Ceylon Dress

This dress isn't retro in actual age, but I think the pattern and design have a great retro feel to it.  I think some of the more advanced techniques that I used in this dress will be really useful in working with vintage patterns.

I made this dress as part of the Colette Spring Palette challenge.  

As part of the challenge, I'll be making an Edwardian style dress based off of one I saw on Downton Abbey.  I'm saving it for last as I'm a little worried about the level of difficulty that will be involved.

More details of this dress and the palette challenge are on my blog: What's Up, Cupcake?

Navy lace dress as part of the Spring challenge finished

I have finished my first piece of my Spring Palette collection. A navy lace dress and sash. I love how it turned out and I am thrilled to be wearing it tomorrow. I know it's not Spring yet but I don't care. I haven't got any more patience.

As always, please visit my blog for more pictures and details. Thank you very much and have a lovely Sunday evening.

My Green Sencha

Hello fellow sew retroers!

I haven't posted here in a very long time, mostly because I didn't have any new sewing feats to share with you that were appropriately vintage.

Recently though I made a new blouse, using Colette Patterns' Sencha. Although not a vintage pattern, this style is very vintage-inspired. I love this blouse and am happy that the weather is so nice here in my parts that I can wear it over and over. And I am!

You can come and visit me over at my blog for more pics and info on the blouse.

Sencha Sketch

Today is officially Muslin Monday, and here's the first one of the day--a maternity modification to Colette Patterns famous vintage-style cap-sleeve Sencha blouse. Gertie recently described some different ways to play with a basic button-back blouse pattern like this one, and I'm so far planning to do the following:

• Scoop out the neckline (high necks never really work on me, plus I'm a necklace fiend)
  
• Move the tucks up under the bust to make room for the belly (I asked pattern designer Sarai about this on her Flickr group where she answers questions about all things Colette, and she suggested sewing it up without the tucks to see how it fits, then tucking as needed)
  
• Do a 2-3" FBA on the pattern (for an added total of 6")
  
• Lengthen it a bit in front to go farther over the belly
  

I'm about to trace the pattern pieces (since I want to be able to use the pattern again post-preggo) but deliberating over size 6 (bust measurement 36") vs. size 8 (bust measurement 37"). I usually choose patterns by high bust (which used to be 34" for me but now as my ribcage has grown during pregnancy is more like 36") and then do a major FBA but I've heard Colette Patterns are more generous in that area than the B-cup Big Four standard. I'll still need a serious FBA either way, as my full bust is 41."

I think I'll go put my hair in the mesh roller set I just bought while I think about it...

(Crossposted to my blog).