Better late than never?

Anyone would think I'd given up sewing. Not the case, but I haven't been blogging 'cos I can't seem to take a decent pic (not like Kitty, she's got the knack!). Anyway, hopefully these will give the general idea. Here is today's Sunday sewing output:

First up is an rose print knit fabric - it's a bit ITY like, nice and drapey. It's a recent eBay buy - I also got brown background / orange rose and navy background / pink rose - hey, I like a giant rose!
It's the top from New Look 6735, extended into a dress. I've made a few of these, very quick to sew and show off a print well - only a couple of hours to sew too. I love the neckband, a very clean and neat finish. Excellent travel frock too, I took the plain black one with me on the last trip.

Next up is a frock made of Erin Michael's 'Lush Uptown' paint-by-numbers quilting fabric - I've wanted this ever since I saw it AFTER it was out of print a couple of years ago - luckily it's recently been reprinted (and is already hard to find, but I found a great eBay seller with it). I used my tried and true (this must be the fifth or sixth one I've made) Butterick Retro 6522 - this is a great pattern for a bold print as the lines don't interfere with the pattern. I made this to go and see The Handsome Family on Saturday night - somehow the deers seem appropriate!

Hearty sweetheart sweetness

I realised this week that I hadn't made a frock for the fifties fair (next weekend) and I don't have any in reserve. So I spent today making this:

It's a Butterick Retro '50 - Butterick 6522 which I made before in lace (and in something else, but I can't remember what). It must have been some time ago, because the pattern was a size or two too small, but I just placed the centre back and centre front 2cm in from the fold and voila - fits perfectly.

I made it from a crepe-y black knit - turned out to be a good choice as it is nice and drapey and also I didn't need to put a zip in (yay!). I'm letting it hang for a while before I hem it. I may need to put in thread chain belt loops, or maybe stabilise the waist with some elastic.

The extra heart-ness is thanks to my trusty embroidery machine. I got the heart from Urban Threads (this one, minus the wings).

Sometimes you're in the mood for a quick frock

...and this one sure is quick! I love the fact that no zip was needed - although i might make an inside belt from elastic, because this corded knit lace is heavy... drapes nicely. I will wear it with a belt anyway. I was going to be all dedicated and finish the neck and sleeves with foldover elastic (my new best friend) but i just overlocked, turned and zigzagged - very very forgiving fabric this one, you can't see a thing on the right side.

I hope you appreciate how I have hidden Jane's internal organs this time (with some pink netting). The frock is actually quite see through - I am imagining her with pale pink slip, or a bold red satin one. I will get a proper picture of it on me instead of Jane, I promise. It isn't really as shapeless as it looks.

This is the corded knitted lace on a white table.

It will be fiiiine with some dress clips!

Today I bought some thickish black cotton/lycra for t-shirts - apparently good quality shaped set-in sleeve t-shirts that come down below one's waist don't exist. I hope I have a decent pattern somewhere for such a thing. I also got some great thick cotton twill with heaps of stretch for travel pants - the knowledgeable lady at GJ has used the yoga pant pattern and recommends it (but i might use some other stuff to muslin them, this material was cheap but not replaceable...) Or I could just make the Vogue bootlegs without the zip.