Hi everyone,
I was going to take a short video or even some pictures of me collecting the eggs so you could watch how simple it is… but when I got out there, they had all laid their eggs for the day… 16 hens and 16 eggs! Woohoo! I’ll try again!
I was working on Natasha’s dress today and I have to admit, “I may NEVER sew a dress in Voile fabric again!” It is just too delicate and takes too much time to be that fussy! I try to be a perfectionist, but sewing this “kleenex-like” fabric is crazy!! Every single stitch has to be so precise and it’s just too dainty and sheer for the sewing I like to do.
I do have to admit that the dress looks wonderful on Natasha… so dressy and feminine!
Sorry, some of my pictures have that fuzzy or blurry look to them… I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong when it does that!
You can see that I chopped off the sleeves and made them short. It just wasn’t looking like I had in my mind, so I shortened them and added elastic.
I did all that without taking out the sleeves… Since I had already sewn the sleeve in, serged the edges, then topstitched close to the edge of the sleeve, I wasn’t relishing the idea of taking the sleeve out. So, I very carefully and painstakingly cut the sleeves to the same length, turned them up, then turned them up again and made a casing for the elastic.
I was using my vintage 1956 Featherweight sewing machine, which has a smaller foot and was able to do the sleeve adjustment without too much hassle. The short puffed sleeves were my favorite of the 3 lengths anyway. (Except in my pictures… every single one
I took had one sleeve higher than the other.) UGH!
Then You can see I added the circle skirt. It will have a slip to go under it, but I didn’t get that done. I took all the trim off the blouse and used those little tufted bias strips around the bottom of the hem. I thought that was better than just a rolled hem. It’s pretty flattering on Natasha and she likes it. She’s worried that it need a belt or sash, and I told her that was coming!
The back has 3 little pink buttons with hidden snaps underneath. I made a narrow placket at the back of the skirt about 2 1/2″ long so it’s easier to open up and put the dress on your doll. I knew it would be easier to hem the dress if it was all one piece that went around the dress without an opening to the hem in the back.
Here she is looking sweet as sweet can be!
That’s it for me today. I’m heading to bed and will see you tomorrow!
Blessings, Jeanne
Natasha’s dress is so pretty, and I’m glad you used that picot edge on the hem as well as the neckline. I have to say, though, I did like the longer sleeves, but that’s just me.
Yes, voile can be tricky to sew on! Using your Featherweight was aa good idea (either that, or a 1/4″ foot on your regular machine), as you have more control in small areas. A fine needle (65) and shorter stitch length also help.
When I was in Home Ec, 9th grade, we had moved out here and my “new” teacher realized I knew my way around a sewing machine, so for my final project, I was allowed to make anything I wanted! I chose a voile dress with French seams. It had a gathered skirt and 3/4 length sleeves. I got an A on it. Then maybe 4-5 years later, I made another voile dress in a floral print (aqua, I think, was the main color). I seem to remember making another voile garment, too, but I don’t recall offhand just what.
yes, so fun when our home ec teachers find out we know a thing or two about sewing. I remember in 7th grade helping my class mates with their zippers – a piece of cake for me, but what a struggle for newbies.
Kind of funny, but in my case, I hadn’t done sewing much at all before taking sewing in 8th grade. At the end of the year, there was always a fashion show where everyone wore their creations which were mostly a gathered skirt and something else that I can’t remember. Most others wore the two items they made but my teacher made me wear three. The black and white print dress with set in sleeves and underarm zipper. I remember that dress well. I really did not want to make three changes for the show, but I did. Learning all of the different seam types and to make button holes etc. was a great experience for me. I did have a good teacher too. The teacher wanted me to take pattern making the next year, but I took French instead. French was useful too, but I’ve always regretted not taking pattern making. đ
In 7th grade sewing we made aprons. I still have mine. We had to narrow hem the sides of the ties and use an invisible stitch. That took a while to do for sure. In 8th grade it was gathered skirts. I think that’s when A-line skirts were popular so no one wanted to wear theirs. I didn’t have a choice. Those gathered skirts were so disliked that people gave them to the office and if you came to school with a too short skirt on you were sent to the office and given one of those to wear for the day. I took French in 11th grade. I had taken art in 10th grade but decided I wanted to learn a language and my mother had French learning materials from her school days. I took it as an elective because my course didn’t require it. I took another year as a senior. Since I’ve never really used French and it wasn’t even useful when I went to France, I think I would have been better off with pattern making. But my school didn’t offer that.
Oh my, what a sweet little dress, Jeanne! I too, like some, love the sleeves shorter. I am wondering if you put that fine netting inside the sleeves like you usually do, to help them stand up better?
I also love that you made the hemline different and original with that special edging. The skirt flares out pretty well, just by itself, so Iâm hoping a slip wonât add too much to the lines of the dress. I like material like that to be âflowyâ and have movement, not just sticking straight out.
A pretty pink sash with a big bow in the would be perfect for this! Maybe a little nosegay for her to hold too! This could even be a flower girl dress!
Oh, Charlotte, you already could sew that well in 9th grade? I think I was just starting to hone in my so called sewing skills in Home Ec. The big thing at that time was the obligatory apron for ME! Of course, I was sewing doll clothes, but thatâs not quite the same!
