New dress and lemon tree

So far I have made the bodice for the next dress:

It's the same pattern, but with a new fabric. Same cotton/poly blend and also a Jo-Ann "signature" fabric.

I also went and bought the dog a new collar, new squeaky tennis balls and pee pads. I have to work long days next week, so I am hoping this will give him an option other than holding it all day. Here he is giving me a "pretty shake":
I also bought five tomato plants at the grocery store and more pots at the dollar tree. My friend came over and helped me re-pot my lemon tree, so now it gets to enjoy the outdoors in its big blue pot. The pot is cool because it looks like ceramic, but is actually really lightweight (since I am weak)

Lemon Dress PIx

The bust had soft tucks, something like that. It has a nice effect.

The front:
The back:
See how the skirt stands out a little? I like it.

Lemon Dress Finished!

The pattern is Simplicity 4782.

Total cost- $27.77

The daylight is fading, so I'll take some picture wearing it tomorrow.

My changes:

I shortened the bodice an inch, which was perfect.

I folded up the skirt about 5 inches, and ended up cutting off three more. I am very short, but I also wanted just below knee length instead of tea length.

I ended up taking in 2 inches from the center back seam, since it was pretty baggy. That fixed that.

I also rolled the hem under twice about 1/2 " each time, and hemmed it on the machine. This was in part because I am lazy and the prospect of hemming a circle skirt by hand bored my brain-box, and to give it some extra body. It now stands out a little by itself. It's too hot in Louisiana for crinolines- especially with my car with the broken a/c...

Updates from all sides!

Look! My baby lemon tree has baby lemons! And yes, that is my pasty white hand!

I have cut out all the skirt pieces for the lemon dress last night, and I also graded a mountain of papers- all while watching law and order, of course.

Here's the view I am copying- and as soon as I am finished I am going to J Crew to buy a matching sweater. Yes, I am obsessed with 3/4 length sleeve cardigans. Love... (It's in a ziplock bag, that's why it says Johnson over her face)

Look! I just bought these online! Except mine will say "Fashioned by Molly M" namemaker.com 28 bucks for 40 labels. So cool!

Lisette had a good point- she said "duh, if it's a back button blouse, where is a picture of the blouse!?!?" Haha, no she was nice about it, but she has a point. I blame the self-timer and take no responsibility. I do love all my comments and followers! Everyone is always nice and constructive. Other than nonsense comments written in Chinese, everyone has always been wonderful. Sewing blogs are an oasis of sanity and niceness on the interwebs.

The beginnings of my Spring garden, and Sexy T-Rexy of course.

I ran out of pots and need more, but so far I planted strawberries, asparagus, basil, chives and dill. The balcony will be an herb garden and the raised beds in the backyard will have bigger viney veggies. I'm excited- please encourage me to remember to water them so they don't all immediately die!

I don't know what I'm doing today but who cares?- it's spring break!

p.s.- the teachers always giggle that the students can't wait for break, but they have no idea how much their teachers are looking forward to it! LOL!

Advance 4832- Blouse that buttons up the back

The pattern:

This turned out to be a cute blouse, and a pattern that I could use again. With little adjustments, it could be made again and again. Since I also plan to wear it with the blue chinos I just bought, it forced me to hem the pants now, rather than months from now.

Total Cost: $15.32

Changes to the pattern:

1. Left out the shoulder pads

2. Replaced the lace with fabric ruffles

I attempted to learn a rolled hem, but I sincerely doubt I did it correctly.

I did discover you can still dress yourself with the back buttons. I just left the two middle ones done, and slipped it over my head. Then, I could reach behind me and button the top two and the bottom two. Ta da!

How I plan on wearing it:

Sleeve detail:

The collar: It keeps curling up, so I might tack it down.

T-Rex modeling the shoulder pads I decided not to use:

I made excellent buttonholes using my attachment, and I made fabric-covered buttons, which are adorable. A new obsession....

I think the pants balance out the frou-frou girlishness of the blouse.

Next up: the lemon dress

The Blue Dress is Finished!!!!

Having finished my dress, which took over a month (gasp!), and having posed in the mirror last night examining it, I have some conclusions.

Total cost: $25.26 (not including labor, because my precious sewing time is worth one million dollars an hour ;) )

Overall, I like it.

I am very satisfied with my belt and covered button.

If I were to make it again, the only thing I would change is to make the sleeve part into a separate bolero. The pattern wants it to be attached. I think that contributed greatly to the lumpy back (see below), and that it would look better separate.

Oh, and I would do a normal side-boob dart (oh, excuse me, underarm) instead of the three poofy tucks the pattern wants.

My changes: shorten hem, lengthened all darts (skirt front and back, all darts on jacket back)

Posing (for my self-timer)

Close-up of tie and belt detail.

See how the upper back is so lumpy? I managed to lessen it, but couldn't get rid of it completely.

Front view- It fits like a glove.

I wanted a shot of my hair. I call this the "Mormon bride." It reminds me of of the hairstyle of all the women who were on the polygamous compound in Texas. It is the only hairstyle I've ever discovered where I can hold up all of my hair with 2 big bobby pins.

As you can see, the pattern would also make a cute strapless party dress.

Finally, look at how much of my blouse I've put together today! I plan on finishing it tonight!

fin.

New Projects for Spring Break!

I am pretty much done with the blue dress. It only needs the hidden straps to be sewn on in the front. Last weekend we watched The Hangover, which is hilarious, while I did all the hand sewing.

The belt is draped around the dummy's neck. As you can see, the hidden straps will hold it up on a hanger, if nothing else.

On to new projects:

I found a cute lightweight cotton print to try out the 40's blouse pattern.

Blouse pattern:

Here is a nice print for a dress. Summery, and I bought 2 1/2 yards.

I don't know about the pattern yet.

Here are the lemons and the pattern I decided to use. I think it will be super-cute!

Now for a laid-back break from school- and as a teacher for the first time! :)

Anyone else have some fun spring projects?