Monday, May 26, 2014

Sally

It's been awhile since I've named my projects - heck its been a while since my last project!

But what's in a name you ask? Well, if you have been watching the latest episodes of Mad Men, you may now see Office manager Joan is now an Account Executive and has sporting a few dresses contrast collar and cuffs - much like my new girl below. But the real fashionista I think of this season so far is Sally. Sure Megan has the most fabulous West Coast wardrobe, but Sally's teenage wardrobe is giving me the biggest envy of all! 

Sally doesn't get enough screen time I reckon, but we are now seeing her form a different relationship with her father and getting into mischief with her friends, rebelling against her mum and her school and sneaking out of class to go shopping - all the sorts of things girls her age may do, but in her case, while wearing the most trendy styles of 1969

So now onto my Sally dress then? 




In the late 60s, dresses in colourful paisley prints with contrasting collars and cuffs were very common, and appealed to mainstream fashion consumers, offering them some of the exotic eastern designs that the hippies were wearing so casually. As paisley has its origins in India, combining the print with a sensible dress design allowed people to be adventurous with their clothing but while still maintaining the satus quo

My pattern is from 1967 (Simplicity 7194) and as you can see the envelope illustration features a lovely lady - hair teased high with a paisley print dress. This is what helped me pair my fabric with this pattern.


I purchased this fabric some time ago from Fabric.com. The fabric is cotton - which I think may be a quilting fabric so it is a little thicker then normal. You can still buy the fabric if you like it yourself! 





The collar and cuffs were also made with cotton - I think they are the neatest I have ever done!




I had also been tossing up what fabric to use for the wee buttons on the tie, but I am glad to have picked the paisley!

The cuffs I am especially proud of. The technique used in the pattern is different then what I have done previously.
I normally have my cuffs looking like a shirt cuff, but this style requires applying the cuff kind of like a facing, but then gets turned inside out, slip stitched and then folded back up to its final position. 

I really must do a tutorial on it, its genius!


I also recently ordered some custom made clothing labels from Fantasy Labels. Their website is a bit naff but it works quite well. 

I had been using a bit of twill tape on the back of my garments to indicate the right way to wear it, but now finally I have personalised labels.

Doesn't it look great on the pink paisley?

 
This is one of the technically neatest things I have ever sewn. The bust darts are up way too high so I constantly have to keep adjusting it, but its looks quite good otherwise 

I've also stopped overcasting everything because I don't need to do it on cotton and its wastes thread. So my pinking shears have been getting a work out lately too!


How do you like our dear Sally? Do you think the real Sally Draper would like it? The colour I think might hook her in! 

Also, don't mind my legs - that's not stockings, they're just a lovely shade of Winter Pale!

Thanks for popping in lovelies! And I hope there is a pleasant week in store for you ahead!

Now back to my McCalls 8939...

Cat xo

36 comments:

  1. I love Sally! The fit, the fabric, the shape - the inspiring illustration on the front of the packet. You look gorgeous! I've never seen Mad Men, shocking! xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I love it when I can match my make to the envelope! And you've never seen mad men? Omg what kind of vintage lover have never seen it?! Haha I'm kidding! But it's quite interesting none the less!

      Delete
  2. This is just lovely! The collar and cuffs are perfect and the fabric choices are spot on! I have to agree with you, Sally's wardrobe has been so good this season!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! I'm quite proud of it now! I would love to see the serie progress and watch her become a 70s teenager watch Led Zeppelin concerts but it will never be!

      Delete
  3. Woweee I just love this dress! The fabric is gorgeous - I'm sure Sally Draper would approve.

    That technique for sewing cuffs is great isn't it, the cuffs on my tartan shift dress were sewn on that way and I love the way that it looks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooh thank you! Yes! I did see you use that technique on your dress. Did it take you ages to work ou? They missed out illustrating one of the steps and I was so confused!

      Delete
  4. Nice dress , and i love your paisley fabric too ! Good job again !

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love this dress, I'm a complete sucker for white collar and cuff combinations! Really pretty, I love reading about your creations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I was worried I would do too many and people would get sick of them, but they're just so awesome!

      Delete
  6. Lovely dress! Looks like something Suzy Bishop would wear! Have you seen Moonrise Kingdome? Suzy's wardrobe would be right up your alley, I reckon.

    http://www.roxthinks.blogspot.ca/2012/11/upcoming-project-suzy-dress.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Yes I know the dress - and now that I think of it I totally could have called it Suzy except I have already made a Moonrise kingdom dress! It was I think the second project I ever posted on here :)

      Delete
  7. Looks fab and your cuffs and collar do look amazing. Nice work!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Very cool! Love how the buttons match the fabric. Perfect!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I'm pretty glad I chose to match them. White would have been boring!

      Delete
  9. I'm still stuck in the last season of Mad Men and I have to say I'm NOT a Sally fan...at all! Your dress is really sweet though. I noticed on Saturday that your nailpolish matched your cuffs...nice one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha I know she can be kind of a bitch in the last season but she becomes a little more developed character wise in season 7. Thanks so much lady for your comment

      Delete
  10. That's a really beautiful dress! I've always been fond of collar and cuff combinations. I love the fabric choice, and the details are so neat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! They totally are a sweet feature. I hope you guys never get sick of them cause Id love to sew more of this style!

      Delete
  11. Love this frock! Super cute, the cuffs and collar are scrummy and I adore the fabric!
    I'm ashamed to say I have seen only half the first season of Mad Men, but I have bought the first two on DVD and plan on getting stuck into it at some point, as I KNOW I am missing out big time! I'm always a slowpoke!
    XXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! Thank you Helga! I'm glad you like it. Even though you've only seen the first season the good part is you can progress onto the next seasons without waiting 7 years for the series to end! Omg!

      Delete
  12. I love sally's clothes in this season! I think she'd definitely approve of this fun number. The colour and cuffs look great against the bold paisley fabric

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I love the pattern too, so I'm hoping a 16 year old girl might too. Actually I think my mum and Sally were born around the same time. Maybe I should ask her what 16 year old mum would have thought of it....

      Delete
  13. Sally is just beautiful! I think she may be my favourite of your creations so far! I love that you chose to use the paisley fabric for the buttons, it looks great. And well done on the collar and cuffs. They look perfect and you look like a real 60's doll!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Lucy! I always appreciate that you like my dresses!

      Delete
  14. She's just lovely and neat too. I love the self cover buttons on the white contrast:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! That means a lot coming from a professional sewing teacher!

      Delete
  15. These photos look so lovely and of course I got to see your dress in person at Fabric a brac. It looks amazing and suits you so well too! I hope you are really happy with how great this looks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I do love it - and i'm glad you like it too!

      Delete
  16. Oh my gosh! I just found your blog and this is great! Keep up the good work! :D

    ReplyDelete
  17. A paisley dress with a collar and cuffs is one of my all time fashion weaknesses! You did such a stunning job, and I love the little details like the matching buttons :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Oh! Isn't is such a wonderful combination!? Paisley is the best fabric print of all I reckon. Even better than polka dots or stripes

      Delete

Thanks for your comment! Please do not comment anonymously - feel free to use the Name/URL option instead as I’d still love to hear from you xo

*Spam comments will be swiftly deleted, so please do not bother

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.