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