Monday, May 25, 2009

Rebekah's yellow dress

I finished Rebekah's yellow dress today so I can check one more item off of my list! Anymore it takes me three days to finish a dress. Day 1: cut out bodice, sleeves (always hand hemmed) and waistband and assemble including neckline piping and completely finish neckline (also by hand). Day 2: rip skirt panels, iron and hand hem to proper length, put in 3-5 growth tucks and iron it all neat and pretty! Day 3: run gathering stitches or pin in pleats and attach skirt to outer waistband by machine, whip stitch inner waistband after ironing, make 5-7 hand made buttonholes (I don't like hooks & eyes) and attach buttons - usually china but occasionally mother of pearl. I used to work somewhat quicker but I find it easier to pace myself this way for right now. Rebekah's dress is following my favorite style for this summer, a gathered bodice, bateau neckline and cap sleeves. She will have silk ribbons at the shoulder but I didn't pin them on for this picture, I have some pretty yellow from Wooded Hamlet that will go well, I think. Her skirt is only 85" wide as I was short on fabric.

Her pettichemise sleeves really shouldn't be peeking out, I need to make sleeveless chemises for all the girls this summer but I'm pretty sure that I won't get it done. Maybe I can just pretend that I meant it to look that way!
I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day!

7 comments :

  1. Dear Mrs. G.,

    The dress is so pretty! I also feel that pacing yourself while sewing a project makes it more enjoyable!

    Thank you for sharing.

    blessings,

    lady m

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  2. Oh I love it!!! :)
    You make such SWEET dresses!

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  3. Paris,

    Another lovely dress! I adore the styles that you dress your little people in. :)

    Have you ever seen the Bates family? They have 17 children, and one of the older girls sews their dresses.

    Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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  4. What a lovely dress. The color is so delicate and so perfect for spring/summer time and Rebekah looks beautiful in it!

    I really like how you break down sewing a dress into 3 different days. That is pretty much what I do as well. I too used to be able to work faster but with three little guys I just can't spend as much time each day on sewing projects as I used to.

    And I like the sleeves peeking out. :) They look like undersleeves, so I wouldn't worry about it! :) I think I remember Mrs. Clark saying it is okay if childrens undergarments show at the neckline/sleeves, since I had that problem with little David's first dress (the pink one).

    Soooo pretty!

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  5. She's so cute! She looks happy to be wearing it too. I've given you an award for your blog if you'd like to play along!

    http://fairprospect.blogspot.com/2009/05/awe-summ.html

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  6. What a pretty dress! I love the color, and the style! Very nice.:)

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  7. Mrs. G,

    I have given you a pass-along blog award. Come by my blog to pick it up!

    www.yearningforpurity.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete