Mother of the Bride dress: Is this the one??

So here we go, the year 2013! As you all know I am going to make my mother of the bride dress for the June wedding of my daughter. There was much talk about me making her gown, but the last time I was visiting in California she found the dress of her dreams. It was a gorgeous strapless gown from a Columbian designer and was an allover embroidery over tulle style. Now, as much as I wanted to make her gown, I understood my limitations and that I could not duplicate this gown. So she decided to purchase her gown instead of having me make it. I was not upset at all because when you find the "one" gown that blows your mind, that takes over. It's her day and she should have what she wants. And she looked stunning in it!!

Now, getting back to my dress. I have been going back and forth for several months about the style of my dress. Meghan gave me no restrictions, it is all up to me. From what I hear of European weddings, they are big on the hat and gloves thing. I am so all over that! It appeals to my love of vintage and if I have a free pass to wear a fabulous hat and gloves in public, I'm there!

With that said you have to have a certain style dress to pull that look off, IMO. So I was thinking a vintage styled type dress, with some modern touches. I also didn't want a strapless dress or anything that really shows my arms. Don't want to scare the relatives!  Also, although I am working on losing weight I am still a bit chubby and want to have a style that is flattering.

So what to do? I think I may have the answer! The following is a vintage styled pattern (from 1951) that should fit the bill. I am concerned that I may be too big to pull it off, but it has the elegant style I was looking for and would look great with a fabulous hat and gloves! Not sure of the color yet (have to match those Dress Blues!!).

So: What do you think? Is this the "one"???

Navy work skirt!

So I have not been working on the wedding quilt this weekend. But my plan is work on it this evening while I get caught up on the stuff on the DVR. Until then, here is Sunday's project!

A new navy skirt for work. Something just quick and simple that I whipped up today (took about 3 hours, including cutting out the fabric). I have a fabulous tweed suit jacket from Ann Taylor that I wear with navy pants but I didn't have a navy skirt to go with it. I like being able to mix and match for work because it makes packing easier and allows me to get more use out a piece in my wardrobe. Enter Vogue 8835. I chose version #2, shown below.

Vogue 8835

Now I only used a navy crepe-type suiting fabric that I found at Joanne's fabrics, nothing special. I just wanted something simple that could coordinate with the jacket. The one difference to the pattern that I made is to line the entire skirt, the pattern only calls for just the yoke to be lined. I prefer to line the entire thing because it A) slips on and off easier and B) allows your fashion fabric to last longer, thus extending the life of your garment.

I have finished everything except the hem on the skirt. I normally like to let my garments "hang" for at least 24 hours before I hem them. (Normally this is only done on bias cut skirts, but I prefer to do it on just about all of my garments). So my plan is to hem the skirt next weekend when I am home from work travel!

The skirt is kind of a mock wrap skirt, the wrap part is stitched up about 1/2 way down the skirt on the left side. These are not the best pictures. Unfortunately, my dress form is the one that I have had for about 25 years. It is much smaller than I currently am so the clothes don't fit as well on it as they should. I don't understand why that dress form "shrunk" as much as it did. Maybe a manufacturer's defect?!

All in all a satisfying project. I will probably use the pattern again with other fabrics. It seems to coordinate well with suit jackets so it will extend the choices of my current suits to make additional outfits!

It's not hemmed yet, that's for next weekend!

Look, I'm lined!

The skirt with the Ann Taylor jacket I wanted to match up with it.

New Red Dress!

So I decided to take a break from the wedding quilt (and save my fingers!). I have started working on a new dress for work, made out of Vogue 8633. I decided on view A, made is all red instead of the contrast shown in the picture. The fabric is a solid red medium weight jersey. I found this pattern with a beautiful silk fabric in mind that I have in my stash. But I wanted to try it in a less expensive fabric first. And since I have some "fitting issues", I figured that an inexpensive fabric would be the best way to go! I am well, chubby. And I have a very long waist, short legs and huge man-sized shoulders. No wonder why I sew!

Vogue 8633

So after some cutting and making the bodice in muslin first, I started in on the jersey. View A has a lined bodice but the skirt was unlined. I decided to go ahead an line the skirt part of it as well. The reasoning behind it is twofold. First, lining protects the fashion fabric and that way your garment lasts longer. Another reason is for a clean line under the the knit.

Medium weight red jersey fabric

I kind of hate cutting out patterns!

Stay tuned for more posts as the dress progresses! My guess is that by next weekend it will be done!