It's my dress. My future dress. (And my hairstyle, too.) September 6, 2008 19:45 1 Comment

Today, while thumbing through Us Weekly (a guilty pleasure that I relish with all the joy of those gooey, sticky, syrupy, cheap Brach's chocolate-covered cherries that were a tradition every Christmas of my childhood . . . yum . . . yum-squared – I’ve probably mentioned these before because I love ‘em) what did I see but a pic of lovely Reese Witherspoon wearing a dress that’s so very similar to my first project, Simplicity 2925. The neck and shoulder detail looks the same, with the addition of a bow. (This embellishment may be overkill. But. You know how I feel about bows. They are not for me. Too girly. Too. Too. Too. You know it. But if they are your cup of tea, drink up. I won't judge you. I promise.) The silhouette, too, looks the same. Love this dress. Totally. Still. Even after all these weeks. (Or is it months? Don’t remind me. I know I am a Gold Medal procrastinator. You do not have to tell me.) I am inspired anew. Really. I am. Completely.

I did move toward sewing today. I did. I took time from counting pattern pieces in prep for the next Blue Gardenia update to buy an iron. (And groceries. Love to eat. I do. My hips proudly testify to this fact.)

So. The model at my friendly Costco was a Rowenta Professional. I know several of you, my dear and beloved readers, have said this is a good brand. Obviously, this is proof that you have earned my trust. And. I trust that Costco made the right choice when they selected this model. Sort of. Kind of. Sort of. Kind of. You get the picture.

Possibilities: Back to our regularly scheduled programming . . . June 29, 2008 16:02 4 Comments

Oh. Woe is me, she whimpered. I’ve nothing to wear, she sobbed. I know. You’ve heard it before. All of it. Start the violins. Bring out the tissues. (Cliché overload! Forgive me — I stayed too long at the ball this weekend. All right. No more clichés today. I promise.) But it’s true. Really. Saturday night, I wore an ancient but pretty royal blue linen dress made from a 1950s McCall pattern. Big skirt. Flares out like an umbrella when I whip a turn. It’s a favorite, and I love it. However, I have worn it so many times that I am sure the very sight of it elicits silent sympathetic murmurs from my fellow dancers.

Friday night, I wore what has become my ballroom dance uniform: jeans and a slinky knit top. So dull. More boring than rice pudding. So I decided I can’t lollygag any longer. I’ve gotta start sewing right away. I can’t face my pitiful, meager closet many more Friday nights. I can’t! Jeans and a knit top? No, no, no. Pizzazz. That's the way to go.

So. What do you think about this Threads/So Stylish number? The white dress, in the upper right hand corner. It’s current, so it’s not at all my style, but it looks like it would be a breeze to make and to make quickly. And hone my sewing skills, or perhaps develop my sewing skills would be more accurate. And the sooner I can sew a straight seam and handpick a zipper, the sooner I can start stitching up one of my beloved vintage patterns. In the meantime, would Threads let me down? Never!

Possibilities: And the Bertness Award goes to . . . June 25, 2008 17:59 3 Comments

Butterick 2240, circa early 1960s

This is hubby’s choice for the first step in my learn-to-sew project. He says that I can wear it every Friday when we ballroom dance. (That sounds utterly pompous, doesn’t it? Why not simply say dancing? Because, after all, is there any other kind of dancing? Not in my world!) And this dress is quite pretty, ever so feminine. I see it in a silk-linen blend. Unlined, of course, because it needs to be cool on the dance floor. It’s easy to work up quite a sweat — I suppose I should be every scintilla the Southern girl and say glow — with a tango or a cha cha. My dance teacher, by the way, is celebrating his 20th wedding anny next week. So mahvelous! But back to the Butterick. It looks a little difficult. I see buttons. And that means buttonholes. I want to learn to make beautiful buttonholes — one day. But I see frustration if I attempt them too soon. Baby steps. Right?

And speaking of Southern women, did you know that Patricia Taylor Allanson, she of the arsenic and pearls and jail cells, is a very skilled dressmaker? So says Ann Rule in Everything She Ever Wanted.

