So Much I want to do

I have so many things on my cutting table right now and I'm just not sure where to start. 

First up is McCalls 6503 - I saw this pattern on another blog and loved how it turned out.  I have a beautiful green floral fabric that would be lovely.  I plan to do either the bottom left view with the stand up collar or the top right with the cross over bodice and folded back collar.  I will do the pleated skirt rather than the full skirt. 

But I can't decide if I just want to dig in and start or spend time making muslins to make sure it fits.  Yea - I should totally do that. 

Next up is Butterick 5454 - I have been so inspired by the wrap dresses being made by Elizabeth of Sewn. 

I have a lot of knits that would be perfect for this type of dress.  They are comfortable and easy to wear. 

So what's stopping me with this one?  My little belly.  Can you wear this style of dress and look fabulous with a pouch-y belly?  What do you think? 

And being inspired by Carolyn, I really, really want to pad my closet out with dresses.  They make leaving the house so easy. 



Finally - I bought Simplicity 1880 way back when Sunni hosted the 2-in-1 Shirt & Wrap Dress Sewalong.  

Again - I have the perfect fabric and I got some great tips while the sewalong was going on.  But I haven't started. 

And I totally need to get my act together because this upcoming weekend is the Fall Sewing Retreat that is put on my by local ASG Chapter.  I am signed up, have a room mate for sleeping and will have my space ready.  With 32 lovely women to sew with for 3 days and get fitting help - well, see what I mean? 

This week I need to get over my damn body issues and just start tracing and cutting fabric already.  I learned long ago that I'm far more productive at retreat if I take things ready to go.  I'd be happy to work on the fit of these 3 dresses all 3 days and then make wearable clothes after retreat. 


My birthday is fast approaching and I need some new clothes.  So what do you all think?  Would you work on fitting issues?  All three of these dresses are very classic and once fitted could just be made over and over?  Should I work on all three?  Are the McCalls and Simplicity too similar to work on both of them?  Should I exchange one for a classic sheath dress? 

Slippery Slope

I blame Carolyn. I have never shopped at Fabric Mart.  No matter how many times she has linked to them or shown her beautiful treasures.

I try to buy most of my fabric locally just to support and keep my local brick and mortars in business.  And - regular readers know that just about all natural fibers, with the exception of cotton - sc

are me.  I'm not sure how to handle them or what to do.

So yesterday when Carolyn started talking about the Rayon Challis on sale for $2.50 a yard, well I clicked over and I looked at the lovely prints and I added some to a cart and then I clicked away.  I mean really - what would I do with them?  I asked as much in Carolyn's comments and being the lovely lady that she is, she replied that I would make a dress.

So today with the frustration of having spent the entire month of July working on a single, simple button front skirt - that's still not finished! - I clicked through again and bought 2 of the challis.  Both in a large enough quantity to make a dress.  I mean at that price - if I ruin it, well who cares, right?

I also added a lovely midnight blue windowpane checked cotton - this is right in my comfort zone and I see it being a dress.  I can't decide if it wants to be a slim dress or a dress with a full skirt but I hope it decides before it gets here.

Finally I added another cotton print.  It too wants to be a dress.  This one really wants to be a button front shirt dress. 

I'm happy that in Western Washington I can get 3 seasons of wear from lightweight cottons.  They will easily go from Spring right into the Fall.  And since it's never excessively hot here, they are fine in the summer too.  The midnight blue might go better from Fall through Spring being dark it might like tights and a cardi and be a winter dress.

But the title of this post?  Well I got enough fabric today, plus shipping, for  6 dresses for under $60.  That doesn't include any notions that I might need like buttons, zippers, thread, interfacing, but those are things I have on hand and they don't really count.  If I actually start making sewing progress - I can see this being a bad, bad place to be buying from.  I know first hand that Carolyn knows of what she speaks when she talks about fabric quality.  And I really don't need a fabulous source of quality fabric to add to my stash.  My friend Miss D. threatened to stage an intervention when she saw my fabric on the cutting table when we were doing the floors. 

A New Beignet

Yesterday was the monthly ASG meeting.  I left the house to attend the meeting and headed straight back home.  I've been sick and I didn't want to be out too long, but I didn't want to miss the meeting. 

I wore my denim beignet all day and while the fit still isn't perfect (it's too big!) it is comfortable. 

While I was moving fabric around and around with the studio redo - I ran across this great red courdory.  the print on top of it has been cut out in a jean style jacket for years.  Honestly - years.  I think, I'll work on finishing the jacket in the upcoming week and then make a new beignet to wear with it.  Should be a great Friday outfit, eh? 

Lazy Saturday

I didn't do much today.  I did stop by JoAnn's and pick up this new look pattern.  I've been looking for a knit dress pattern to use with the cute little print that I've had for awhile now. 

I think this might be it.  I will most likely make the view with the short sleeves because my own heating system is competely out of wack these days - short sleeves are the best option - it's so much easier to add a cardigan to get warm that to try and take sleeves off because you're too hot.

I'm hoping to make a muslin of this tomorrow.