Thanks to the Padawan's Guide for providing reference images and links to tips.
Sunday June 13, 2004
I set up my brand new White 1418 sewing machine last night and organized my fabric and patterns. I bought everything from Jo-Ann's. They are superb! I am using crushed panne (lemon yellow and bright red) for fabrics in this gown (each $4.99 a yard, though I managed to get the yellow on sale so it was half off. Thank goodness because there was an awful lot of it).
I was torn between using Simplicity 6673 (a New Look Pattern) and McCall's 4490 since I had found information on how to adapt 6673 into Leia's ANH dress and thought I could make it work for this gown too. It turned out, though, that I would have had to adapt the pattern too much to make it fit me (drat the petite figure....no, not really). As it is, the McCall's pattern is smallest at a size 6, but their size 6 measurements look like they will fit me (a size 2, 4, 0? -1?) so I don't know what they're using as guidelines for numbers. Always check their measurement charts!!
Anyway, I am using McCall's 4490 and I'm happy with it because after much fiddling and fumbling I'm going to just make dress D and change it later. I can sew the long sleeves shut, add the hood onto the wide neck, etc. etc. I think it won't be bad at all.
Tip: Check out sewingpatterns.com if you want a good preview of the patterns you're looking for. The pdf downloads allow you to look at the back of the pattern as well (for measurement charts, yards of fabric measurements for each pattern, etc.), which is unusual but helpful.
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Saturday June 19, 2004
I haven't had time to really start doing much since the last entry. But here are pictures of the fabric.
The picture makes it seem a lot darker, but the texture is good. The red fabric picture has the opposite problem: color is perfect, texture looks weird. So....well, maybe later pictures will look better.
Here's the pattern cover so you can see what Dress D looks like:
So I hope to cut out the pattern and start cutting stuff. I'm nervous, though. All this business about nap and size and tucking and crazy crazy things. I'm hoping I'm not in over my head....Shall keep you all posted.
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Me again. I just cut out the pattern pieces and organized them. Phew. Tired. But now that's done and tomorrow I should start cutting pieces of fabric. I'll have to do that downstairs because, as I figured out today, I don't have a large space on my bed or floor that I can use to lay out that much fabric at once. I highly suggest a kitchen or dining room table, but I don't have one of those. So I'll be using the downstairs floor in the living room. If there's even room there....Shucks. I may have to fold up my futon... Oh well.
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Sunday June 20, 2004
This is dumb. Well, I cut the pattern pieces yesterday and now I've pasted together the extensions. BUT I can't start cutting fabric until I have pins. Yes, I'm held up because I don't have bloody sewing pins. Or safety pins or non-safe pins or any other pins. Yarg. Reminder: Next time I do this sort of project, make a list and check it twice. Then check it twice again. And again and again and again.... I wish I had a car.
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Wednesday June 23, 2004
I cut the front piece! The dress has begun to take shape (in a very 2D way....)! Picture:
Now I get to figure out how to staystitch...
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