Sunday 24 June 2012

Summer Clothes

Summer always brings out dress making thoughts. Floaty tunics, strappy dresses, bare legs in the sun.  All wonderful apart from the wettest June in the UK for 100 years.  I am trying to stay optimistic.  Make 1 was a vintage 1970s pattern that I have had stashed away for years, Mccalls 4473, tunic/dress in a size 12- vintage 12 is just right for me- in todays sizes I am a small 10 or sometimes an 8, shows howbody shapes have changed over the years.
 The fabric is Liberty lawn from their seasonal Art range.  This print is desgined by Grayson Perry and called Phillipa after his wife.  I am a big Grayson Perry fan, his pots combine subversion  and tradition and his recent tapestries on class ( i beg you to click and look at the imagery) have been stunning to see develop.
These photos are slightly low resolution, I was playing with self timer apps on my ipad and this was a free one- until I realised it was worth spending £0.69 to get a better quality pic- I opted for Self Timer which was a big improvement on these pics.  The tunic is similar to the Tova  top but the shaping is created with pleats which are sewn down like tucks.
See that glimpse of blue sky?  That was on Monday, hasn't been seen since!
 I added a couple of rouleau loops and vintage buttons otherwise my ribby chest would be out for all to see!  I found the next dress in a box of fabric at the car boot sale last weekend. It is a homemade delight and its generous seam allowances gave me a chance to make it a comfortable fit rather than a snug non eating one!
It gathers under the bust with a tantalising but unnecessary slit feature which is quite fun.  It reminds me of a lot of pics from my childhood and makes me very happy.  A great find.
And lastly the Theresa dress from Burda patterns.  A great pattern with a twirly pocketed skirt.  I wore this at the Fat Quarterly retreat and it was comfortable to stay in all day long
Liberty Grayson Perry again, a design called Cissy, a mix of dollies, hand grenades, prams and guns- love it!  Come back summer, I want to wear my dresses!


21 comments:

  1. Wonderful summer clothes! Plus you are so skinny as a model!

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  2. What fabulous dresses. You completely inspire with your handmade wardrobe. Loving that last fabric especially too!

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  3. We've recorded the whole GP series and are waiting for the chance to watch the lot!
    Love your makes and the boot fair find is a smasher xxx

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  4. We had the sun today! - for a short time anyway. Love the dress you found at the car boot sale. I think you have to be very slim to use vintage patterns. Not many people seem to make their own clothes today., so it's lovely to see yours.

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  5. Such lovely dresses Kerry! Lets hope that sun shines bright and strong all July it needs to make up for lost time!

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  6. Lovely makes! Shame you'll never get to wear them as it is probably going to rain until next summer... Both those Grayson Perry fabrics are brilliant, and I never got any to add to my (insane) Liberty collection - so much of that season seemed to pass me by, for some reason. Must remember to stalk ebay to pick some up one day.

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  7. You always make such wonderful clothing Kerry!! I'm loving your handmade summer wardrobe!! I wish I were brave enough to make my own clothes!!

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  8. Hee hee, big girls love twirly skirts too :oD Great makes for the summer, lets hope July comes out to play properly...

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  9. Hi Kerry! I love your new summer cloths! These days I feel also desperate to sew something new to wear! Could you find the trick how to sew them during the spring and not now when they should be ready for use! x Teje

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  10. Wasn't the Grayson Perry series fantastic. I looked forward to each episode and was a bit sad when it finished. Thanks for sharing your summer sewing.

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  11. These are so beautiful K! I'm an 8 too, and it's surprisingly hard to get clothes that are the right fit. I would love to venture more into dress making, just need someone to give me a shove!! Jxo

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  12. Lovely work kerry! Love the middle one :)

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  13. Oh, my, Kerry! They're all fabulous. I love the one with the Liberty lawn but they are all gorgeous! Great job.

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  14. Your new wardrobe is beautiful. We are suffering a similar non-summer here in Vancouver, too. Boo!

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  15. Wish for some sunny summer coming your way soon...
    Couldn't pick a favorite between the three of them, all so pretty. You are an amazing seamstress!
    ; )

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  16. Wow! Wonderful dresses and wonderful model!

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  17. Sew incredibly lovely. I have to tell you my mom made me a dress from that pattern 30 years or so ago. I was then a 14. So today's 10 or so maybe. I thought I was very huge back then. Oy what I would give to have that sweet little body with a little bit of chub. Your projects are beautiful.

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  18. I love the garage sale find! I NEED to get on my Tova shirt. You are making me crave flowing shirts and dresses. Sometimes I wear a dress hoping it will make the summer weather come out!

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  19. love all your dresses! The weather has been acting not itself in ND. Lots storms and raindrops! I hope you'll get sunny weather, so you can wear your dresses! They are so pretty to look at!

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  20. I love your new top Kerry, in fact all your outfits are beautiful. Shame about the weather, I seem to remember last year making loads more summer clothes than I have so far this time.

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  21. You have the cutest style. I adore it all, especially the tunic with the button detail!

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