My sewing speed can be – is often – glacial. I’ve become a religious pattern tracer (think of the children! What else are they going to look for in the op shops of the future, when they’re full of clothes from Glassons/Primark/KMart?). It takes ages. I have – let’s see – seven projects currently under way, the first started in 2008 (and none that I’ve touched for at least a fortnight). Is “under way” even the correct term in these circumstances?
Anyway I do find that a trip or upcoming event is the best way to turbocharge some sewing action. A few weeks ago I had both, in the form of a conference. I had found some gorgeous floral cotton sateen at The Fabric Warehouse the previous week and decided to make a new work dress.
(Can I just interrupt myself to tell a story that illustrates my love for The Fabric Warehouse? My first stop that day was Spotlight. I can’t remember what I bought but I can remember that the girl who served me was wearing a trainee badge, had the bluntest scissors in existence, and insisted on cutting – if that’s even the correct word with those scissors – my purchase TO THE PRECISE CENTIMETRE. Then I went next door to TFW, where the lovely assistant measured a very generous 1.5 metres WITHOUT A TAPE MEASURE and cut it with the biggest sharpest scissors in the world, in one swoop. And that’s how to do business. Spotlight, we are never ever ever getting back together. Sorry for putting Taylor Swift into your head.)
So here’s the dress.
This is New Look 6968, view C.
This dress has in the past been made using a single metre of fabric, but if you want the fancy collar (and why wouldn’t you, it’s awesome) then you’ll need more.
The collar is in two pieces, and one side has a little gap that the other side fits through. Better to show you:
I cut this dress out in the morning before work, whipped it up in about four hours that evening, and was even in bed early enough to have a decent amount of sleep before an ungodly flight the next morning.
Some things had to be sacrificed, like any sort of invisible hem treatment…
… or darts that match …
… but the print is very forgiving and it’s fabulous to have another work dress. All I need to make it an outfit is a cardigan, and luckily I’m up to four Jenna cardis and counting!
sixty six stitches 
This is so pretty. I feel your pain with Spotlight! I only shop there if I really have to. It’s not just the Fabric Warehouse who are that awesome, last time I was at the Fabric Store the person cut extra (like they always do) and said it was to allow for shrinkage. They never do that at Spotlight and often, because they insist on cutting fabric (crooked) instead of tearing it, and give you no more than the exact amount you’ve asked for you end up with a parallelogram and it’s difficult to cut the garment out.
Agreed, they both have fabulous customer service. I’d love to know if there’s a rule about which fabrics you can tear and which ones to cut. Or is it trial and error?
When I worked at Arthur Toye we used to tear almost all wovens, there were only a few fabrics you couldn’t tear. Looking at the ones at spotlight, I think you could tear most of them
Awesome work! I love the pattern. Might just have to try this one on!!
Thanks – happy to lend it any time.
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