Hello Spring! - A Peak at What's on my Queue

For the last two week's or so, we've had warm weather (around 70-75F), clear, sunny skies, and the flowers have begun to bloom. So, despite the fact that we're still a few weeks away from Spring, I've been unable to resist brightening up my sewing queue. Here's a look at what I'll be working on in the next few weeks.

First up, Vogue 2960 in a coral, linen/cotton blend. Actually, this dress is finished
but, I've been unable to take photos and share. 'What had happened was...' I wanted to wear the dress for my birthday, which was yesterday. After the long streak of gorgeous, totally coral dress appropriate weather we'd been having, it never even crossed my mind that this idea might not pan out. But, Mother Nature decided to rain on my parade. I just so happened to be up and at 12:05am on my birthday the skies broke open and it poured...all day. Not exactly picture worthy. Today, contrary to weather predictions, it's once again bright and clear but, we're waiting on a delivery so, today's out too. Cross your fingers for me - I'm hoping to be able to wear this for an afternoon out tomorrow.

Here's my finished dress, showing off her fullness, waiting to be worn.

Next up will, of course, be my Trudy dress for the Mad Men challenges.  The taffeta I ordered came in this week and it is nearly what I was expecting/hoping for.  I think it will suit the dress well.  It doesn't look too polyester-y (much better than Hancock's BFF offerings!) but, it does feel a bit synthetic.  So, I ask you, would it be completely silly to line the bodice with a white cotton?  Normally, I'd like to use a blue but, white is what I have.  The petticoat is white too so, perhaps a white bodice lining would help the top match the skirt?? (Assuming the whites show through a bit...)  I'm torn because I generally line dress for comfort, modesty, and to make the inside pretty and I certainly don't think white against the bright blue will be pretty but, I really don't like the idea of plastic against my skin.  I need a little nudge one way or the other from my lovely sewing friends :-)

To line, or not to line...

Following the party dress, I'm pulling a fabric out of my stash (hooray for de-stashing!) to whip up a TNT pattern, McCall 4440. (You may have seen it here, here, and here... Hmm, I think I have a "One Week, One Pattern" entry in the works!)  I think I could use a brainless sundress project ;-)  One of the Spring Pantone colors is "Cockatoo" which just happens to be the dominant color in the quirky Lilly Pulitzer fabric I've had stashed since last summer.  I need your thoughts on this one too.  I just bought two cotton lace trims of ebay to give the dress a bit of an extra Lilly-esque touch but, I can't decide which to use.  Which do you like better with the fabric?  The swirls or the rows of dots?  (Both are roughly 2" tall.)  I would place the swirls either along the under-bust seam or a few inches above the hem (like I did here).  The dots would go along the top of the bodice, a few inches above the hem, or both.  What do you think?


Sitting in an unnumbered spot on my queue is a sudo-authentic vintage shift dress.  Last summer, I purchased three yards of vintage (exact age unknown) Lilly Pulitzer fabric.  I want to do the fabric justice so, I plan to make the shift dress using a vintage pattern which has the details that an original Lilly shift dress would have had. (Rounded neckline, minimal shaping, and a slit at the end of both side seams, each accented with a bow.)  I found the perfect pattern in vintage Simplicity 5309 and finally snagged it from ebay for $2.94.  (Third time's a charm!)  Since my fabric is green, it would have been perfect for the coming week's St. Patrick's Day theme but, since the auction ended yesterday, my new pattern won't be here in time.  But, after pulling the fabric out of it's muslin wrapping this afternoon, I'm quite excited about it again so, I'm fairly certain this one is in my near future. UPDATE: My pattern arrived quicker than expected so, I started working on it this week! It's about half done and I'll have to put it down to work on the other projects above but, I expect this one to make an appearance sometime mid-April. I may even get to enter it in the Vintage Contest over on Pattern Review.

Oh how I do love pink and green!

source

Hmm... I seem to be on a vintage kick :-)

Sadly, most of the other fabric in my stash was planned for Fall and will now have to wait.  Guess I'll need to go [virtual] fabric shopping next month.  Oh darn! hehe

So, have you gotten the Spring bug yet?  What do you have planned?

PS.  Don't forget those of us who observe Daylight Saving Time Spring forward this Sunday!  See? Spring really is coming!

Have a great weekend everyone! x