Well hello there!

I am guilty once again of not sharing for quite a while, that is because I genuinely didn’t feel I had made anything worth sharing! I had lost my enthusiasm and felt in adequate, I honestly didn’t know if I could turn it around or if I was capable of it.  The dress I will be telling you about today I have made before (a few weeks ago to be precise) and it was a disaster on a spectacular level.  But rather than being defeated I slapped my own legs and reminded myself that my sewing is still a massive part of life which brings me great satisfaction and pleasure.

So, version number two was under way, the pattern is Vogue 1469.  I have always loved vogue patterns for their individuality, I have made a few now and they’re always very different and can be a challenge to sew.  I made this version out of Tweed suiting bought from a shop only 5 minutes away from where I work (I have to lock myself in my car every day to stop myself from going there in my lunch hour).  This time I decided to omit the piping as it was a bit too bulky for my taste and looked awful.   The lined dress comprises of various different panels made from princess seams, with a raised neckline, scoop neck, side-front pockets, invisible back zipper and hemline vent –  plenty to keep me occupied and give me something to think about.

Without the piping the construction was a doddle, a couple of the seams needed matching and joining on the diagonal but other than that no big drama.  I love the pockets on the front, although I have to say initially I didn’t want to put them in but they worked a treat and look fab, the concealed zip was inserted and the back seam, the vent and the dress was ready for lining (doesn’t sound much does it, it really wasn’t much the second time around!)

When I have lined dresses in the past it has been done leaving the side seams open, attaching the lining around the neckedge and armhole first then sewing everything together. This time the dress was fully sewn (except for the shoulders) and the lining was the same, once attached the whole thing was turned the correct way around via the open shoulders, which were sewn last.

There is definitely something very different about this dress, the neckline front and back are quite out of the ordinary, having said that I think it also has a classic shape which is extenuated through the seams (a shift dress that is not quite a shift dress).  So my sewing mojo has been restored and my faith in my capability is well and truly on the mend.

Happy days are here again!