It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

A few weeks ago I noticed Halloween themed novelty cottons were on sale at JoAnn Fabrics.  The one that caught my eye in the sales flyer was not at my local store, but a couple of the more whimsical prints they had on hand grabbed my attention.

In the end, I took home some of the Peanuts "Spooky Night" print.  The cotton is certainly not the best quality in the world, but the stiff weight is perfect for a fit and flare silhouette.

And since I made myself a lovely Christmas themed frock last year using Simplicity 1459, I decided I should also have a Halloween version in my closet.

This is one of the only Simplicity patterns that I have sized up and I was also curious to see how my normal size would actually fit.  The finished garment measurements had me slightly worried that a large Christmas meal would make wearing the fitted waist uncomfortable.  It turns out, I should have stuck with my go-to sizing since the dress is slightly big through the bodice and shoulders.  I could probably have used a bit of an FBA on this version, but in a long line bra with pointy cups, it works.

And then, the pattern does present some problems with a direction print.  For the Christmas version, I didn't mind if some of the cardinals looked a little catawampus, but this print was going to look odd.

And the most obvious problem is the collar, right up front and center.

Luckily, there was some coordinating green cotton available.  I was slightly concerned about that much yellow toned green next to my face, but this dress is not going to be worn constantly, and a "costume" doesn't have to suit my palette, it just has to make me happy.

I also thought that a solid would be a nice break from the super busy print.

But would a lone contrasting collar look out of place? I decided it would be nice to tie in the solid green with contrasting cuffs and belt, which I think turned out quite well.

The other major change I made was to forego the side zipper for a center front skirt opening.  I only decided to make that change, however, after I started on the construction.  Whoops.

So it's not perfect with the added placket, but it works.  

And it definitely is much easier to get in and out of without the side zipper and I am going to have to figure out how to finesse that placket/snap closure construction for future button front/side zipper drafted patterns where you don't want buttons all the way down the skirt!  But that's for another day.

Dress & Belt:  Made by me, Simplicity 1459
Petticoat:  Made by me, Vogue 4203
Shoes: Vince Camuto
Necklace:  Banana Republic

Christmas Cardinals

Although I am not making any formal New Year's resolutions, I am going to try to keep up with this blog a bit more in the coming year.

To that end, here is one final finished project from 2018.

It's the Christmas dress that I was convinced would not be finished in time!  But I managed it just in the nick of time!

There are quite a few more projects out there, pictures to be gone through, and posts to write.  But a project never really feels truly complete until I post it to the blog.  Silly, yes, but it's just the way it is.

And as far as new projects go, I have so many ideas.

I am going to do my best to get to a few WIPs that have been languishing in boxes for far too long.

And before Spring arrives, I am determined to use one of my lengths of wool coating.

Which color wool and which pattern shall it be . . .

I haven't a clue at this point.  But I am excited to jump in and get started!  

Have a Happy New Year, and, as always, Happy Sewing!!

Dress & Belt:  Made by me, Simplicity 1459

Petticoat:  Made by me

Shoes:  Royal Vintage "Marilyn" 

Hair Bow:  Made by me

Earrings:  Vintage

The Christmas Dress

I was not planning to make myself a Christmas dress this year - to be honest, I just didn't think I would have the time.

But then I happened across this wonderful cardinal print at JoAnns, and I felt the need to cut right into something new.  I just love the Susan Winget prints.  In fact, I did not see the selvedge on this print until I got it home, but this was the design that caught my eye.  These two are also her designs, and I love the garments I made with them!  I also love the cotton they are printed on.

Then there was the question of a pattern, and, of course, the issue of buttons.

I had one vintage Prims buckle and a couple of Prims covered buttons, along with a red velvet scrap or two that was the perfect color to match those lovely little birds.

The pattern is Simplicity 1459, one of their vintage reproductions from a few years back.  I have made similar frocks (got to love a notched collar!), but decided to give this one a try and see how it turned out.

And then, of course, there was the matter of bound buttonholes.

Yes, they take a little preparation, but I can count on them . . . unlike the ones made with a machine.

There was also a little seam binding added to the mix.  I have a lovely deep garnet color in my stash that would have looked lovely, but I was afraid that it might show through the cream colored portions of the fabric, so I went with a pale pink.

See what I told you about the bound buttonholes!  They are always there for me!

Where I strayed from the pattern was the skirt.  This reproduction gathers the entire skirt waist to the bodice.  However, a look at the vintage illustration on the pattern envelope clearly shows that the front portion of the skirt is not gathered.  Not sure why they omitted this in the reproduction.  I find that keeping the gathers to the sides of the dress is very flattering.  I also added a few pleats to tame the extra fabric before gathering right over those sections.

And there she is, all finished, with only a couple of hours left before leaving for L.A. - just enough time to pack a suitcase, or two!