- Those Summer Essentials
My bro and his GF are here, so computer time is at a minimum and sewing time is nonexistent, but here’s a quick attempt to post something.
I’ve been trying to collect my thoughts for a post about Ali’s Summer Essential Sewalong challenge, which I watched interestedly last year and have decided to actually participate in this time ’round. But I’m afraid I’ve felt a bit boggled, unable to really wrap my mind around the range of suggestions. So I’m going to cheat and tackle them one class (she helpfully divided the summer possibilities into six) at a time. And I’m going to start in the middle, because, well, I feel like it.
Ali wrote:
The Sundress: Need I say more? To me, the perfect sun dress strikes that chord between casual and elegant—arms and collarbones, looking good barefoot or high-heeled. It’s something you can wear to both a barbecue and a summer wedding.
Ok, so I’ve already made one contribution to this category, the Grecian Goddess dress. But I’ve got at least two more possibilities on the brain-pan, so hear me out.
A dress I don't need.
McCall’s 3415, of course, is still on the menu. I’ll get to it one of these days, probably when the temperature creeps above 20C for more than a day at a time.
Dotty Sundress
Then there’s that red polkadot voile from the thrift store that’s taunting me. I think it needs to be a retro, full-skirted, spaghetti-strapped sundress. I’m thinking along the lines of Katjusha, with the back of the bodice shirred for ease of fit and wearing, but the bodice would need to be modified, so the waist is slightly dropped. I’m generally wary of dirndl skirts, but if the waist is dropped it should be ok.
I just can’t be bothered with doing all the links for MMJ posts right now, but I’ve still been managing daily photos in the Flickr group, so check them out there if you like. (For today, I did my contribution to the “ugly background” challenge, with a photo of my once-and-future sewing room. It doesn’t look quite as disastrous in the photo as it does in real life, for some reason.) Maybe I’ll do a week-retrospective when my company moves on after the weekend.
Tanit-Isis Sews 
I’m so jealous of your voile, I might sneak over and steal it. That shizz is awesome! And the dress picture is to die for. Did you draw it?
The pic of you in your sewing room indicates you’ve got some serious stash. My room has a closet so I hang the fabric up in it. That way, I can convince myself I don’t have that much. No really, there’s barely anything (eye roll).
Yes, I recently found the stylus for my Wacom drawing tablet, so I can actually draw/paint on computer again (after a year!). Hence the colour drawing.
Hmm, the stash is getting kinda ample, isn’t it? I do have a closet in the sewing room, but it’s full of dance costumes and off-season coats. I need a shelving unit or three in the worst way, though.
I love the dress picture too! I had a red cotton voile I wanted to turn into such a dress after watching ‘West side stry for the, like, 50th time (I think Anita wears one that’s similar). It’s been cut into a Crescent skirt that I still need to sew for the summer essentials thing, but I lack of time and am reluctant to sketch a plan, since I know it’ll never be as pretty as my Pinterest moodboard… ah, the wonders of technology!
You did the drawing?! Wow, you’re talented! I’m also all for the polka-dot!
Great choice for the dress! Definitely looking forward to this. Hope you’re enjoying time with fam 🙂
Love the red polkadot! Will be really nice in a sundress.
i am coming to steal that voile!! can’t wait to see the finished dress 🙂
I would love to take part in that Summer Essentials challenge, but… wrong hemisphere! That’s why I love MMM and MMJ etc. they are not seasonally specific and EVERYONE can take part. Ahem.
Looking forward to seeing your dress, and thanks for your comment about my pocket!
I can’t wait to see your finished product.