Possibilities: Gidget Visits "Little House on the Prairie" Choice June 22, 2008 18:00 2 Comments

It hit me today: A shortie nightgown! That is perhaps the perfect item for a beginning seamstress. Among the benefits: It won’t take much fabric, hence it will be inexpensive. The construction tends to be simple, which means no alarming spikes in my blood pressure. If a seam here or there isn’t as straight as it should be, what’s the big deal? No tears will be shed. No tissues soiled. After all, it will still be ever so much more fetching than a Houston Rockets tee-shirt, circa 1990s.

And the striped version of this nightie is somewhat appealing — albeit mildly so — in a Kristin Davis down on the farm sort of way. Don’cha think? I see it in a lightweight cotton, which to my neophyte dressmaker mind, will be easy to sew. No jamming of the bobbin. No pulling of the hair.

Possibilities: Yet another, and doesn't this one look cool? June 19, 2008 17:59 5 Comments

Simplicity 7563, circa 1980s

Dear, dear readers, you are silent. Furthermore, your keyboards are silent. I prefer to think you are silent rather than non-existent. Am I delusional? You are out there, right? Talk to me. A simple yes. A simple no. A simple . . . something!

Enough pleading. (Although I do have a right to sing the blues over being ignored, a right to sniffle and sob, a right to dampen my Kleenex.) On to my mission. I love this top. It looks simple, and like the Stan Herman wrap dress, no zippers, no buttons. And it’s saucy. Promises a hint of mischief. Would be as cool as a glass of icy homemade lemonade on a sizzling Arizona day. Picnic perfect. I see it in strawberry linen. (Gee, I don’t think we need a PI to detect a food theme here — and I just had dinner!)

At any rate, I’m beginning to feel a shiver of excitement about learning to sew. Just the slightest shiver amid the apprehension about ruining more fabric.

Possibilities: It's smart but is it easy? June 17, 2008 12:16 2 Comments

Vogue American Designer 1167, circa 1970s

I know. I’m supposed to be relentlessly upbeat. I think I can. The little train that could. I am woman. I am invincible. You've heard that song. You know the lyrics. Yadda yadda. But today, doubt is nibbling at my confidence. Heck. It's taken a big bite. Can I really learn to sew, and sew well? Not just Walmart, made in China, loose threads everywhere sewing, but genuine, neatly and professionally finished, look for the union label dressmaking? How long does it take someone to become accomplished? How much fabric must be sacrificed? Tell me.

Oh well. Enough whining. This Stan Herman wrap dress falls into the easy category – allegedly. No zippers. No buttons. Minimal fitting. Those are advantages, in my book. And I love the look: As cozy as an old pair of flip-flops. Hubby’s old comfy bathrobe meets the runway. Seamstresses, I eagerly await your thoughts on this pattern. Is it easy enough for someone with a less than stellar sewing past?

Possibilities: Another candidate for this novice June 15, 2008 17:46 3 Comments

Butterick 2664, circa 1960s

At first glance, it’s boring. But take another look. Think Jackie Kennedy. Think Michelle Obama. Add a necklace with fake pearls the size of bottle caps. Add a vintage ‘80s Donna Karan wide black belt. Or wear it plain and simple and unbelted for optimum ventilation on sweltering summer days.

So, yep, you’ve put two and two together and come up with four. This is another possibility for my beginner’s garment. The pattern envelope promises quick ‘n easy. Do you think that applies to wannabe dressmakers or to those with Claire Shaeffer-level stitching skills?

Possibilities: Yes, no, maybe so June 14, 2008 18:56 6 Comments

I admit it: I am smitten with this dress. It’s sexy. It’s simple. It has that Julie Christie vibe. And it’s not only a Jiffy, it’s a Super Jiffy! That means it will be easy for a fledgling seamstress to make, right?

This is one of the patterns under consideration for my I-Will-Learn-to-Sew-I-Will-I-Will-I-Will Project. It’s important, vitally so to my wounded self esteem, that the winning pattern makes up beautifully. So beautifully that awed strangers on the street will stop me, asking “where did you get that gorgeous dress," to which I will coolly respond “this old thing? I made it myself.”

So, what d’ya think? Good choice?

The Blue Gardenia