Another Perhapd Ill-advised Diversion

I have cut pieces for another (simple) dress, but recently saw a post on the blog So, Zo covering the free Hyacinth bralette pattern from Ohhh Lulu.

Now, I am not, generally, looking for a...ah...soft bra. But.  I do have many odds and ends of knit fabrics, and, more pertinently, a small assortment of random bits of decorative elastics, which I very rarely use, and this seemed like a good opportunity to draw from that stash.

Also, sometimes, I get nasty headaches that make me think maybe I would be better off with everything being as soft as possible.  To date, worn out bras have served for that, but this will, perhaps, offer another option.

This pattern is very straightforward, with detailed instructions.   It probably took me longer to figure out which of my odd elastics to use for the pattern (and to pick some of them back off when I decided something else would work better) than it did to cut and assemble everything. 

 

The leopard print knit is from the same person who sent what I used for the seven slapdash sleep shirts, and the fold-over elastic is from a doll acquaintance. The white lace was salvaged from...something, and the black lace is from Deb's Lace (ordered for doll use; Deb's vast assortment of stretch laces have not interested me before...)  The white elastic is from Wawak, and the bra hardware was scavenged off of bras long-gone. 

The construction on this is rather slapdash, and I haven't even tried it on yet (it's cold!), but it was an interesting project to see if I could scrounge out of the stash.

Miss, Corrected

In late October, I made this dress and was very unhappy with it.  I removed the velvet and lace and still didn't like it, so folded it and put it aside in here.  I didn't plan to do anything with it but donate, but I didn't have anything else to donate, so I ignored it.

This morning, however, I decided that No!  I would try to save it!  So I carefully picked out the waist stitching, cut a wide band of ribbing, and got a spool of elastic and made it into a shirt

 

 and a skirt

 

 They're still not great, but they are significantly better.

Dark Librarian

I decided to make another layer cake dress, this time using an assortment of fabrics I'd gathered from my stash with the idea of using them for patchwork.  I then hesitated to do anything with them, because the color palette is on the darker and more muted end of my preferences

  

(Photo taken 11 days ago--I was just recovering from being sick when helloooo PMS, so I didn't work as fast as usual)

Turned out that that lack of jumping straight into patchwork gave me enough time to realize they'd work well for this kind of dress. 

As with the previous dress of this kind, it is absolutely ridiculously fun to wear.

Renovating an Old Work

I didn't photograph it when I made it, but photo evidence points to this bedspread having been made around 2014.  This photo was taken in 2019, when I was preparing to make a replacement because one of the fabrics--visible just behind Chip--was falling apart.

 

I then put the blanket and matching pillowcases in the linen closet, to be ignored.

I had the thought the other day that I could cut up the intact parts of the blanket to use to make another pullover dress...but...that didn't quite feel right.

So!

I ended up picking apart the damaged squares (a second one had started falling apart while in storage), removing the borders, and re-assembling everything into a new configuration.

It might go back into the linen closet, but at least it'll go in in better shape than it came out.

The Return of the Plaid

So!

I was extremely unhappy with the last two projects, and I think a lot of it had to do with the desire to go outside my usual fabric choices.

I still didn't want to default back to printed cottons, though, and decided to use some fabric I'd thrifted ages ago: a wool twill plaid in purples, with gray and white, bafflingly block fused with some super slippery synthetic tricot.

I knew I wanted to make a coat from it, and I knew the fact that the plaid was large meant I'd have to be cautious with fabric use, so none of my preferred princess seam, flared coat patterns would work.  I'd ordered a bunch of clearance patterns from the Simplicity site a while ago, including McCall's 7847 (image from the Simplicity site, where it's still available as a PDF as of this post)

It's a Learn to Sew pattern, meant for faux fur, but it had the simple construction I wanted, and I was confident it would work with this wool instead of faux fur. Even with the pattern matching (horizontal only), and adding way more interfacing than the pattern wanted, and adding welt pockets, it seemed like it should go together quickly.  And it did!  It's just that the work ended up being spread over nearly three weeks, because first there was PMS, which made me question the previous things I'd sewn and my ability to ever make anything good again, then there was my period, which destroyed motivation, and then I got sick (all in my tonsils), which also didn't do much for motivation.

Then I finally finished it and it was super disappointing as a coat

 but fantastic as a jacket. 

Another Miss

After the disappointment of the previous project, I wanted to try playing around with texture and knits again, but not as another jacket.

I am, once again, disappointed.

 

 

Incorrect Haphazard

So, a few months ago, I stumbled upon the random remnant patchwork creations of Get Crooked, and took special note of the patchwork bomber jacket.  Now, you know I like a patchwork bomber, but this kind, with a mix of textures, is something I hadn't done before--I had cut out a lot of knit squares with the intention of making one that would have had a little bit of texture variation, years ago, but I never did, and eventually donated the bag full of little squares.

I'm also not a particular fan of synthetic fleeces and fake furs and similar, but the use of those is a big part of the charm of the Get Crooked patchwork jackets, so I was determined to include at least a few of them, especially after acquiring the blanket that would provide fabric for the controller cardigan.  That's also why I thrifted some cheap (both in price-I-paid and construction) sweaters, parts of which I used for the recent quick hats.  I thought maybe mixing some nice textured sweater knits in with the synthetic fleeces, plus of course adding sequins, and making the color range more coordinated, might make for something in line with my general aesthetic.

It did not.  

 

 I'm not saying it's bad, just that it's bad for me.

Hasty Irregular Patchwork Bomber

I'm working on a slightly more involved irregular, multi-texture patchwork bomber jacket, and not feeling the most enthusiastic about it.  On Sunday, I decided that I wanted to use some large knit remnants--that I'd already decided would work together well for something--to make a quicker irregular patchwork bomber jacket for a friend I'd be seeing on Tuesday.

I finished it Monday night! 

 

It is cheerful and silly and meant to wear like a layer of blanket.  And it used a nice little amount of bulky fabric bits!

Quick Sweater Knit Skullcaps

I recently got some sweaters, on 99¢ day, with interesting textures but terrible construction, with the express idea of cutting them apart to use for a specific project.  I got everything out to start that project, but decided, first, that I'd make some quick little hats from them.

  

Controller Cardigan

A few months ago, I thrifted a textured minky blanket for The Child.  The Child did not find it as amusing as I thought, and I decided it would be fun(ny) to turn into a cardigan.

 

There's still a small chance The Child will decide it's the right kind of funny and take it, but probably not, so I expect it'll be mine.

Doll-themed Patchwork

(but not doll-size patchwork)

When I was cutting the patches for the tiered patchwork skirt I made in early August, I had started with a slightly different set of fabrics.  The more I cut, though, the more I realized that there were two distinct themes and color schemes developing, so I went ahead and cut enough for two skirts.

The original fabric selection for everything was centered around the doll print and coordinating madras that I used for a button up shirt.  I obviously went in a different direction for the first tiered patchwork skirt I made, and this one uses the assortment of prints and plaids more centered on the doll print. 

 

There's an odd assortment of "coordinating but not" colors in the doll print, and they're reflected pretty well in the additional print assortment.  

Even if it looks disjointed.

Découpage Dress Update

A little over six years ago, I made this dress.

 

It was one of the dresses I made when I was first starting to figure out sewing after weight gain, and I liked it enough that I kept it once I got things worked out.  The gray floral fabric, however, was starting to show loads of wear at the neckline and sleeve/skirt hems.  (I had thrifted a large quantity of it, and it was, perhaps, not the highest quality.)  I still like the appliqués, so I decided to figure out what I could do to replace all of the threadbare edges. 

That these may not have been the best options is irrelevant.  What's done is done.

