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Make a Garment a Month

Sarah Liz has a little challenge going - Make a Garment a Month.  Rather than just random selfish sewing.  She has challenged us to identify a particular goal while making at least one garment a month. 

I routinely sew selfishly in that with the exception of the annual flannel pants - I really don't sew for anyone else.  But my sewing is rather random.  I often find something I want to make, but then I lose interest before I work all the tweaks out. 

One of the things I really, really want to make and fit to myself is a darted sheath dress. 

I have been working on fitting New Look 6095.  So far, I'm 2 muslins in and have idea about where I need to go from here. 

I know I could use a princess seamed sheath and have in fact made several dresses from Simplicity 3744 which is a princess seamed A-line dress with tiny bust darts because the princess seams are off to the side.  Here is a busy print version that I made with links in the post to the 2 other versions of this dress I have made. 

What I want to end up with is some dresses that are similar to classic Lilly P in shape and fabric.  I am fairly certain that for this to work, the design lines need to be very simple and few.  I think a princess seam would break any print up too much.  But please - feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.  So - that's why the doggedness to get this to fit.  Of course the December  issue of Threads has an article about the classic sheath dress and the author claims *any* body shape can wear it. 

Anyway - where was I going with this.  Oh yes, the garment a month challenge.  I challenged myself as follows:

October - New Look 6095
November - By Hand London Anna Dress
December - no plans yet.

October got sidelined because I really wanted to make something I could wear out of the house and I was frustrated.  But I will continue with this with the goal to have it finished by the end of the year. 

I did however make myself 3 new dresses during October:  The Lady Skater/Renfrew mash up and 2 versions of the Ottobre knit sheath dress.  It's now time to end this and get to sewing as the weather seems to have finally stabilized and the power isn't blipping out. 

So please talk to me - am I over thinking the LP look?

10 comments :

  1. Nope you're not...to get a pattern to fit you will have to be dogged with it. I read the Threads article thinking of you. I'm sure you will work this out, I have faith in you!

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  2. You can definitely conquer this challenge!

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  3. Over-thinking and Lilly P? Are you talking about me or yourself? ;)

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  4. Nail this and you will be a happy-sewer for life! That Threads article motivated me to give it a go ... might just be my December dress challenge ... J

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  5. Be persistent, and you will find the perfect fit.

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  6. Looking forward to seeing this made up - you can do it!!

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  7. I wish you all the best with the 6095 challenge - I'm sure if you get it right - and you have said you think you know where you are going, you'll be happy you perservered. What I have found though is that different pattern companies seem to suit different body shapes, so if this sheath doesn't work, take the learning and use it with another pattern (though of course you are going to succeed ! :-)

    I love the Simplicity dress you made - it looks fantastic on - I must have missed that post :).

    I'll be updating the Make a Garment a Month Challenge during the week.

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  8. Have you watched any of the Peggy Sagers free webcasts on fitting. I've learned lots from here. You can find them at sillhouettepatterns.com YOU can do this!

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  9. That sheath dress is super cute! I don't do well with formal challenges but I did do a mystery KAL this month except it turned out not to be much of a mystery as I knit it in 1 whopping day! I think sewing is very personal and I love that you make your own clothing ~

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  10. Hey, my friend!
    My Sweet Baboo just pulled your name out of the box of folks who commented this week to win the 8 pattern Sew Random blogiversary giveaway... :-) If you'll email your address to tig77LW at yahoo, I'll get that out in the mail to you!

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I appreciate you coming to see me. It may take me a bit to publish your comment - but I will get to them by the end of every day. If you leave a way for me to get back to you, I will. Thanks for taking the time to comment and share your opinions. g