Little Red Rooster

Hello hello readers!! How the heck have you all been? I've been having a lovely long break way from le blog to catch up on sewing and enjoy my new job which has been really enjoyable! My new boss is pretty cool and I even get to go out and play team football (Soccer) once a week, which has now resulted in a fractured second toe but otherwise, the comparison between my old role and my new role are streets apart. I'm feeling much more relaxed and I have time to do my job properly, not just squeeze 3 roles into one! 

And so yes, all this life happiness has resulted in a tonne of sewing! So many things to show you all, but first I should try to catch up on everything I'm well behind in! 

Just before summer holidays I noticed I didn't have very many sleeveless style dresses for summer so I made it a point to cut out a few for home and for going out. This is one of the going out ones - Simplicity 9725 from 1973

The fabric was picked up last year in a swap at the first Spoolettes meet up. It's most definitely vintage, not sure what decade but its mustiness suggests 70's. It's cotton but I think it is a drill weave as its quite sturdy

The dress bodice is two piece - a top yoke gathered under the bust, and a bottom half which is tight. Very reminiscent of the two piece bodices of 1960. I noted that the bodice for this dress is a little too long on me as the skirt fits just under the waist line and not right on it so next time I'll need to take off a few cm's.

I only had 2 meters of this fabric so I had to be very careful with how I pattern placed. 

You'll notice that on the pattern envelope the sleeves are much longer and flowy. I had only a little scrap of fabric left so I fashioned some cap sleeves instead. 

For my size 14 dress, on the fold I drew the sleeve line legth - 23cm long and 5cm wide at one end tapering down to 1.5cm at the other end. 

Then I basted in some long stitches and gathered these and attached to the armhole. 

I encased it all with some light blue bias to match the tiny flowers on the fabric. Nice and simple!

From the back of the dress you can see how it creeps up a little in the bodice base. After wearing it for a day, the amount of times I adjusted it were just a few too many times! 

The skirt is made up of two squares, which I don't much like as it sometimes gives this tube shape, and not the flaring out shape that I prefer. But as the fabric is quite stiff I has a tendency to do that

As a simple summer dress I have no real complaints. It comfy and pretty and perfect for going out for dinner or work. 

I'd highly recommended this pattern for beginners, and there is both the short and long version depending on your preference, and there isn't many very difficult technical aspects.

There's plenty more things I've made which I'll get around to posting soon!

I hope you've all been well! I got my braces removed this weekend and hung out with the Spoolettes at Bobbin and Ink today. Lots of sewing going on otherwise!

Take care lovelies!

Cat xo