Happy Sewvember! Sewvember, of course, being the month of vigorous activity preceding
Dressember. And, thanks to the comment on my last post which contained a jokey reference to Frocktober, I have learned that Frocktober is a real and true event that raises money for research into ovarian cancer - I never knew. I will be sure to participate next year. More
here.
To start the month off right, I've just finished this frock. I call it Frankencleaver because it's the June Cleaver-est frock I've ever made, and was frankensteined from some quite disparate sources, the first being this 70s shirt pattern here...
...and the second being my mathematically assisted foray into the world of circle skirts. Actually, the circle skirt came first, complete with calculations involving
pi to get the waist curve. I was startled to find that the skirt used almost all of the 4 metres of brown polka dot cotton I had stashed away and I was a bit stumped what to do next. I pulled this odd flesh-coloured seersucker out of the stash and cobbled together a bodice. I drafted some sleeves to have the same notch in them that is in the collar, then whipped up a self-belt.
I think it is quite awesome. It cracks me up. Yay for Sewvember!!
Update in better light - sleeve detail and truer colours. Anyone know what this fabric is called? It's like a seersucker but the puckers are patterned in such a way to resemble woodgrain or perhaps faille.
vintage drapery fabric from my stash
I'm calling this the Biochemistry Bandwagon Frock because it marks my belated entry into the world of strappy sunfrocks. I don't know why I've avoided them for so long. It's this modern Vogue pattern which is one of those ones that you have to persist with despite the cruddy photo on the front (how much does that dress look like an unremarkable apron??) because it's a little ripper. It was just too easy. Especially when you ditch all the lining/boning nonsense and just bung a bias strip as facing along the top edge.
It's been a long time between posts, but finally made something for myself. 
With not much left of Sewvember and with Dressember hurtling towards us amidst a cloud of garish tinsel, children singing carols out of tune and revolting consumerism, the race is on.
And here's the finished product:
You were looking for this pattern (or one nearly like it). You posted it on your blog, which I found after you left me a comment. By the time I found the pattern, I lost your name. If this is you please contact me and I will make sure you get a copy.
This is the 70's jacket I spoke of in my introduction.
But the poor jacket kept getting put off and put off until a big 'ole honkin' dose of guilt coupled with a shot of inspiration got me off the computer and back at the machine to finish it.
I finished this skirt in time to wear it on Sunday. The pattern is McCall's 5591. I found the pattern straightforward. The fabric is vintage. It was actually a skirt that was several sizes to large and had a lot of unflattering gathers at the waist. I was able to reuse the fabric by taking the skirt apart. I barely had enough (you may have noticed the waistband). I had to turn the print sideways, which is totally hilarious, but with the shirts I will wear, this unfortunate design detail will hardly show. I plan on making this pattern again.
