Wednesday 13 June 2012

Seasonal sewing?

Good morning. I know it's traditionally British to talk about the weather, so being traditionally British, that's what I'm going to do. Even though the sun is poking its head out today, the weeks and weeks of non-stop rain has put a serious dampener (see what I did there?!) on my summer sewing plans.  I've already made two dresses this summer (here and here) and was all set to make a further two sundresses that I've been really excited about.  But waking up on Monday to yet another cheery display of pissing rain, made me seriously question whether I should bother making the effort. It's not like I'll ever get to wear them this year....  

In my mega sulk on the subject, I even wondered whether to start work on my autumn wool jacket as it's more weather appropriate.  I may still stick to this plan (or at least make a start) as I think I need to take my time on this make.  I'm using the Abbey Coat pattern by the way, has anybody made it? Any tips?

Back to the dresses. Even if I'm not 100% sure I'll be making them or not, I can still describe them to you can't I? Because I'll burst if I don't....


First up is this off-white polka dot linen blend which I found at the bottom of a scrap bin at a vintage fair.  I plan to make my own version of a strappy 1950's sundress using Casey's tutorial.  I want to use black bias binding as a contrast trim, blatantly copied from Karen after seeing her lovely Sorbetto.  I've already worked out the bodice block, I just need to see what kind of skirt I can make out of the fabric.

Secondly is a cherry print halter neck dress, inspired by Marilyn Monroe's dress from The Misfits.


I wasn't even aware her dress had cherries on it until my husband alerted me to the fact one day.  He's a picture editor* and was editing some pictures from the film when he noticed it.  Dutifully he informed me at once (he knows I love anything to do with cherries) and I've been obsessed ever since.  I'm going to use this fabric...


... which is a lovely silky cotton I found on the internet for £7.  As I didn't want two dresses with strappy shoulder ties, I thought I'd make the cherry dress as a halter neck.  I've already got the perfect pattern in my stash - Vogue V8727. There's only 1.9m of cherry fabric, which is exactly the amount of fabric required for Version A.  So on this occasion I'll have to make a muslin...

Actually, having laid my plans bare has made me want to sew the dresses even more.  What do you all do in this situation?  Do you just sew what makes you happy, regardless of whether it's going to be worn straight away or not?  Or do you dutifully sew what's appropriate for the season and weather?  I know that the process of making them and finishing them will make me VERY happy, so my instinct is to just sew them anyway and not give a monkeys about the weather. I'll still have two lovely dresses for next year, should the sun decide to shine at all.  Sometimes, I think how a finished garment makes you feel is more important than how wearable it's going to be. Please chip in, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

And finally, one thing that made me feel totally cheery and summery (despite the evidence outside my window yesterday) was seeing this beautiful dress by Roisin, posted here.


She's only gone and named it the Oh Jane! dress in my honour, because of my well documented love of gingham!!!! It's probably the highlight of my sewing life. Thank you Roisin. x


*If there are any David Bowie fans out there (and I know for a fact that there are!), check out this post and accompanying photos my husband Jon wrote for the Getty Images Archive blog.  I LOVE the fact that the great man dons a full Ziggy Stardust outfit to do the decorating in!

29 comments:

  1. I'm so with you on this score, having had the same thought recently. I set myself the challenge this year to make a dress each month
    http://hereswhatididtoday.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/12%20in%2012
    and in my head they would mainly be summer dresses ready for the glorious British Summer we were going to experience this year, plus my annual holiday to hot France. Well...... The British part is not great to date and I daren't think about the French bit yet!
    I'm currently making another summer dress Simplicity 2588,(in gingham after you convinced me!) but I was thinking that I need to start thinking about colder weather, and start practicing sleeves and think about wool-type dresses. I guess the best solution to think about the season ahead rather than the one we are (allegedly) in.

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  2. These dresses are going to be great! I think you should go ahead and make them straight away. They'll give you a little sunny spot amidst all the rain. And you're bound to have at least one or two sunny days over the summer!

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  3. That dotty dress is going to be fantastic! (I hope that sewing it doesn't make you 'stroppy' though - sorry, your typo made me giggle!). And I bet your cherry halter dress will be a knock out.

    I'm about to start a maxi dress which will be pure summer material, but it's being made with a holiday in mind. Otherwise I try not to make anything that can't realistically be worn with a cardigan and tights! :)

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    1. Ha ha, stupid predictive text! Thanks, I've corrected it now, but maybe I should have left it in, 'stroppy' is probably more appropriate! x

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  4. If it provides any degree of comfort my Australian summer was very cold, wet and dreary. I know! I was outraged too! However I took matters into my own hands and resolutely wore bright, colourful summery clothes to work. They thought I was nuts but I explained I was channelling summer, if only in spirit, at least it cheered us all up!

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    1. Fabulous attitude, not nuts at all! x

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  5. I think you'll know what I'm going to say, Jane - which is sod the weather, sew the dresses you want to sew. This is for practical reasons - because if you wait for the sun to peep its head out, by the time you've made the dress it might have gone back in! If you make summery dresses now you might have to wait a bit to wear them but they will be there for the wearing when you do. See, TOTALLY practical. Nearly all of the summery dresses I've made recently have been made over dismal rainy weekends - the sun will come back out eventually.

    And I am so glad you were pleased (rather than creeped out) to be namechecked but sunny yellow gingham was just so you that I couldn't resist it!

