My first dress will be from a vintage reproduction pattern. I suggest the same to anyone else who has not yet tried sewing a dress. This is because there are other people out there who have made the dress and you can see their successes and failures. Also, if you totally mess up, you can always get another pattern pretty cheaply. I'll share more on my pattern and process (and of course dress!!) in an upcoming post.
Would you be interested in hearing about some sources for fabric and where to begin with sewing a dress? I know it can be intimidating but it is also very rewarding. I suppose not so rewarding if the dress or item doesn't fit lol. You know what I got the most kick out of was putting in my very first zipper. I know small things but hey, I did it!!
Before I began sewing together my very first dress, I thought it would be fun to dust off the ol'sewing machine by making some tissue holders from some of my novelty prints I had hanging around. It certainly did help my case that I liked to make quilts. I haven't made a quilt in quite a few years but I still have quite a bunch of fabric lying around.
The problem is though that some of the dresses I like will require yards and yards of fabric. Those "New Look" dresses are like a black hole for fabric yardage. Can I also say that there are many types of 100% cotton lol? I found this out the hard way that there are varying thicknesses and even though it says 100% cotton in a description for online fabric, you may end up with a weighty piece too!
My first dress is with a light weight "quilters" cotton. This is what you see with most novelty prints in cotton.
Anyways, back to the tissue holders. I made a bunch of them and I thought I'd offer up three to giveaway to three different readers.
Choices are:
Viva Vegas
Charleston Dancers
Mod Sunglasses
Spring Tulips
Dutch Landscapes
Would you like one? Leave a comment below which one you like best and three winners will be randomly selected. I'll close the giveaway Friday. I'm totally partial to the retro Vegas print. Expect a dress in this print in the future, just love it! How cool will I be when I make my Vegas dress with my very own matching tissue holder? <smile>.
Hey, I even think these would store lovely vintage hankies too!
What a cute idea to use up bits of fabric! Love the ladies dancing the Charleston. Can't wait to see your finished dress - it might inspire me to start all of my sewing projects.
ReplyDeleteOoo love the Charleston Dancers!! I know what you mean. For me vintage is too expensive. I need to learn more about sewing.
ReplyDeleteI'm new to sewing myself and think these are soooo cute! All of the fabric is cute, and I see a little sneak peak of one with florals and fruit! Off to pin your generous giveaway ... thanks much!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Vegas print is awesome! :D Can't wait to see your dress.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on how much fabric New Look dresses take! That's why I hold out for great JoAnn sales or coupons. Every now and then I find cute novelty prints at WalMart, (I admit, they have good prices, and the best people watching, lol). The vintage Vegas print really does it for me :). Thanks for the chance to win one, they're super cute. Way cuter then my door panels and glove box stuffed with fast food napkins ;)
ReplyDeleteAwww, these are all so wonderfully cute! I just adore the 1920s Charleston dancers - they seem to be both so on trend for this year, and of course (as us vintage gals know) just as timeless as the day is long. What a lovely giveaway, thank you!
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
These are adorable! I like them all but my favorite would be the Charleston dancers.
ReplyDeleteI love the fun in the sun one. These are awesome and I bet they hold up a lot better in a handbag than the plastic covers tissues come in!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see your progress!
ReplyDelete-Jamie
ChatterBlossom