offer a free pattern for a sundress!

It's just the type of bodice I wanted to find for this dress and who doesn't love a free pattern!

 I think I have enough white fabric for this dress. All I would need is the red and blue ribbons and it seems like it should be a very quick and easy sew. 

Of course I'll have to find the time for it still! Lately I've been trying to finish up the numerous other sewing projects laying about. Plus a lot of little sewing things like hemming some dresses and some pants and sewing on new buttons for a dress. I did spend the day thoroughly cleaning and organizing my sewing room the other day though! I love sewing when I've just got the room cleaned up and organized! 

18th Century

Lately I've been really interested in the 18th century and while I'm still doing research I definitely would like to start sewing some things. Of course I'd have to start with the basics since I have no 18th century underthings.

American Duchess is having a giveaway right now for a pair of Pompadour Court Shoes or Kensington Colonial shoes. I've been wanting a pair of her shoes for a while now! They are all so beautiful!

I would definitely love to get a pair of the Kensington shoes to start my 18th century sewing off. What a great giveaway!

An Old Skirt made into a Sundress

 I bought this skirt a while back at an antique show and I absolutely loved the pattern and fabric of it but the waist was just a bit too small and made it uncomfortable to wear.

Since it's summer and it is a summery print, I thought i'd just cut it shorter and make a sundress out of it! I used one of my favorite sundress patterns Simplicity 2880. I've used this pattern three times before actually. 

Even with cutting the skirt there wasn't a ton of fabric to work with so I couldn't mess up at all.

The trickiest part of this pattern is the inverted v in the bodice. On my previous attempts at this it came out more rounded and even a little to the side.

This time I knew I had to get it right so I tried to search how to do an inverted V seam and the only thing that came up was this tutorial. It isn't the most detailed but it got the job done and I'd say my point on this dress came out much better!