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    1. Funnily enough, I DID know that's what you were going to say! You're absolutely right, yes, totally practical, of course! I think it's the relentless rain that was starting to make me despair. x

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  6. I have one word for you Jane - cardigans! Go with the summer sewing, we WILL have some good weather this summer and you will NEED that gorgeous cherry halter neck ready! x

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  7. I've been in exactly the same mood as you - lots of summer sewing lined up but zero mojo to actually get on with any of it because of the dreary weather (I've got my heating on right now!). I would vote for you sewing the two dresses because there have to be at least two sunny days yet to come.

    Thanks for the link to the Bowie pics - I've been a fan since I was about fifteen but had never seen those photos before.

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  8. Jane, I love your dress plans! Those fabrics are so cute. :)
    As for the type of sewing I advocate, I'm a big believer in sewing whatever you want whenever you want! I have to go where inspiration takes me, before I get distracted by something else, haha. I've found that if I plan a project to death, and try to be super practical about it, I often end up losing steam. I say sew what feels fun and makes you happy, even if it's not seasonally appropriate. :)

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  9. Sew now what you can wear later. It's not even officially Summer yet and I am still convinced we'll have this great Summer anyway.

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  10. Seem's like there are a few of us in the same predicament, I have a tonne of summery fabrics waiting to be sewn but i'm thinking of making a headstart on a jacket for autumn instead (that way it might actually be finished for autumn) Saying that, sew what make's you happy - a summer dress is easily converted to an autumn dress with the addition of a cardi and some tights x

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  11. You might consider using the cherry fabric to make Tasia's Lonsdale or Cambie dresses. They both have that retro look to them, and the Cambie can be made with a straight neckline according to her posted directions. Love Marilyn's dress, and especially the fabric. Look forward to seeing another one of your lovely creations!

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  12. I have to go with Roisin and say sod the weather! Sew for the love of it: because when that sunny day comes along you'll have something perfect all ready! We're getting lots of rain too, but will probably get hot in July/August - the way I figure it is that you could always wear your summer dresses with a cardi, even if the sun never shows up :)

    And me.... I'm always a fan of halter necks.... in ANY weather!! :D

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  13. I agree with you! Start sewing a summer dress but now thinking why bother! I have a few big winter projects planned and might start on them soon.

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  14. Your description of the Great British Monday rain situation is spot on .. God I've had enough of it now. Your dress plans are fabuloso though, definitely get them made and then head off to Malibu or wherever Marilyn would have sunned herself.
    Fancy you, having a dress named after you .. Mulberry will be calling next, just you wait!

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  15. Ooo!! I love the cherry fabric! Please, please make the cherry dress, just so I can stroke the computer screen and ooh at it! If it's cold you could aways put a red cardigan over it. :) And thanks for the link to the Bowie photos - what's not to like! ;)

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  16. British summer = cardigans! go for it!!
    Loved the Bowie pictures, that man was and still is so cool.

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  17. Well if it makes you feel any better, here in Chicago we can't decide what the weather is either. Scorching hot, chilly, and everything in-between. So I'm knitting a sweater and sewing a sun dress to be prepared.

    Love the cherry print, that feels so you I think! And the 50s sundress with the polka dots and black trim sound awesome! And if you must, you can always throw a cardigan on top and call it an autumn dress. ;)

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  18. Sew the dresses. I have also been wondering whether I should abandon summer dress sewing in favour of warmer things! This feeling also extends to my veg growing this year, growing things that need a lot of sun - why do I bother!! But I am sewing summer stuff and hopefully my peppers won't be a disaster this year. I'm with you on the cherry print, but I seam to be really drawn to strawberry prints (I've made a lot of strawberry print clothes). Looking forward to the reveal posts :)

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  19. I am so with you on sewing for the now!! However, I do think that the awesome cherry marilyn dress is something you could wear in an evening out, and is too pretty and exciting not to start. Sundress? Maybe that can wait, but cherry fabulousness could well dispel all gloom about the weather while you are making it :-)

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    1. YES!!!! That's the answer! Forget sundress and embrace cherry fabulousness!! Thanks Winnie. xx

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  20. Jane, I know how you feel - part of my=e has been thinking I should get to work more on the cardigan I'm knitting instead of the summer dress I want to make, but then I change my mind and hope that at some point over the next couple of months I might actually be able to wear a sundress! As a result, I have a completely random mix of projects on the go, but hopefully that'll cover all eventualities!

    Plus I am loving the fabric choices for your dresses so you're just going to have to make them because I want to see the finished items! That cherry print is just lovely.

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  21. Sew the dresses, then they will be ready to wear should we ever get some sun again (shhh, the sun is out here, but not for long I suspect!) The cherry dress aounds awesomeand should be made as sound as possible!

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  22. I agree, sew them and hang the weather. It will be sunny eventually and in the meanwhile there are cardigans and pretty little jackets and things. I love that cherry fabric.

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  23. Sew and be damned darling! I'm currently making the brightest orange sun dress ever and a very loud summer blouse. We will bring out the sun Jane :)

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  24. I 28th the suggestion to sew and sod the weather! I'm working on some super summery stuff right now too and it makes me smile, even if it has to wait for a sunnier day. Looking forward to your polka dots!

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  25. Am only a beginner but if I had the fabric I would make what would make me happy. I would definitely make some summer dresses irrespective of the weather. As you know the weather in the UK is schizo, it may be dreary now, next week you may have a few Indian Summer days. I love cherries too, so pretty and feminine.

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