Bridesmaid Dress Alteration - 1

How do you turn an off the rack bridesmaid dress into a 9 month Maternity Dress???

I was asked to do this for a friend. The dresses were purchased last Christmas when all the girls were in town together and could go to the shop. Now, almost 9 months later, with the wedding in September, the bride's sister is almost 9 months pregnant! I am fortunate that the design of the dress includes a very full pleated skirt, and the girls wanted about 6 inches chopped off the bottom of all the dresses, to take them from mid-calf to just above the knee.

One of the other bridesmaids dresses, shortened to knee length. (the black ribbon is only to hold the dress on the hanger, it should have been tucked in for the photo - sorry)

This gives me plenty of fabric to cover the bump and plenty of extra fabric to add panels as needed. First I cut the zipper out of the back and opened the back seam of the dress and the lining. Then I cut the snug wide waistband to one inch and re-attached the skirt so that it sits right below the bodice.

On the lining I had to also cut the boning to only the length of the bodice (it went all the way down to the waist) and remount the underlining higher to match the skirt.

We are now ready for the first fitting, where I will determine how much extra fabric needs to be along the back seam, and it I need more fabric for the top of the bodice (maybe even shoulder straps if required to hold the dress up).... stay tuned.

New Quilt, New Class

I have enrolled in a quilting class at Kindred Spirits. I have not taken a sewing class since High School! It is not that I feel I could not do this pattern on my own, but I wanted the experience of a group project. My knitting friends encouraged this project and attended the class with me.

The new quilt is called Mirage ......

and involves cutting 32 different fabrics into 1.5 inch strips, then sewing in colour panels, then cross cutting in more thin strips. The end result is a quilt made up of one inch squares (or smaller) in a rolling bargello design.

The first day was sewing the panels in the colour combinations that set up the second cuts. My homework before the class was to cut the 1.5 inch strips and stack them in the colour panels. I discovered that my kitchen island was the perfect height for cutting the strips with the rotary blade and cutting matt. Since I rarely actually use it for cooking, it is good to know that it has a practical purpose other than the place to throw the mail and keys....!

My Janome 6600 popped out of the table and was easy (if a bit heavy) to take to the shop and set up with the portable table tray. Next class in two weeks.

Cushions and Piping

A lovely antique golf theme print, and burgundy piping, with antique buttons....

makes pretty cool cushions!

Another Golf Club Cover

I have been using my Monkey Cover for a few weeks, and I love him... He sits on my four wood, the one I use in the fairway, and his arms and legs bob along as I walk. The only drawback to the first design is the white sock lining gets pretty dirty as I slide it on my club (hmmm - monkey has a dirty bum?).. so my newest version has a bit more of a collar and is done in black... should be even better. I have made him an optional blue knit cap that matches his eyes.

He can also still sit on the desk, and watch me type away, like a good sock monkey will do!

ps.... instructions HERE

The Beautiful Dress on the Beautiful Friend!

and Roy looks quite dapper too! Congrats on the lovely wedding... a perfect day.