I have been disgracefully lax in my blogging in the last few months; it has been unavoidable but I am going to try and catch up on what has been happening in my sewing room over the last couple of months.
Viola Dress
I tested the new pattern from Schulz Apparel, the Viola dress, a vintage inspired dress as it standard for Amalie’s designs. Amalie’s designs are so beautiful I find it hard to resist pattern testing. I was pretty under the weather for a couple of weeks but having to get this sewn up really pulled me out of my slump. If only the weather would play ball so I could get a proper chance to wear it. I couldn’t resist making it up in a gingham (from Jenny Stitches Fabrics as it has such summer vibes.
I still have a couple of things to tweak but I’m absolutely looking forward to making another couple of these. One of the best features of this dress is that there is a D cup option which is great for us bustier ladies.
Rita Dress
I revisited an old favourite; the Charm Patterns Rita Blouse. There is something timeless and irresistible about a peasant style blouse. I’ve done the most basic hack and added a gathered skirt to the blouse. It has been sewn up in a Dashwood cotton print.
Isla Dress
Isla is, in Jennifer’s own words, “a little bit of a mix between a 50’s house dress and a casual modern wrap dress”. It is a back-wrap dress which features grown-on sleeves and a wide, gently rounded neckline (buttoned at the top back), waistline darts for bodice shaping and a gentle gathered skirt. It also has pockets – and, even if it didn’t, I would have added some.
Isla is suitable for light to mid-weight fabrics with some gentle structure, so I decided to sew with a cotton lawn (again, from Jenny Stitches Fabrics), as the pattern felt like a perfect option for a summer picnic dress.
Moneta Dress
Finally, I sewed up my most go-to pattern; the Moneta Dress from Colette Patterns.
Moneta is the simplest fit-and-flare dress, and it is as comfortable as it is smart. It is one of my go-to office day dresses, as it’s easy to sit in those long meetings when you’re feeling comfortable. It sews up in a matter of a couple of hours (saying that… I did it in 20-30-minute intervals which is all I could manage at the time).
I also managed to finish off my Spring Stitch-A-Long from Historical Sampler Company and the April Box from Cotton & Twine.
I’m definitely more of a winter sewist than a summer one!