Layers of Halloween

I have been shuffling through my cottons with the idea of making clothing that mixes them more aggressively than I usually do.  I am not one to shy away from mixing prints, but I do feel like I'd fallen into a rut of how I did it: a shirt with contrast bands; a dress with a single contrast print at the skirt hem; patchwork (so much patchwork.) 

The Gunne Sax/Gunne Sax Inspired dresses (and the dress I revisited while planning them) did help shake up my ideas of how and where to place the other prints, at least a little.  I definitely think that visible facings are something permanently added to my arsenal of contrast print placement options. (Those projects also helped me think more about using lace and trim just...in general, although it may be a while before that's something I think of with any frequency.)

I recently stumbled upon the "layer cake dresses" made by PerfectJacket on YouTube.  Those looked, in a general kind of way, like fun, so I grabbed a stack of Halloween and other prints and ran with my version of the idea

 

 It is ridiculous.

SciShirt

The last craft thrift store visit found a Michael Miller print called STEM Squad, which I immediately grabbed with The Child in mind.  The Child approved, and I planned to make another McCall's 6613...eventually.

I decided now was the time, and The Child requested that it not be a full button up shirt.  I think I managed to convey the fact that I could not make a regular ol' T-shirt from this fabric, but said I could make something like the Shrek print shirt I made six years ago (and which was recently banished from the house because Shrek is just not considered funny anymore.  I sent the shirt to a friend who has an online presence based in that kind of kitsch.)  That form factor was deemed acceptable, and I finished it today.

 

It was, appropriately, experimental.

Autumn Apron

After finishing the pumpkin print pullover dress last week, I thought it would be fun to make an apron to layer over it.  I had some autumn harvest themed print fabric—it had been in Mom's stash, and not a print I might have chosen on my own, since it's heavy on browns and oranges.  It does have a lot of sagey blue green, which happens to match well with one of the things I'd gotten recently from Deb's Lace, and which I'd almost (when calling the color "verdigris") used on the copper print pumpkin dress, but figured it would be too fussy.

Well, what's better than a fussy apron, eh? 

 

I mean, yeah, it could be fussier.  It could also be less prone to showing stains, but, honestly, if I ever wear this while cooking, I'd...probably wear my usual apron over it...

Halloween Eyesore (affectionate)

So.

In early 2001, I got some super clearance Halloween fabric from Joann.  I think it was about 4 yards?  Dark purple ground with a scattered "jack'o'lanterns in funny hats" print.

I used little bits of it over the years, including doing a dye/bleach experiment on a yard of it that turned the ground a nice pink, but I still had a solid two yards in the stash, waiting.

But then...

Time had passed and I had gotten more aware of things—one of the "funny hats" was a sombrero, and I had finally reached the state of knowing that was not acceptable.

I didn't want to donate the fabric, both because I didn't want it falling into the hands of someone who wouldn't think twice about the sombrero, and also because, cultural insensitivity aside, I liked the print.

I decided a while ago that I could appliqué something over every instance of the problematic pumpkin, and settled on the idea of hearts cut from a coordinating plaid fabric.

I did not, however, want to hand cut all however many hearts that would be, so I set the project aside.

A local friend got a laser cutter and said I could use it, so I thought that would be a great opportunity to make all the hearts. Then the friend moved. (well OK they moved closer, but they haven’t set the laser cutter back up yet.)

When I got the die cutter, I ordered a set of heart shaped dies, hoping one would be the right size to cover the corrupt curcurbit. And it is!

So I finally started seriously thinking about making a dress from that fabric...and knew I'd need to mix another print with it to have enough.  And that started me thinking of maybe making another GunneSax-type dress.  Bonus that the Gunnes Sax dress pattern I have has an A-line skirt, meaning that there would be fewer possible pumpkins to cover than if the upper skirt were a gathered rectangle.

A proper Gunne Sax dress, though, seemed too formal, so I decided to make (more) modifications to Fake Burda 6401/Mock McCall's 8197, with the goal being something informal and easy, with a pullover nonchalance.

I mean, "nonchalant" once you disregard the fact I had to appliqué 80-some hearts on the primary print.

