Sewing Again

This morning I went into town and bought a gorgeous dress in Hobbs.  I'd seen it last week in the window and really, really loved it.   They didn't have my size on the rack but the more I thought about this dress, the more I thought it was the perfect dress for me.  So I went on line and my size was out of stock entirely.  But I still really, really wanted this dress.  All week I've been thinking about this dress, convinced it would be one of those items that would only leave my body to go through the laundry.  So, today I went in and asked if the window display dress was my size.... and it was.  And it fits like a glove.  So home it came. 

But what does this have to do with sewing I hear you cry.  Well.  I figured I needed a little short sleeve vest to go under the dress to keep it clean and nice.  So I had a root around in my stash and came out with three pieces of fabric that were about vest sized.  I had a remnant of a sort of pointelle or maybe thermal fabric in white, which was tubular but quite small.  I made this one without a pattern.  Put the tube onto the dress form, pinned in the shoulders, drew a neckline and armholes, cut them out, sewed up the shoulders, finished the neck/armhole/hem edges with overlocking and voila.  One sleeveless vest.  Well, more of a muscle vest as I did cut my armholes rather farther back than intended.  But it fits and its warm, that's all that matters.

But its not a lot of use for the purpose intended is it, being sleeveless in nature.  So, on to round two.  A remnant of pink knit of indeterminate type.  Quite unusual as its composed of two thin layers held together in some way.  It was left over from some winter PJ leggings and I know its lovely and warm, so using my TNT, self drafted top pattern I made a little vest with a slightly scooped neck, and sleeves that end just above the elbow.  Again the edges were all just overlocked.#

Then I found some natural colour silk jersey.  I got it from a place in Bradford, by mail order, some years ago, and there was enough for one vest left.  This vest also has overlocked edges and a scooped neckline, but I'm turning in the overlocking to the wrong side on this one and catching it down with hand stitching.  I didn't think silk jersey should be left just overlocked, it seemed wrong somehow.  So, once I have finished the hand sewing, I'll have two vests to go under my new dress so I can wear it next week.

I have been getting increasingly concerned by the sheer volume of stuff I have in my workroom and beyond.  Initially my concerns involved the yarn stash, which has now migrated out of the workroom and got into the living room too.  I decided for new year that I would buy no more yarn until I've knit up some of the stash.  After I went in the fabric cupboard today, I've extended the buying ban to fabrics as well.  In particular, the vast number of knit fabrics lurking in my stash has me very alarmed.  So much so that with the assistance of my mother, who is very dedicated to finding me more stuff to do than I can possibly find time to achieve,  I've paired knits and patterns for six tops and laid them out ready to be tackled.  But first I must alter the cream and zebra print enormo-cowl top, which when I tried it on today to show how lovely it was and how I should make more of these, drew cries of alarm from my mother over the poor fit.  I hadn't noticed the fit of the body, I just looked at the collar and the fancy print and thought "yes, you lovely thing you".  But once the flaws were pointed out to me, it did seem alarmingly obvious that I should not have worn this out in public.  I am to have assistance tomorrow to fix this garment.  If it is still wearable when I've done with it, I can wear it next week and if it works better, then I can make a couple more of them.  As it takes massive amounts of fabric due to the huge sleeves and collar, that should take care of some of the stash rather nicely.  :)