Saturday, September 15, 2007

No wallflower

I'd love to say I 'whipped up' this little number in no time at all, but setting the zip had me completely undone! I ripped it twice before getting out my Janome instruction manual and going through the sewing a zip instructions step by step. I ended up having to unpick the entire back seam to do this and found the whole process tiresome and frustrating!


However, I am now quite happy with how this hibiscus print contrast dress turned out. It's from a Burda 'Easy' pattern (number 9740) and has matching pants and a little bag. I'll be making them next. I also have plans to make this dress and pants in different fabrics, which I have already bought - naturally! I love how the manufacturers describe the pattern as 'very easy' - it certainly is...if you know how to sew zips. There were zero instructions other than 'sew zip'. Very useful...not!

Getting a good photo of the dress was no easy object...my little model was highly uncooperative and I managed to get quite a sullen shot and quite a silly shot, with Carl doing the corralling honours.


--------------

We're having a nice, easy, relaxing weekend so far. We caught up this morning with some friends and their 8mo baby this morning - they are about to head off to the UK for three years - Coach won a scholarship to do his PhD at Cambridge so they're packing up and disappearing. It's hard to believe Romily will have started school by the time they return to Australia! Campbell, their son (the baby I made Wonky Geese for), is just gorgeous - the spitting image of his dad - he'll be nearly four by the time they get back! Crikey.

14 comments:

Cathy said...

Hi Lily
the dress looks lovely. I have made this dress a number of times - I don't bother with the zip - just button and loop at the top. It still sits the same. I agree zips are a pain, but I have mastered them now.
I have blogged about it here. http://missmarzie.blogspot.com/search/label/Things%20I%20Have%20Made

Joyce said...

Very cute dress. I have put in probably thousands of zippers and I still often go to the manual to get it right. Lol.

~Bren~ said...

Lily!!! The jumper is gorgeous. I am so green! Someday soon I will be posting Charlotte in her jumper...I do have faith. Now I am off the read about zippers on Cathy's link!!

Peta said...

Oh that dress is just gorgeous!

Doodlebug Gail said...

What a cute little dress! I should do a photo zipper tutorial for you .... my Mom taught me how to do them and honestly if you baste correctly you'll never rip out another zip. Do you think it would help you for other dresses? Let me know - I'm more than willing to help and it would make your sewing less stressful. Your little girl is growing up - she's gorgeous!

~Bren~ said...

You have been such an encouragement to me on the dress making! Thanks...come get your award!

fallen~from~grace said...

I have attempted to put in a zip once and then I gave up cause it was too hard LOL I think the dress looks great, the colours really suit Romily too!

Unknown said...

Lily - the one major tip I'd give you about putting in a zip (and I've put in hundreds) is to always put it into a flat assembly of fabric - so in this case fix the zip into the back of the dress before you even think about shoulder and side seams - so much easier when you're working on the flat - the dress looks lovely btw :o)

Tracey said...

you did a *wonderful* job!! believe me, zippers get easier the more you do them. :o)

tracey
www.theehandworks.typepad.com

Cass said...

Lovely dress the fabrics look great

Unknown said...

This is gorgeous, I love greens and yellows for spring. And Romily really is the most photogenic child. She looks gorgeous in every snap you take!

Simonetta said...

Hi Lily,very beautiful this dress, simple but of effect. Romily is an enchantment :))))

Anonymous said...

What a lovely dress! It was reassuring to hear that it's not just me that struggles with things like zippers. The quilt is so beautiful too - the variations of colours are wonderful.

Jenni said...

Very cute Lily. You are making some lovely clothes.