Well, its now middle of Spring here in Oz - we're experiencing the standard October cold snap at the moment but I know that this cold snap will soon give way to warm summer weather soon.
A few weeks ago, I found this old tablecloth in the op shop for 50c. The tablecloth was 50c because a corner of it had moth holes... and it was an ugly tablecloth.
BUT I thought it would make a great dress, so I bought it, cut out the moth eaten parts, washed it, then turned it to this! (No pattern I just winged it)
I was really going for a Jackie Kennedy 60s look...not sure if I got there. On hindsight maybe some interfacing at the neckline would have given it a stiffer line which would be more the era. Nevertheless, for a "wing it" sewing job, I'm very happy with how its turned out. Especially as I don't have a sewing dummy so it felt like I did an endless amount of trying on at every step and then trying to draw the dart lines while I had it on (the back ones were impossible, so I just guessed based on the dart lines I drew for the waist.)
My neighbours think I should find a white belt to cinch the waist a bit more. What do you think?
Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Cath in my last post asked me to go into more detail about how I divy up my groceries to fit it into $70, so I'll post about that tomorrow!
See you then!
20 comments:
Pretty pretty!!
Much better as a dress:)
Well done you!!!
Irene x
ps... do you want a book on how to crochet?? I found a good one a while ago.
Irene x
I'm impressed! I wish my 'winged it' sewing jobs turned out like that!
nice work! Maybe some interfacing at the neck line might have stiffened it up but I quite like the gentle ... drape (? is that the word?) and way to go for a wingin' it dress! :)
I am in awe of that. I came last in my textiles class at school but wish wish wish I could sew. that is amazing. I love it. You are inspiration personified!
Oh, this dress is just gorgeous. I think a brown leather belt would work too. A good op-shop tablecloth is a find full of possibilities, I think, but this is the best result I've ever seen. Nice work!
A belt might make it flare out a bit too much at the bottom? Not sure, but I think it looks great as is! Well done!! If you think it's too wide at the waist could you just sew in a little closer at the side seams? (I say that like it's easy!)
you inspired a post on my blog :-)
http://chroniclesofsharnia-sharnanigans.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-wish-i-was-tonia-todman.html
Its lovely! Well done, I really admire your confidence to just have a go at anything, maybe its because all your stuff turns out amazing!
Fantastic work. I rarely sew using a pattern (just like my cooking) which works out most of the time (just like my cooking!) and it is so satisfying when it the end product ocmes out like you imagined it might... and for 50cents, wouldn't have mattered so much if it didn't!
If you ahve any scraps left over, I'd like to see a matching mini handbag!
(Bad typing tonight... must be time for bed! LOL)
Thanks all for your lovely comments!
Irene - ooh please let me know the title! I would love to see if I can learn it.
BTW, just so you guys know, I have winged stuff in the past before that have turned out disasterous. I just didn't blog about them...but every "disaster" taught me something. It was one of my disasters that taught me the importance of darts instead of just relying on shaping.
...though I think you're right Eco-chic Mummy, I think I need to shape the side seams a bit more at the waist.
Dixie - I LOVE the idea of a matching handbag!! ooooh the possibilities!
Thanks again everyone! I'm so glad you guys think it is a nice dress.
WOW Eilleen - I can't believe that was once a tablecloth!! It looks fantastic, and I love the way the neckline drapes.
I too like the suggestion of a matching handbag. And do I remember right that you once made matching shoes by attaching fabric to some shoes? (I may be mixing up with another blog). Or what about covering a hair... hm - not sure what they are called but one of these things that you use to push your hair back with... ok - had to look it up, a bandeau.
I love it! I like the colours a lot...and would be terrified to see them on anyone's table. Yay for seeing the value in things as things that they are not!
Don't ever say you don't have talent E! Wonderful! <3
i like it the way it is. so summery and chic...i agree, a matching mini bag would be a killer! eood job, eilleen!!
ooops...i meant "good job"!
Congratulations on your nomination! Pretty dress too!
What a lovely dress.
I lived when those were current :-) I would not add a belt. There probably would have been interfacing in the collar, but it looks fine as it is.
Thanks again everyone! So the consensus is no belt? I think I might take the waist in another couple of centimetres. I keep thinking "but what about if I gain weight?" haha - whenever I gain weight, it always goes to my waistline first.
I might wait till summer before I do anything else. As it is its absolutely FREEZING at the moment!
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