 

Fortunately, I do still love zigzagging densely around little fused-on fabric cut outs, so that part wasn't so bad.

Simple Pumpkin Shift

I have been working on a probably way-over-complicated dress, part of the complication of which involves fusible web.  I knew I didn't have enough fusible web for all the parts I needed, so I did what I could, ordered more, and then did as much assembly as possible while waiting.  I decided that, when I got to the point where I could do no more, then I'd take a (relative) break by making a super simple dress while waiting for the fusible web replacement.

It's another Fake Burda 6401, this time back at the Burda imitation itself, and not the McCall's 8197 emulation (nor the experimental hybrid Gunne Sax abomination that's using the fusible webbing...)  I also followed the lead of the all-black Fake Burda 6401 with the tiered skirt, and did that with this, which did make it a little fussier than it could have been, but still not bad, especially since I managed to get the ruffler set right for what I needed. 

I was able to get it cut out and assembled all today!

Gunne Sax Sorbet

I had picked three (actually four) fabrics to use for my first try at making a Gunne Sax dress, cut everything out, then realized I didn't want to use the polyester-heavy rose print fabric with the other prints, so I found another fabric to coordinate with that and made a different dress than I'd originally intended.

That did leave me with all of the other fabrics cut out and ready to go, so I poked and prodded my stash until it coughed up another fabric that would be suitable for this pattern and coordinate with the other two print fabrics.  (The fourth fabric is a solid, used in areas that aren't meant to be seen.)  I settled on what was left of the pink kettle cloth, left over from a long skirt I made last year.

I knew the remains of the kettle cloth probably wouldn't be enough to make the peplum, and I was fine with that.  It turned out, though, that there also wasn't enough to cut the full sleeves, which turned out better than fine, because I had had a growing ambivalence about making a long sleeved dress from such bright and summery colors.  Short sleeves easily rectified that!

 

The hem volume is ridiculous, and that's with making it about a yard less because I was, originally, working with only the cluny lace I had, and my largest, widest piece was only 4½ yards, while the pattern wanted 5 3/8 yards.  Of course I didn't let that stop me.

Small Shirt

I have not been posting, here, much of the doll clothes I've been making.  This is mostly because I haven't been making as many, but I am getting ready to send a box of doll stuff to a friend, and I'm finally making myself sit down and sew the things I've been planning for that.

The one I'm sharing here is another attempt at a proper menswear-style shirt, with front band and stand collar, although this one is smaller than the version I made previously for a vintage Ken, and, also, I realized that I did not want to subject my friend to having to deal with fastening wonky working buttonholes at that scale, so I used the smallest 0000 vintage snaps I had (I have modern 0000 snaps that are not as small.)

 

I didn't add fusible webbing inside the collar to act as interfacing, and that's a slight regret.  I also didn't do snaps at the cuffs, as much because I realized the intended doll's hands will fit through the cuffs if they're tacked closed as it was because I didn't have anymore of the white buttons.

I did do a little pleat in the back of this shirt, because the old Blythe-size shirt pattern I (mostly) used had one. (It's my own pattern.) 

I forgot to take a photo with a proper ruler, to give a sense of scale, but I was able to crop this photo to include a bit of the cutting mat on my sewing table.

I still don't think I could have a chance of making this shirt from anything but the most delicate cottons.  This has become the closest I've gotten to wanting Liberty tana lawn for anything--still, this second-hand, "leftover from someone else buying a human-size shirt and cutting it up for their own doll clothes" fabric worked really well.

Getting In the Gunne Sax

 Just about ten years ago exactly, I thrifted this pattern. 

Simplicity 8729, an official Gunne Sax pattern from 1978.  It's a home sewing version of a "real" Gunne Sax style that had been made in a few variations for sale.  It's also cut in size 6, which is way  too small for me.

I borrowed elements from Butterick 6146 to work out a bodice in my size

...I didn't actually have everything worked out when I made this dress, but this was meant as more of a test anyway.

