Polyester!

So, in my last post I alluded to the fact that I'd decided to sew myself a dress, sort of my way of protesting against the dreariness of winter (and that inevitable moment that comes in mid-January when you look in your closet and realize you are sick to death of dark colors and heavy sweaters). And that's exactly what I did. I made myself a dress and I'm wearing it today for the first time. This was the third time I've used an actual vintage pattern (not a repro) and I think it worked out pretty well.

This is the pattern I used:
Copyright 1975. I got it in an enormous lot of vintage patterns I found last summer at a church sale and paid $2 for. I listed quite a few of them on Etsy, but there were a lot of patterns that were not only my size but my style as well. I can't say what it is exactly about this pattern that I liked so much - probably the topstitching. For the fabric, I had a length of vintage polyester doubleknit that I got at a different church sale for next to nothing (I think I paid $2 for a great big garbage bag full of assorted fabrics) in an interesting kelly green with white dots. I hardly ever wear green, I always think I don't look good in it, but this shade seems really nice. And I knew it would be perfect for a winter dress because that polyester doubleknit is hot.

So, here's the finished dress:
I used some vintage buttons from my stash (on the cuffs - you can't see in the picture) and I already had a pack of ballpoint needles from yet another church sale - the only thing I ended up needing to buy for this project was some polyester thread. Overall, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The topstitching at the neck is a little wonky (probably because there's so much bulk there) and I added pockets, so the hips don't lie as smooth as they should (but it's worth it to have a place to stash my chapstick, a winter necessity). The pattern pieces actually aren't as much of an A-line as the illustration suggests... I had to take in the waist by about an inch, and if I make this pattern again (which I would like to, in contrasting prints, something like this) I will redraft the skirt to flare out a little more. But still, this project was the perfect cure for the winter blahs. I even have the perfect brown wedge-heel shoes to wear with it (a steal from Old Navy's clearance rack) although with all the snow today, I paired it with my Goodwill brown boots.

I've actually been on a big creative kick lately. I've started posting a new story, and I've been cranking out scrapbook layouts almost as fast as I can get the photos printed. I've been having a lot of fun with my new Slice (it's this digital cutter thing - yes, I held out on the die cutting machines for years and years, but I've finally given in) and trying to dig my way through my colossal stash of paper rather than going out and buying more. Here are some of the fruits of my labors:

It's a good thing I've gotten a lot done, crafty-wise, in the last couple of weeks because I'm sure I won't get anything else accomplished until the Olympics are over!