I was so glad that we didn’t have to make an apron in my 8th grade sewing class. We made a gathered skirt without a pattern. I don’t remember ever wearing it though. đ
Hi Linda. Yes, a bunch of my class had been in 4H sewing since we were in 5th grade! I had already made that circle skirt (my first project!), a skirt and weskit, a jumper and blouse, and a rolled-collar dress, and that home ec teacher had us all start with aprons again. We were highly insulted!! LOL
Bonjour.J’aime mieux,moi aussi,les manches plus courtes;la robe est vraiment adorable avec cet ourlet et une ceinture sera une jolie finition.Quand j’Ă©tais plus jeune,(il y a longtemps) je travaillais avec ma maman et une annĂ©e, nous avons fait , douze robes de mariĂ©e et celles des demoiselles d’honneur.Tout cela ,dans des tissus trĂšs fins,ou du satin.Nous utilisions,donc une plaque Ă aiguille ,pour le point droit et des aiguilles trĂšs fines. Pour moi,c’est le souvenir d’une corvĂ©e et d’un travail usant…et je dĂ©teste travailler ce genre de tissu ! Belle journĂ©e .
Good morning. đ Wednesday already.
I hope everyone has a lovely day.
Jeanne, this dress is really cute! very sweet. I love the sleeves, good design choice!
Yes, a little belt would be nice.
I am sewing snaps on the dress I made for Emilia. Tricky business!
I think we are going to have sunshine today.
I have not decided what mischief to get up to today…. hmmmm, Probably just sewing and chores
Can’t wait to see pics of your dress for Emilia, with the sweater. đ
Love the picot trim, such a nice delicate touch. Like Charlotte I did like the longer sleeves, short puffy sleeves seem very 50âs to me. Like Linda I like the idea of a flowy kind of skirt with a wide sash that has a big bow in back. And also like Linda a little nosegay with delicate lace or sparkly tulle cupping the flowers and narrow long streaming ribbons. Maybe some voile scraps stitched together for a free form style headband? Canât wait to see how you finish it.
Have a good day all
Oops! Didnât mean for my comment to be a reply!
I want to thank you all for your compliments yesterday for my RRFF Lavender, wearing the red sweater made by Anne. When I found out I won it, I realized I don’t really have extra clothes for my RRFFs, and didn’t have anything that the sweater would look good with. So, I went to ebay and found the cute black and white houndstooth outfit. What you can’t see are the houndstooth suspenders and an attached white blouse with short puffed sleeves and little red buttons down the front. It’s very cute. It looked perfect for the sweater, so I got it, and because the sweater appeared to be taking a tricycle from Illinois to Indiana, I got the outfit long before I got the sweater. Thank you, Anne, for your generosity in giving the sweaters to Jeanne, and to you, Jeanne, for sharing them with us!
I am really loving the work in progress for Little Darlings! Can’t wait to see what else will be added for embellishment.
Oh, love the tricycle ride for delivery! đ
Love the tricycle inference. I was wondering what was keeping my sweater from arriving. Maybe that was its problem too.
Natasha’s dress is looking so sweet. I do love the shorter sleeves, but miss the lace trim. Oh well. Can’t wait to see the sash and other finishing touches. Sorry about the voile experience, but the hard work is resulting in such a lovely dress. Good work Jeanne!
As to patterns, I fiddled awhile with the new pattern and even traced it before finding out that I had it all wrong with the front bodice attached backwards, so I gave up and will try again hopefully today to rearrange the pattern pieces to make it as I think it should be. Or, maybe I can just buy another pattern that isn’t put together in such a strange way.
Here, I definitely need to get on those pesky weeds. They are everywhere and flourishing. And it’s the same at the other house, so I have double trouble.
I think we’re heading to Costco today to pick up lawn fertilizer and some other stuff like corned beef. Can’t believe that St. Paddy’s Day will be here before we know it. đ
I recently used a pattern for a top that I had made before and realized I had the bodice backwards before. But it seemed to fit both ways, so I just left it and if I do the pattern again I will decide which way I prefer. Probably with the opening in the back where I can use Velcro. To the front it’s snaps and buttons. Cute but a pain to do.
Oh, I should get to Costco for corned beef, too. They have the BEST corned beef! I might try baking it this year. My best friend does that and she says it’s really good. I can package it up and freeze some for future use, too, as I have done when I’ve boiled the corned beef. So yummy!
The dress is so lovey, Jeanne! I love the shorter sleeves and the hem of the dress. I agree with Linda for the skirt to be flowing, so the under skirt doesn’t need to be much. This really is a winner!
We seem to be going some where, so many mornings but it is usually 3 times a week. On Wednesdays it is our morning with our priest coming to us for a service, right down the street. Lots of fog lately, weather is a bit cold, but is supposed to be a lot warmer next week. I would love to put my pot plants back out on the porch! I heard that some humming birds have showed up so we have to get their food out, spring is trying to get here! Y’all have a good day!
What a sweet little dress and so perfect for Spring and Easter. I liked the other sleeves, but these do look nice and since the fabric is so soft probably work better in the long run. The neckline is so pretty and the hem of the skirt is so different and perfect for the dress. I like the idea of a nice sash and bow. I’ve sewed a lot with voile. For some reason it was the fabric of choice for fancy dresses and gowns when I was just out of high school. I know my friend that sewed made a lot of voile clothes too.
I went walking for a half mile yesterday afternoon. It was warm but the breeze was perfect and helped keep the heat down. I think I could have done the whole half mile without stopping but it was such a pretty day I stopped halfway and sat down for a few minutes. I have a chiro appointment this afternoon. With all this walking I want to make sure my body is straight until I build my strength back up. I don’t see that yet.
Another disappearing comment.
I agree with Linda about the sash and the flowers. The shoes are a perfect match. The voile is a pain, but for years it will appear in slideshows and get deserved compliments. We’ll enjoy it time and time again.
All the fun you are having reminds me of the time my sister-in-law decided, without consulting me, that she and I would alter her soon-to-be-daughter-in-law’s $1600 wedding dress. My hands shake and her sight was going, but we did it. The bride was beautiful and the marriage a success, but I’m glad she was the last bride. I’m not sure we could mange another dress or find another bride that easy to work with.