Nani Iro Pastille Dress

So this is my first completed project of 2014! I've committed to the Stash Diet: 2014 because my fabric buying has been outpacing my project making since I was about 15 and first started going fabric shopping. It's pretty bad. For one thing, I have quite a few pieces that are no longer really my style, so will need to be given up or used in a creative fashion. I think the best (or worst) is a fleece covered with large eyed fawns and berries... I think it might be too saccharine for even a one year old. Oh high school Laurel, wtf.

 

But not so this fabric. This was pretty much my favourite stash piece, and I wanted to make sure I made something with it while I was still in love.

Also functions as a fancy Deena bed.

Fabric notes:

This is a Nani Iro double gauze cotton that I've been holding on to for the last two years. It's incredibly soft and the green is a lovely vibrant shade. I think the name of the print was Gentle Cooing, which is kind of amusing. When I want to buy a print I can't really afford I only buy 1 1/2 yards as I know that's the minimum I can squeeze a garment out of. There was pretty much no fabric left as scraps, but it worked!

Pattern notes:

This the Pastille dress from the Colette sewing handbook which I've owned for a couple years now, it's only my second pattern made from the book, so I guess it counts as stash... using?
I had to make quite a few pattern alterations to make it work but that seems standard from looking at other peoples versions.
I did:
 A small bust adjustment.
Removed 1" from upper back as you would a swayback.
 Lengthened darts - front waist 1", back waist 2", back neckline 1"
removed 1/2 fullness from front and back cap sleeves

I also used a dirndl skirt instead of the straight skirt, but that was due to the fact that I noticed I prefer wearing dirndl skirts more. I do really like the tucks on the original skirt though, so maybe I'll make this again some time.


I'm almost done my Victory beret, so for once I might actually finish a knit/sew-along by the deadline! If so I may have two posts in one week (!?).

Thanks for checking out my project,

Laurel 

The year ahead: crafting goals for 2014

1 Sew a tailored jacket. I've been signed up for Gertie's starlet suit jacket course on craftsy.com (unfortunately no longer for sale) for a few years now. It's time to actually complete this course! I really want to learn to be better at making jackets. I've made a few from Burda and the big 4, but none have ever really turned out that well (and hence ever made it onto the blog). There are a few stashed vintage jacket patterns and burdastyle magazine patterns that I would love to make up, and I'm hoping this course will give me the confidence to attempt more jacket sewing. First jacket is by Dear Creatures the second is Simplicity 8453 from the 1950s.

2 Sew for other people. I've gotten pretty good at fitting patterns to my body, now it's time to branch out and learn how to fit on others. I have a first project already planned for this, a Negroni dress shirt for my boyfriend. I've had this pattern in my stash since some time in 2011? Too long. This project will be extra satisfying as my boyfriend has a hard to fit body type and a nearly impossible time finding shirts that fit right (medium in width extra large in length).


3 Sew more from my stash. I've got quite the horde going on, to the point where I feel a bit like Smaug in the Hobbit (excuse me while I nerd out a bit), surrounded by my treasure trove. It's messy. I have fabrics that have been in my stash for over a decade (!). I live in a one bedroom apartment with my boyfriend. That shelf in the picture is in our living room (and is only a fraction of my collection). I think I'm going to follow along with the stash diet: 2014. All fabrics currently in my collection as of the beginning of January count as "stash". I will be allowed to buy notions / linings etc. as needed, and new fabric for every 3rd project if I want to. If I special order fabric online, I can buy an accompanying piece of fabric. If I go on vacation to somewhere with a nice fabric shop I can buy a few pieces of fabric (although not a huge problem, when I went to New York this past summer I didn't even make it to Mood. I love fabric but I love the Met more [I love the Met a lot]).

4 Do more remakes, and finish UFOs. Related to the goal above. One large part of my sewing mess or more charitably 'stash' is things that I want to refashion or have not finished. Hopefully this is the year I can finally get around to it.



5 And finally, learn to knit from vintage patterns. 2013 was the year I finally learned Fair Isle (from this amazing course even though my vest turned out too short and needs to have the ribbing lengthened).This year I want to learn to knit from vintage patterns. I have my eye on this cardigan, and a copy of Vintage Design Workshop, which so far looks awesome and has the level of hand-holding I feel I need for this undertaking.

If I somehow manage to complete all these goals I will consider 2014 a year well spent. Here's hoping.