Monday, January 25, 2010

Macy Giggles Sundress.

A little while ago I won the Macy Giggles Sundress pattern giveaway over at Retromummy.

I was thrilled when Corrie's lovely package arrived containing the pattern that goes up to a size 14 and a lovely little French themed fat quarter.

Thanks Corrie!

I've been dying to get a chance to make it and had a lovely old table cloth put aside.

It never occurred to me that I had never actually made a piece of clothing from a pattern before and that I might find it difficult.

It also never occurred to me that attempting a new skill on the last week of the school holidays when I haven't had a day without a child for six weeks, might not be the greatest idea.

So I cut most bits out more than once and I sewed and unpicked each section at least three times, mostly more. I wandered around the house all day carrying bits of the dress and the instructions reading them over and over.

And in between looking after three of my children and one of their friends, I persevered.

I altered the pattern in a few ways; because of the fabric I used I left off the bottom trim, I didn't make the pockets and I made plain shoulder straps rather than wide, gathered ones.

I am happy with the end result and I think that judging by the fact that Jazzy is asleep right now wearing it, she is too.

I also think that now I have made it once, I could make it again easily.

Thank you all so much for your insightful words on my post about sheets with history. I have decided to sew something for the old owner's Great Granddaughter and then leave them until they call out to me to be made into something.

Does your stash call out to you demanding to be sewn up into things?

I hope your Monday was a funday. XX

26 comments:

  1. Oh my, I love this print and those button in the back too cute.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well done, the dress look really cute. I've been using the Ava Tie dress pattern of Izzy and Ivy's and just love it. I must buy another one to try.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are a better woman than I! Given I adopt a similar going 'round in circles, two steps forward, three steps back approach to anything I make with a pattern, you won't catch me attempting anything like your EXCELLENT dress this week!

    PS. Well done and YAY for you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank goodness you perservered as it's adorable. The table cloth print gives a great effect at the bottom of the dress. It looks like perfect for a bit of girly twirling!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful Kate! I love how you used the tablecloth for this one!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Can't be more cute now! I love it!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, my Amy Butler Love was demanding it be made into something for my eldest with a theme on my latest post!!
    Great work with the table cloth & love how your own style in dress making shone through with all of your adjustments.
    Corrie is also the most gorgeous person in the world, so glad you won her giveaway. Love Posie

    ReplyDelete
  8. wow! you did an incredible job making that lovely dress!

    ReplyDelete
  9. i'm really impressed with your natural dress making skills..very inspirational. Please keep sharing , i'm learning a lot here.....
    this patterned one looks really beautiful and may i say you have a wonderful model and your post has reminded me of the time i got new red shoes and loved them so much i had to sleep with them too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. gorgeous! love the buttons on the back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! well done! I always find once I've whizzed through something it's so easy to do the next time

    Corrie:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's totally beautiful Kate, and I love the fabric you've used. xo

    ReplyDelete
  12. Making from pattern is a whole new wolrd of restrictive fun huh :) Great results on yours! My stash is calling out to me saying use me all up please!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. the first time is the hardest! which is what always puts me off about starting new things - but like you said, if you persevere and see it as a process rather than an end result (i sew because i enjoy it, not just to make clothes) then it's worth every moment of frustration. thanks for sharing this - sometimes i feel like the only one who can't read patterns easily....
    l
    x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your dress turned out beautifully Kate! I am sure we will see many more beautiful dresses in the future too. I dont make many clothes as I find those patterns confusing most of the time. I think it is wonderful you making something for the lady's great grand-daughter too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well Done Kate....It looks FANTASTIC!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. You've done a great job! I tend to sew when I'm inspired I rarely use a pattern, just dive in & make something that is in my head. The downside is I can never make it again quite the same!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh I love this dress!! Fantastic work.
    At the moment the far far fat quarters from Corrie are singing to me...but there are 2 other quilts to be done first! And 2 flower girl dresses! xox

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow! - your tablecloth creation is fantastic, puts mine to shame. I just posted a photo of what I did with my very similar tablecloth today. Maybe one day my sewing skills will include dress-making...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Gorgeous Kate - I love that she slept in it - so sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  20. it gorgeous~ love the fabric.
    have been admiring your creations. it's so great that you can make clothes for your daughters and yourself.
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. All looks wonderful! Did you get my email? Would love to catch up for a chat with you and Beck. x

    ReplyDelete
  22. I think its ace how you adapt each pattern to your own liking. Love that dress looks so summery. Oh and kudo's for opening a shop to sell all your fantastic t's and upcycled stuff! Yaay

    ReplyDelete
  23. I laughed at the "circumstances" under which the dress was made. You did good Kate.

    Even though there was some unpicking, it was great to read that you think it would be easier next time. Freestyling it with sewing is awesome... but I do think that sewing with good patterns can help your overall sewing techniques and understanding of how things come together... maybe?

    ReplyDelete
  24. I just found this post because I bought this same pattern and I am having the worst time with it. I'm finding it so confusing and difficult to follow. I'm glad I'm not the only one! Yours came out very well!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme.
    Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
    Plz answer back as I'm looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. thanks

    Feel free to surf to my website - diet plans for women to lose weight fast for free

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Visit my other blog.