Poor me!

Well that's what you'll think after you read the next few sentences. You see, I've just finished having kids, three in enough. I've been pregnant and breastfeeding pretty much for over 4 years now and my body is finally back to being mine. It's also back to being 'pre-baby' weight (I know, poor me!). But there are a few problems with this you see, because my body has been in such a changing state for so long my wardrobe has taken a major beating. I've also lost a bit more weight than my original size (prior to kids I was the same size for about a decade or so) so any clothes that remain in my wardrobe are now too big (yes, again, poor me!).

Anyway, my money situation doesn't currently allow me to go out and buy a new wardrobe and you know, it probably won't allow that for quite a while. We do live on a single income with three kids and have a Sydney mortgage - need I say more??

So as I can sew I'm planning and have begun making my new summer wardrobe. This post documents my progress so far, my current plans will be outlined tomorrow and hopefully some of my plans will eventuate and provide passable results which can be worn this summer at home, uni and when doing prac teaching at school. My fingers are crossed.....

So this my progress so far..... (this might be a long post so grab a cup of tea if you want to hang around)

The Burda dress aka the nuns dress/school uniform.

When I saw this pattern in the Summer 2010 catalogue while browsing around Spotlight last month it sang to me. I resisted buying it because it wasn't on sale, but straight away I thought it would be awesome in lightweight charcoal linen blend with a contrast ribbon. I came home and looked it up on Pattern Review and then saw it here on Sew Mama Sew and knew I needed to make it.

The next week when I returned to Spotlight to buy some thermal backing for a friends curtain I was fixing (thanks Abigail!) the Burda patterns were 50% off - hooray!! Not only that, but linen blends were also on sale and they had charcoal colour!! Woot woot!! the Spotlight gods were shining on me that day.

This dress whipped up quite quickly, but during the construction a friend pointed out a few things. In charcoal linen it looks: a) like a school uniform tunic and b.like a nun's dress.

To combat this, I shortened the hem to just above the knee. I also wear it with 3/4 tights and violet ballet flats like this picture and I think it works. I think it's OK and I have worn it at least 4 times now, which is pretty good I think.

A cardi also lightens the look and makes it look a little less serious and I love, love, love the ribbon detail. I used a lime, cranberry and violet stripe grosgrain ribbon and its perfect for giving shape without having to worry about what belt to wear.

I'm hoping to make it again, but probably in a patterned, lightweight fabric - maybe even a plaid like on Sew Mama Sew.

The Made By Wendy Dress aka the disaster

I've had this pattern for a while but have always resisted making it due to the neckline - it's just too high! But after seeing it here on Sew Mama Sew and with a black stretch denim remanent ready to hand I figured I had nothing to lose.

Oh how I was wrong! I didn't even finish making it as I knew I would never wear it!

This is the unfinished neckline and arms. I used contrasting Echino 'birds hanging' fabric in yellow for the armband and neck facings, which looked cool, but not cool enough to redeem this dress.

Now many disspointed sewers would throw this in the bin or pack it away never to be seen again, but me? I'm too much of a tightwad to let this nice denim to go to waste. So I cut it off and made a simple A-line skirt.

The back darts sewn from the dress were still relevant so I kept them. To make the waistband (in quite a fast, lazy manner) I simply rolled down the waistline to where I wanted it to be and sewed an interfaced band around the inside, inserted a zipper in the back and created a tab with button for a little interest and security.

I also faced the hem with the same contrasting fabric, which is one of my new favourites, it's Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow.

I'm pretty happy with this skirt and it's super wearable and comfortable. I plan to use the redundant arms of the dress to make a pair of stretch denim pants for Adele, once I change the thread colour on my overlocker.

The Socialite Dress - in production

So I first noticed this pattern a while ago and was interested, but couldn't bring myself to part with the huge $$ to buy it. Recently though, I found a very good friend had a copy and have been lent it - yay!! The reason for my keen interest now was that I stumbled on this dress and fell in love. Since then I've also seen it here. Now the fabric used for these dresses is now out of print and in Australia, is very very expensive, but with some of my remaining market money I was able to buy some from here.

Yes this is quite expensive, but here's my justification for the purchase: 1. the money was made by me so I should be able to spend it on me, 2. it's a mid weight fabric so should wash and wear easily and won't be see though like quilting or lighter weight fabric, 3. I love, love, love it - so there.

Anyway, I'm not game enough to cut into it without a trial run on the pattern so have made up this dress.

It looks a little like a nighty without the belt, but that's the fabric. It's a lightweight charcoal and white cotton shirting fabric. I'm hoping I'll also wear this dress this summer as it'll be light and cool.

So far I'm happy with the dress, but it is a little snug in the armpits, so plan to add an extra inch to half inch to the shoulders which will bring down the neckline a smidge and open the armholes a little.

Hopefully I'll pre-wash the fabric this week and will have a new dress to show for it soon.

This post has turned out to be quite mamoth, so tomorrow I'll post my future plans for my new summer wardrobe. Hopefully you're still interested??