Every day takes figuring out all over again how to fucking live.
More sewing, my friends! After I finished Lucy's dress, I did a bit of sewing for myself. I really like the bodice of B5748, especially the lovely low scooped back, and I was pleased with the effect of adding a gathered skirt to it. Enter the pink From The Hip fabric that I bought when Fabric Rehab had a special offer at the beginning of the month. I bought 3 metres and I wanted a pattern to showcase the amazing print.
As I said above, I decided to use the bodice of B5748. To eliminate the slight gaping that I had in my One Good Turn dress, I decided to drop the neckline slightly and to follow the advice of the wonderful Karen and Mrs C and try my hand at taping. I bought some of this cotton tape from my local fabric shop:
Cotton tape
Actually, this is not the exact cotton tape that I used. I bought mine from Royal Fabrics but I liked it so much that I went and bought this 50metre roll online. So, you know, I liked it! I have linked to Mrs C's tutorial above, but basically what you do is handsew it into the seam allowance, which I did before topstitching around the neckline.
It does add an extra step to the construction but I think it's worth it, and it worked in this case. I will definitely be using this technique in future makes.
Calamity Jane dress and Love Me Tender shoes from Office (via ebay)
The circle skirt just wasn't going to work with this fabric. I had used the Cambie skirt for Lucy's dress but thought that might be just too full for what I wanted with this one. Plus, I already have a Cowgirl Cambie! This time I used the instruction for a gathered skirt from Gertie's book and it worked a treat. It was very simple! I lined the dress with pink cotton and hemmed as I usually do, using bias binding.
This dress was so simple to make. Which was just as well, really, because I sewed most of it while feeling hungover last Sunday, watching Deadwood. Hence the name. Deadwood's Robin Weigert has none of the perkiness of Alexander Henry's cowgirls but she has more than enough sass to make up for it, which is the show's joy for me. I love these cowgirls but to be honest, I'd also be thrilled to have one with Jane-like scouts all over it!
I think the bodice pattern could end up,with some tweaks, being a good sloper for me and I intend on using it to help me address some of the issues that I know I'm going to have with the Truffle pattern. When I get around to making it, that is! I really like the back, which is finished with a lapped zipper.
Back zipper. I love the way the cowgirl on the left is giving it the side-eye.
Back view. It's not perfect but, sure, so what.
This dress hung up for a week before I had the chance to wear it and, while I was happy with it, I wasn't thrilled. This always happens - I suppose it's that, when you're sewing it you're so close to it, it's hard to be objective. But, you know, wearing it today has made me feel pretty chuffed with it. I am so predictable.
Goofy face alert!
DERP FACE
Anyway. I still have well over a metre of this fabric left and I am very tempted to make another dress with it - maybe a mini dress of some description. Any pattern suggestions, folks? I think a girl can never have too many cowgirl dresses. Well, that's true of this girl, anyway.
Leamington turned on its Christmas lights today so in a minute I'm away out to have a look at them, so I'll leave you with one more photo and I'll catch you all in the week!
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