Monday, May 10, 2010

The tablecloth dress.

I finally got a chance to cut into the table cloth last Friday.

It wasn't as straight forward as I had hoped, as it was basically two half ovals sewn together down the middle along their selvage. This meant that if I wanted to cut a dress using only three pieces, that I was limited to using the very middle piece of each half.

Doing this meant that the birds in the print ended up being on their sides and that I had to very carefully join the front and back pieces so that the piping matched.

I didn't line or sew in a facing (Liesel don't tell your sewing teacher) to see if it made a difference and I think it did. The neckline is a bit gapey. I think two layers of fabric would help it sit flatter.

I was going to bind it in chocolate brown but Bren convinced me to use the same colour as the piping and I did and I'm so pleased I did too.

I think this is probably one of those dresses that someone who knew a thing or two about dressmaking would look at and raise their eyebrows, but anybody who didn't know would think it was ok.

I do love this fabric though. The selvage said it was made in England by Crowsons Fabric.

I have no idea how old it is but it was well loved as a tablecloth because it is rather worn in places on the hemline.

I'm pretty happy with it.

I think I'm going to wear it to a photo shoot this afternoon for the cover of a recipe book showcasing the producers and chefs in this area.

I might also wear my gorgeous new brooch from Kylie.

And just in case you think my life is all glamorous or something, the brief for the shoot did ask us to bring a couple of chooks along with us.

I hope your Monday is a funday. XX

33 comments:

  1. It looks lovely! I have plenty of handmade clothes that I'm sure if scrutinised by an expert would come up rather under par...but hey...I like em! Gorgeous fabric too. Bravo to you!! Hope you have a brilliant week :)

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  2. Yea! Love the pattern and it looks great. I but a bed sheet today.. borrowing mum's sewing machine tomorrow and HOPEFULLY sometime in the next two weeks will have some sort of a skirt/dress for Aurora. No, I won't be using patterns.

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  3. BYO chooks - soooo glamorous! Love the dress and the pale binding really pepps it up - great taste Bren.

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  4. just checking....do you whip up a little dress every weekend???!!!

    Oh yes how sexy & glam is your life - chooks as well!!!

    TK

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  5. It looks great Kate and Bren did a good job convincing you to go with the pale binding!

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  6. I am impressed Bren even knew what binding was/ meant.

    (well done Kate on the dress too)

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  7. Yeah, but here's betting those chooks are primped and primed for photography with a 'feather-do'! (hen hair and make-up equivalent). Dress = fabulous!

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  8. You've done a great job on the dress, it looks terrific! The light piping & neckline are lovely with the chocolate & they accentuate the birds - love it!

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  9. I know MUCH LESS than a thing or 2 about dress-making and I'm impressed!
    Does that count?

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  10. Oh your dress looks fantastic, I am inspired to sew some clothes for myself now!

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  11. Did you wash the chooks? I remember being at an Ag. Show a couple of years ago and this announcement came over- something to the tune of "The chook washing demonstration will commmence in Pavillion H in 5 minutes"- maybe I am a very neglectful chook owner but it cracked me up- do people really wash their chooks? That dress looks FUN. Hope you enjoyed the photo shoot.

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  12. fabulous dress.
    and i love the sound of chooks in your photo shoot - sounds like my kind of cookbook!
    l
    x

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  13. your dress comes up trumps!!! i love it the bias colour really does it well :))) go you x

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  14. Yah! I love a good tablecloth dress :) Good luck with those chooks! So happy the brooch arrived safely - hope you enjoy it Kate :) Kx

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  15. It's utterly gorgeous Kate. Bren has great taste, I love the piping with it. It's such pretty fabric and colours. It looks perfect to me!!!

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  16. Thats a lovely wearable dress.
    Love the light binding too!
    I want chooks after reading this!
    Wondering how your busy month is going, x

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  17. that looks great on you kate, well done. and i loved the tree dress too for the little un's. i'm still loving reading your blog :)

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  18. Kate that dress is -to die for- I love the boots,tights, top and hairclip as well...super cool look! That was a good tip about the two layers, I hadn't considered that but now that you mention it most of my dresses have that double layer around the neckline. Will have to see how I go with the sheet before I attempt to cut up the fabric for my top :-) Ideas still working thru in my mind...I am one of those people who can visualize the steps to make something and the finished product in my head...its just transcribing the ideas that is the problem!!

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  19. Beautiful as usual. Hope the photoshoot went well. xo m.

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  20. It is a lovely dress. Garments have an immediate presence, I think, once you use fabric that has had a previous life and history even if you don't know what it is :)

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  21. i love that you made a dress for yourself, happy days - chooks & all(i hope they behaved) xo

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  22. Stunning! And perfect for a photo shoot. Now to pick the perfect chook to set it off!

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  23. Oooh, fab dress. I think the colours are lurvely.

    I love the autumn-y snaps. Such a great season!

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  24. I might ask models to BYO chooks for all my future shoots!

    BTW .......I had Glicks beagles for breaky!YUM!!!

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  25. Its really cute - you did a great job! I promise not to tell Sue that you didn't face it ;-)

    (PS. There's a really sensational video tute on creating facings on the Threads website here!)

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  26. they'd raise their eyebrows in amazement, you mean, at how stunning you look? yes, i think so!

    good luck with your photo shoot and getting those chickens to smile when you say cheese.

    Also, i am terribly embarassed to admit there has been a package addressed to you sitting in my 'outbox' for quite some time now. I promise to put it in the post tomorrow.

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  27. I am sure stories from the shoot will follow. Such a lovely Autumn-ish frock.

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  28. Isn't that just lovely! It looks great on you :)

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  29. you amaze me with your talent..and what luck on the brooch!

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  30. How did I miss this? It is a lovely dress Kate. I love that it has a history of being well loved.
    Beautiful.

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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

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