This isn't unwearable (well...more thoughts on that later), but it does have some weirdness. I think I'll have it right the next time!

An Enhanced Dress

Near the end of 2023, I used some fabric I really liked to make a dress that turned out rather short.  At the time I thought the length wouldn't bother me.

I was wrong.

Sometimes I wore a skirt under it for decorative length, but, mostly, I looked at it and despaired.  I liked the print too much to let it go, and it took until just a few days ago to realize that I could remove that pink contrast at the bottom of the skirt and add something longer. 

This revelation snowballed, and I ended up adding a lot of other things to the dress, too.

 

 I could have added more, but...didn't wanna.

Terracotta Tank Top

And here's another New Look 6766 tank top!

 

Once again made with fabric sent by the same person who provided the fabric used for my first two versions of this.  This time, though, it was a proper piece of yardage, of just the right length, making it the first time I've cut this pattern without having to get creative.  It was nice!

Star Tank

Trying Simplicity 8143 again, and not begrudging the fact that part of the usable fabric was narrower (and shorter) than even the smallest size of the pattern wanted, and that I would have to cut the ribbing bands significantly shorter than I had in the previous version.  These limitations made me remove more than I probably would have on my own, and the resulting item fits much better than the first try.

 

 The bit that need improvisation was completely unrelated.

A Different Tank Top Pattern

 I thrifted Simplicity Super Saver 8143, from 1987, a forgotten number of years ago. 

It always looked useful, but I rarely had the right kind of fabric for it.  Once I finally had some, I discovered the tissue had been cut in size 6 (for the top; the skirt was cut in size 10, and I have yet to have any reason to concern myself over that) and despaired, since that was so small.

The recent bout of experimenting with the tank top from New Look 6766 led me to re-evaluate the idea of "correct size" when it comes to a tank top sewing pattern.  Stretch makes a big difference.

And there's loads of stretch in a rib knit, with plenty left of the pale peach rib knit I got from the craft thrift store about two years ago, so I went ahead and cut that in the available size.  I did compensate a bit in sewing by making the side seams only about ¼".  I probably didn't need to do that, because, again: stretch.

But, hey, my main reason for wanting a tank top like this is to layer in winter, and this will certainly work for that.

Tank Map

About four years ago, I made a shirt that mixed other fabrics with the small amount of an extremely late 80s/early 90s map print cotton(y) jersey.  I went on to wear the shirt just enough to realize that the shape was very wrong for my tastes and layering propensities.

I kept the shirt because I did still like the ridiculous print, and I eventually moved it out of my closet and into the fabric stash, as much for potential re-use of the print part as because I was not going to just give away that much black rib knit.  I can use that stuff.

Now that I've added the tank top from New Look 6766 to my sewing repertoire, I have a potential use for small yardages of knits.  I dug out that shirt and found that I could just barely (it would need minor piecing at the hem again) squeeze the body of the tank top from the map knit in the shirt.

(the black rib knit used here was not that which was used in that shirt, but instead something thinner.)

Trying a Tank Top 2

Some of the improvisations needed to make the previous project were prompted by the narrowness of the fabric I was working with.  I liked the result, and turned to another long narrow piece of fabric, supplied by the same acquaintance, for a second try.

This leftover fabric was not the same length as the first, so I wasn't going to be able to cut the back as two pieces, and the width was such that I definitely couldn't cut the front on the fold

Not, at least, in size 12.

I referred to one of my worn out thrifted tank tops, and realized that, while it fit fine, it was very narrow when on its own.  The fabric I wanted to use next was extremely stretchy, so I decided to try making a very narrow version of the New Look 6766 tank top.

 

 Did I mention it was narrow?

Trying a Tank Top

I have, quite accidentally, learned that tank tops are trendy right now.  While I don't care about trends, that did remind me that my supply of thrifted tank tops--worn as extra abdominal warmth layers in winter--is showing its age, so maybe I could try making a few?

