Like a good little sewer (sewist?) I made a muslin first which will never, ever, ever see the light of day because it's just that awful... I'm so glad I did because it made a few things apparent:
1. The gathering at the back would have to go. It was just too big and boxy for me at this size, I looked like I was wearing a tent. A big, pastel blue tent. Or a hospital gown...
2. An FBA would be required. I traced the pattern (to be safe) and followed the instructions on Megan Nielson's blog to add an FBA. Obviously I didn't add enough, though. That or my boobs are growing with my tummy.
3. A shirt might be better than a full dress. I think in a darker, less patterned material it might work, but in lighter colors or prints I think it's just overwhelming.
I redrafted the back bottom piece to be fitted with a sort of A-line shape and added my FBA... Sewed it all together and then stopped. My machine has a buttonhole foot, but I hadn't a damn idea how to use it! I asked my mom, the previous owner, who said the foot was definitely missing a part. I even took it to the sewing & vac store to see if they could help and the lady just looks at it and shakes her head. "What makes you think it's broken?" Oy.
Fast forward to yesterday... I got out my Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing and thankfully it, like my sewing machine, is old. Not quite vintage, but as old as I am. A scant hour later: buttonholes. Pink buttonholes =) and pink buttons.
By the way how awesome is my kitchen floor? It's the only thing I'll miss about this house when we move.
I tried Megan's trick for sewing on the buttons by machine, but honestly I thought it was easier to just handstitch 'em on.
I'm actually not done, I have to either hem, add elastic to, or remove the sleeves. As much as I love the total pregnant Lucille Ball vibe I get from the wide sleeves I think this top will probably end up sleeveless. It just seems like it was meant to be, with that cheery as hell print and summer coming.
By the way, I love yellow, pink, and orange but normally avoid them because "it's just not my color" according to my mom (and fashion magazines). I bought this fabric because it was 5 yards for like $3 at the op shop (I assume that means thrift store, I just love the way it sounds) thinking it'd be good for baby stuff. Much to my surprise I love it! It may have opened up a whole new color palette for me.
Or maybe not.
It could just be the crazy pregnancy hormones.
I like to call this my MySpace pose, because I remember when MySpace was new, digital cameras became standard on cell phones, and photos like this became the norm. Ahh the wonders of technology. Obviously I really just love that vinyl.
And speaking of stuff from the 70s, look what I picked up at the op shop on Friday.
Not my size, but I don't care. I just love 60s and 70s stuff and someone had recently brought in a whole bunch of patterns. I may go back this week and see if they still have some of the rest. Just because. I also got some fabric on the cheap (half price green tags on Fridays).
Super soft flannel for Christmas PJs: $2.50 for about 3 yards
This wasn't on sale, and it was overpriced for Goodwill, but I love fish and the beach and I just had to have it. It's a small piece, so I'll have to think about what to do with it.
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