One Last Summer Dress - and a Peek at Fall Sewing Ideas

Even though autumn officially begins in a little over a week, I felt I had to finish one last summery dress. I got the pattern and fabric on the cheap in late August and I didn't want to let it sit there gathering dust all winter. I had seen the 1966 pattern way back in February at A Dress a Day.

Then one in my size popped up on eBay and I snatched it up. Weeks later some very thin blue gingham fabric appeared on eBay as well, and I knew it would be perfect for making view B with the yoke set on the bias. I lined it with the lightest white polyester lining I could find (I wanted cotton but couldn't find anything that wasn't heavier than the gingham).

I've never actually made a dress that was fully lined. I thought I'd do it the "easy" way and just essentially make two dresses and then sew one to the inside of the other so that I wouldn't have to cut out and sew any facing. Wrong. It didn't lay right and the white lining kept peeking up over the gingham. So I ripped out some seams (which I hate doing) and cut out the facing pieces and followed the directions (mostly). I think it turned out great. Good fit, very lightweight (which is perfect for someone who runs hot like I do), and not difficult to sew (once I followed the directions). I'll probably still wear a slip with it because even with the lining it is really thin.

Now that that's out of the way, we'll be moving on to some fall sewing. I have a fantastic big green and brown plaid (for a dress?), some brown thin wale corduroy that will become a jacket, some pinstriped blue suiting, some lovely textured deep teal synthetic, a brown silk with white polkadots, and a couple pieces of dark navy fabric of some sort that I got from my grandmother's stash and the Salvation Army that are destined to be a skirt and a pair of pants. I may also get brave and use the cream colored polyester fabric I found at the Salvation Army, even though it's obviously the older kind of polyester that is the stuff of jokes about the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Here are a few patterns I'm thinking about for fall. Yes, I am aware that some of them are from the '70s and have the potential to be hideous, but I also think they have potential to look great with the right fabric (keeping in mind that my hair and makeup would not be the least '70s-ish).

Love this 1930s coat. Very chic.

Now, if you're going to have 3/4 length sleeves, do you really also need those medium length gloves? I think not.

This is the pattern I got for $1 at the antique market this past weekend. It may look summery, but I think making it in a heavier fabric, like a houndstooth or tweed woven, with bigger buttons could be nice.



I'm thinking the skirt from view B and jacket from view A.

What can I say? I love this Vogue pattern. And I love the colors the artist chose for the drawings. And I love the hats. I love everything, everything, everything about this. I will be making all of these pieces eventually, probably multiple times.

You might be thinking, "she can't be serious about this one," but you'd be wrong. I am serious. Ignore the creepy made-up woman in the bright white polyester maxi on the right. Picture view 2 in chocolate brown silk with white polkadots. Do you see it? It will be awesome, I'm sure of it.

So there's a sneak peek of what to expect in the coming colder months. We'll see how much I get done!