Works in Progress

In the spirit of Sew your Stash September I spent an afternoon cutting out a number of projects ready to sew from my stashed fabric. I may not manage to get all these beauties sewn up by the end of September but I can certainly try my best.

One of these WIP's has been hanging around since last year (Tilly's Cleo Dungaree Dress).

This Cleo is actually 75% finished. I put it on the back burner after loosing interest because it needed some work on fitting. Hopefully I'll get it completed in the next few weeks. The stash fabrics are the burgundy corduroy remnants from my McCalls M6696 and the pink lining fabric I had just enough leftover from my first Colette Ginger skirt.

Next up my second By Hand London Charlotte skirt (first here). This is cut out of the remnants of my Sew Over It Ultimate Shift Dress using this beautiful dark floral mix linen bought from SOI. 

It is hard to see the fabric chosen for my next project. It is a beautiful navy wool crepe that I've had in my stash for ever and I thought it would be perfect for a pair of Sew Over It Cigarette Pants. I used this lovely print remnant from the dress below for the waistband and pockets.

I cut out my third Dixie DIY Bonnell Dress (first and second here) in this beautiful striped / tropical flower print cotton. It was a gift from my friend Sophie from Hong Kong (who always buys me the most lovely fabrics. Previous fabric gifts have been made into this, this, this and this).  Maybe this dress is a little out of season to sew it now?

 And the final item that has been cut out ready to sew is my second McCalls 6696 Shirt Dress in a navy blue printed Chambray I bought from Ray Stitch earlier in the year. Lots to be getting on with!

Polka Dot Emery Dress

I can't believe it has taken me so long to sew the classic Christine Haynes Emery Dress.

I used two metres of a cheap £2 p/m polka dot viscose that I bought from the Man Outside Iceland at Chapel Street market in Islington. I saw this as a wearable toile if things went well and if it was a disaster it was only £4 and a date with a seam-ripper. 

On a side note I am joining Jo at Stuff Jo Has Made blog who is encouraging us all to Sew Your Stash September! More details here. The three things I have made in September have all been from my stash and I have a pile of garments cut out from stash fabric ready to get sewn up when I get the chance. SYSS is going well so far.

I pretty much followed the instructions to the letter, the only changes I made were how I attached the lining. I used a method I learnt at Sew Over It from the lovely teacher Julie Johnston about hand-stitching the bodice lining to the arm hole for a neater finish. 

Self lined bodice hand-stitched at the armhole and waistline

I had to add a centre seam in the bodice lining due to shortage of fabric

The insides all look nice and neat here

Skirt seams were zig-zagged I haven't worked out how to do French Seams on skirts with internal side-seam pockets yet

Overall I am pretty happy with the dress. The skirt section is a great length for me, but I suspect the bodice is possibly a little big. It is quite loose at the waist. On a positive note it is very comfortable which is important feature if I wear it to work (secondary school art and technology teacher). I may look into slightly adjusting the bodice for version two.