The Family Reunion Dress

I don't know if it's because I dove straight into sewing (and did relatively well, for never having extensive lessons) or if it's because I'm distracted, but I've had a hell of a time sewing lately.  There were all the fails a couple weeks ago, and then this past week, working on the Oliver + S Family Reunion dress for my cousin's daughter, I managed to screw up everything.  I missed an entire page of directions, tore out one of the sleeves four times, had messed up measurements, and a button that just wouldn't squeeze through the hole.  Overall, it looks okay, but it was a bumpy road.

Sorry about the wonky shape; apparently 2T clothing doesn't fit on adult hangers that well (who knew?).  I used Patty Young's Flora and Fauna collection in Hive - Lime, which was a scrap left from my mom's Amy Butler Domestic Goddess apron.  We tend to be a little obsessed with bees in my family, so I figured Grace should be exposed early.

I've also decided it would behoove me to learn French seams.  Pinking, while it certainly gets the job done, just isn't classy enough.  I'm making myself a dress this week, so maybe I'll try them out then.  And then I'll make Grace some more clothes, to make up for the pitiful state of this one.

How was everyone's weekend?  Make anything?  Buy anything? 

The Socialite Dress

I can't believe I forgot to tell everyone I finished the Anna Maria Horner Socialite dress!  Remember when I said I wouldn't be sewing until Jake and Kali were gone?  Well...I lied.  They were gone for hours Saturday and Sunday nights, which gave us plenty of time to watch movies, fart around on the internet and sew.  Well mostly I sewed and he listened to the machine.

I apologize for the crap picture.  There are few places in our apartment to hang something, so I keep resorting to the bifold doors near the bathroom.  I should just buy some of those 3M sticky hooks and keep one on the wall at all times.

I made it with Joel Dewberry Nature Valley fabric that I picked up at StitchDC in February.  To be completely honest with you, I wasn't very excited about sewing this.  I bought the pattern when I first decided to start sewing and picked up the fabric on a whim.  I put it off and put it off (and read the review at Sew, Mama, Sew millions of times) and finally said, "No more!"  And I went for it.

I'm...content with the results.  I like the look of the dress.  It'll work well into fall, if it ever decides to warm up here.  I don't like how I had to hand sew the facing.  That was awful because I'm a terrible hand-sewer.  I also don't like that the medium, though it said it would fit, is very, very tight across the chest.  I'm guessing the gathering has something to do with it, but it's also the saving grace: while it feels tight, so tight that Nicholas had to help me get it on and off, it doesn't look like it.  These boobs aren't going anywhere, so I'll just have to handle it.

In short, I'm not making another.  I'm sending my cousin Jesse the pattern and, if the facing didn't look so godawful, I'd send her the dress as well.  Oh well.  I'll get some use out of it, I'm sure.

So now I'm not sure what to do next.  I think I'm abandoning the baby clothes for my former co-worker because, well, I just don't care about it anymore.  I only cut out one fabric instead of all three, and if anyone I know is having a boy, I'll just finish them up pretty quickly for them.  I do have a charm pack waiting on me, so maybe I'll start that.  And I have my Betz White sewing class coming in just over a week, which I'm really looking forward to.  Vintage pillowcases becoming baby clothes and lady skirts?  Count me in.

(One final note: if anyone loves Tina Fey as much as I do, check out the review of her new book, Bossypants, over at Slate.  You don't need to agree with the message as long as you find the excerpts pretty effing funny.)

Why Oliver + S patterns are so darn great

I'm not what you would call "kid-friendly."  In fact, most children are scared of me.  I verbally whip them into shape and transform little mongrels into angels for an evening.  Ask my aunt--her three grandsons stopped crying and whining and fighting long enough to decorate cupcakes one evening.  And it never happened again.

Anyway, I never wanted kids of my own because they tend to cramp my style.  I don't deal with dirty well and I really dislike make-believe.  I can handle glitter and Legos but that's about it.  Past that, you're on your own kid.

I always thought that...until I discovered Liesl Gibson's blog disdressed (also to your left) and decided she was the most modern, amazing mom ever.  She lives in New York City, her daughter has better outfits than me, and she can pretty much do anything--run a successful company (Oliver + S and now Lisette), entertain her daughter S, sew/craft/paint/draw/knit just about anything, and still find the time to recycle.  I don't have that energy now and all I'm responsible for is my cat Eleanor.

So I gave in.  I bought some Oliver + S patterns and her book, Little Things to Sew.  Once again, I don't have children.  Maybe someday, when I'm not afraid of having to sell them to pay my rent,  but not right now.  What in the world am I ever going to do with these?  Will they be out of style by the time I'm a mom?  Is Nick going to find them and think I'm insane?  (Probably.)

And then I look at them...and all is right in the world.

(from top to bottom: the School Photo dress, the Bubble dress, the Birthday Party dress.  All were taken from oliverands.com)


Aren't they beautiful?  If Oliver + S had been around when I was a baby, I would've had these dresses.  They're classic and vintage without feeling dated or prudish.  They're how you want little girls (and boys, if you're shopping in the boys' section) to look: cute, innocent, not whorish or sexy too early.

So now I have these weighing upon me.  I honestly am looking forward to the day when I find out I'm having a girl so I can get started on them.  We probably won't be nearly as cool as Liesl and Tsia, but I'm going to try regardless.


Also: Nick shaved his beard tonight and I keep telling him I don't love him anymore because of it.  I have a feeling that will backfire soon but I'm going to keep it going for a while.