HSM March: Stashbusting

Yet another Historical Sew Monthly project complete! This one is actually March's challenge of stash busting. I did actually get this done in March but I made it to wear for Easter so no photos until now.

The Challenge: Stash Busting-make something completely from stash materials.

Fabric: less than 2 yds of linen

How long in stash: I purchased this fabric in January to make my 1930s beach pjs (which are finished but not photographed). I wanted to do a color blocked version so I erred on the side of too much rather than too little fabric. I had almost two yards so I decided to try and squeeze a dress out of it. It took a bit of creative cutting layout kung fu but I did it.

Pattern: Sense and Sensibility Swing Dress

Year: It's based off of a 1942 Hollywood pattern

Notions: zipper and thread from stash

How historically accurate is it?  It's very historically accurate. I did use polyester thread and used my serger to finish my seams. I also left of the shoulder pads.

Hours to complete: 5 hrs

First worn: to church for Easter service

Total cost: free since everything was purchased and leftover from an old project.

 This is actually the second time I've made up this dress. The first I made up way back in 2011 as part of Elegant Musing's Swing Dress Sew Along. I'd been sewing less than a year and it didn't turn out that great. But I've learned a lot since then and I though that this pattern deserved a second chance.

I probably should have made a muslin but I decided to wing it. I needed a quick project to sew up so I just went for it. 

There were a few issues that I ran into. Again, I had some bunching where the gathers hit the waist band but I was prepared for that and fit as I was sewing it up. Also, the facing on the bodice and the facing on the back neck didn't line up for me. I made it work but the neckline ended up a bit lower than I wanted.

I've seen several versions of this dress where ladies have used a brooch to hold the neckline closed a bit higher so I might try that next time. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the fit. 

I added to the outfit my 40s Fashion Calendar brooch and my Lady Mary's Garden Party hat.

I love that the background of this brooch matches the color of this dress so well. It makes the whole thing a little bit less bold for someone like me who is still learning how to wear brooches.

 For Easter, I knew that I wanted to wear a hat of some kind. Unfortunately, none of my green hats were quite the right shade to go with this dress. And quite a few of my hats just don't work with straight hair. My hubby suggested that I wear this hat and it was a great idea.

 Floral hats are always great for Easter and spring! This outfit was so much fun to wear.

Did you make anything special for Easter this year?

Swing Dress Sew-along Finished!

Yay! I finished my swing dress! The pattern itself wasn't terribly difficult (once you get the shoulder bit down) but I had a lot of weird things happen. It's done now and I can breathe a sigh of relief. And enjoy my new dress!

It was pretty windy out today but it was so nice that I couldn't resist getting pictures done outside. (And I'm sure you're tired of seeing my messy living room and kitchen in the back ground.

Ah haha! Those dratted shoulders look so nice! I used a snap for closure (as my head wouldn't fit when sewn shut!)

I also added pockets!

This wasn't one of my favorite patterns. It didn't end up being super flattering to my figure. Some weird things popped up that didn't appear in the muslin. There is some awkwardness where the top meets the waist band. There is extra fabric that hangs awkwardly under the chest. (Anyone have thoughts on how to fix this??? I'm half tempted to take out the zipper and reattach the top and bottom to make it go away......) The waist band also hits me a bit oddly as I have a bit of tummy that pokes out underneath it. It is also a bit difficult to get the waist section over my chest. I think I need a longer zipper to help with that. My fabric is a bit sheerer than I thought and I'll definitely need a slip under it!

I did have great success in removing sleeve ease and using the shoulder pads. My shoulders are narrow and slope down a lot at the end, so the shoulder pads give me a normal shoulder silhouette. No linebacker shoulders here! The pocket's were also a great success! I did two inserted pockets! They are a bit low but I wanted to put them below the zipper.

So, next go around I'll have to do a better muslin fitting!

Busy busy busy

I've been super busy sewing all day to get my Wearing History Smooth Sailing Pants finished. And they are! :) Yay! Alas, it is late so there are not pictures for you today. But I do have pictures of my fabric for Casey's Sew-along!

The print is a cotton lawn that I actually found in the juvenile apparel fabric section, right next to the dinosaur print. I thought looked a bit retro and very spring! The pink is going to be used for the ties/midsection. Anyways, now that I have my fabric and I've finished my pants I can get started on this sew-along. Yay!