I started with some of the leftover knit fabric the friend sent, smaller pieces of which I used for some sleep shirts.  The larger pieces of the fabric I still had weren't, mostly, much larger, so, instead of a traditional tank top, I tried a strappy style.

Specifically, it's the shirt from New Look 6766, which is a pattern I have used may times, but not for the shirt.  I suspect that, when I found it at a thrift store and decided to get it at all, I figured I'd never make the shirt.

Well, here we are. 

 

It works!

A More Traditional Kind of Patchwork Skirt

If there is a quintessential example of my approach to patchwork--heavier fabrics, relatively structured--it would probably be the long A-line skirt I made last summer.

I decided I would put aside my propensity for structured patchwork and try a more "normal" approach of sewing strips of squares and gathering them into tiers for a skirt.

It worked out nicely.

3263: The Destination (for now)

So, when I made the button up shirt with the madras and doll print, I was hoping I'd have enough of the doll print left to eke out a hacked Burda 7831, but, no.  I almost set the last piece of the doll print aside for patchwork, but then, no.  I still really wanted a simple little shirt made from it, something I could wear under a cardigan.  (Why was the vision of a cardigan so strong?  Dunno.  But it was.)  And that's what prompted me to figure out fit adjustments for Simplicity 3263.

Although...there still technically wasn't enough of the doll print left, so I shortened it by 3½" 

 

 It works.

3263: Tweaking

 I made some of the changes mentioned in the previous post and ended up here

 

 The changes did help!

3263: The Hacking Begins

I re-acquired a vintage pattern I'd once had, in what is nominally my correct current size, and I was...not happy with how it fit out of the envelope.  I resolved to try tracing and altering the pattern, and then did not do that for a few months.

Here's the first try

 

I probably spent as much time trying to decide which fabric I'd be OK with not working out as I spent making the first round of pattern edits—which turned out surprisingly promising.  Still not sure about that print.

Madras and Roses in the Cards

The last shirt I made involved some madras, and this project used the rest of it (scraps aside.)

It started as a simple Fake Burda 6401/Mock McCall's 8197.

But.

I have recently been exposed to Magnolia Pearl, and while, honestly, I recoil from the shapeless post-apocalyptic whimsy of the brand, it did remind me that I can put appliqués on dresses (as opposed to the project idea I've had for an appliquéd jacket, fabrics for which I've been squirreling away already.)  It seems to have been six years since I last added appliqués to a dress.

So, I dug around for my largest chintz motifs, and anything else I might add, and, after taking way too long to sew the basic, simple dress itself, I ended up with this 

 

Were these the best decisions?  Doesn't matter! Those appliqués aren't going anywhere now!

Mad(ras) About Dolls

The last trip to the craft thrift store saw me bring home an obnoxious doll print and a madras that coordinates so incredibly well with that doll print that I strongly suspect they were donated from the same stash.  I put them together for another McCall's 6613 (with all my usual deviations from the pattern as given.)

 

 When I say a print is obnoxious, I mean it.  I am also cackling gleefully while saying it.

Leopard & Chintz

Eleven years ago, I made a shirt that mixed a floral and a leopard print.  It was very cute, but I changed size and shape enough that it no longer fit, and I gave it away.

And now I've made another version!

 

 It is less serious and more campy, and I am very happy with it. 

Lime Leopard Cardigan

The parcel of fabric so generously sent for potential doll use also included one yard of a very large lime green leopard print 60" wide knit.  I immediately knew I wanted to use it for Simplicity 8951—and, surprisingly quickly, I did 

 

 

Pastel Rainbow Stripe Three-quarter Sleeve Cardigan with Trim

As mentioned in the last post, I recently received a very generous amount of fabric scraps left over from someone's clothing projects.  I had quickly sorted the larger pieces into the larger yardage storage when I first got them, and I decided the other day to sort all of my ribbing, more fully integrating the new stuff with what I already had.

This quickly showed me that I now had enough rib knits to make a complete, if pastel, rainbow.

Well, what could I make from this combination?  I did a bunch of burn tests and confirmed that all of them were, if not fully synthetic, then at least still blends (except for the yellow—it sparked and flared like a sparkler, and dripped, showing that it's 100% nylon.)  That meant I didn't necessarily want it in direct contact with my underarm area, so...cardigan?

I got out Simplicity 8951, for once planning to go with its as-given ¾-length sleeves, since they're the same length as the cardigan body, which meant I wouldn't have to make any length adjustments to the stripes.

I cut the strips for the shoulder area much wider than everything else, because I wasn't sure how much area would be needed to cut the tops of the shoulders and sleeves, and I cut everything else in 3½" strips.  I sewed everything together with roughly 3/8" seam allowances, using straight stitch for the assembly and serging the seam allowances.  I cut the pattern pieces from those assembled strips, figuring that would be a lot less hassle than trying to cut each strip also in the proper shape before assembly.

I did refer back to the post about making the patchwork cardigan, and that reminded me to put a drop of FrayCheck on each seam end right after it was cut, to hold it together long enough to get sewn into a construction seam.

I had originally planned to cut the neckband, cuffs, and waistband from the pale pink, just because I had so much of it left.  Once I realized that I would be most likely to wear the cardigan with my black dresses, I changed the plan to cutting those bits from black.

I was also not super happy with how the seam allowances between the stripes were laying, so I considered top stitching through them to hold everything down.  But what color?

I had done the strip assembly and initial body construction in beige, but I didn't really want that visible.  Black top stitching would make sense, but I felt it would look rather underwhelming against all of the other colors.

So...what about adding black trims...? And a different one at every seam.

Sure, why not. 

After that, black buttons were only logical.

Seven Slapdash Sleep Shirts

For quite a while, I've been sleeping in thrifted T-shirts that had gotten too worn out in everyday use.  I'd thrift a shirt, wear it until it started developing holes or other signs of damage, and, if I didn't creatively repair them for continued dressing use, retire them to the pajama drawer.  However, since I drastically cut back how much I thrift, my T-shirt supply has dwindled, and the pajama shirts have started more or less disintegrating.

Not too long ago, someone I've known online for ages asked if I'd like some fabric—left over from her clothing sewing projects—that should be good for doll clothes, and I said Sure, Thanks!  The parcel arrived and the generous amount of knit cloth was indeed a good weight for doll clothes.  The quantity would have taken me years to sew through if limited only to doll use (and probably had a lot passed on to other doll sewing people—in fact, I just sent two huge boxes of doll appropriate fabric remnants off myself); however, a lot of the pieces were large enough to be able to use for ribbing in person-sized sewing projects, so I sorted out those bigger pieces and put them on the large yardage shelves, then crammed the rest into the small yardage knits drawer.

I realized a few days ago that I just might be able to solve the sleep shirt problem with the larger odds'n'ends of the gift knits.

And I did!

Groovy

A friend thrifted a big bold piece of PeterMax-inspired fabric, and later surprised me with it.

The selvedge says Peter Pan Fabrics, but, given that Peter Pan Fabrics was around from the 1940s to the early 2000s and pretty much never changed the way they put their name in their (unlicensed print) selvedges, I am genuinely unsure if the fabric really is from the late 1960s/early 1970s, or if it's from the late 1990s revival of that groovy era aesthetic.

Either way, it's vintage, right?

After receiving the surprise package containing this fabric, I pretty quickly thought it would be a lot of fun to make it into a button up dress shirt.

I did not so quickly get around to making it, but, now I have.

 

It could never have been anything but ridiculous.

Petticoat Function

When making the lattice print skirt, I got very sidetracked by the decision to line it—sidetracked because the fabric I thought I would use had been set aside to make a petticoat.  I knew it wouldn't take all of it to make the petticoat, but I didn't want to use it in the skirt lining first, then discover there wasn't enough left to make the petticoat.  So!  Pause the lattice skirt to make the petticoat.