Chevrons! Simplicity 3546

Spiritual - God has entrusted to each one of us a share in the great redemptive work of Jesus.  As consecrated souls, we are especially called to cooperate in Christ's work. 

Sewing - Chevrons are everywhere this season.  This dress is made using  project runway Simplicity 3446 and two sizes of black chevrons on white by Riley Blake Designs.  Audrie will wear it with leggings and boots for Christmas.  It slips over the head and has a self tie closure in back. 

Red Houndstooth - Simplicity 2320

Spiritual -   O Jesus, I place my poor soul before You.  Fill me with the zeal which You had for the Father's works, with Your wholehearted, unconditional dedication to the mission he gave You.  But I need You to teach me how to make this zeal genuine and fruitful!  Divine Intimacy

 Sewing -  Gigi's Christmas dress made from red houndstooth by amyteets.  I used a project runway pattern, Simplicity 2320.  This is a size 3.  The trim is black spaghetti bias.

Croquet Dresses by Oliver+s for Gigi

Spiritual -  The Word was made flesh for our salvation and happiness and for the Glory of God.


Sewing -  Both of these dresses were made from Oliver + s pattern, Croquet Dress.  This is a pattern that the beginning sewer would not have a problem with and is designed without any hand-sewing!  All  the seams are enclosed or serged.  Pictures of Gigi in them to follow.

Project Runway Simplicity 2359

Spiritual -  "If a soul seeks for God, her Beloved seeks for her even more" (J.C. LF, 3,28).  Mary looked for the Lord with all her heart and the Lord found her, calling her, Mary!  "Although He has risen gloriously, Jesus is always the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep individually; and he 'calleth His own sheep by name... and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice' (Jn 10,3-4).  When Mary hears her name, she recognizes the stranger as her Lord and cries out to Him, her Master!

Added piping

Sewing - An important event was coming up, and, I needed a "nice" dress  So into my stash of patterns and fabric I went.  I found a silk rayon I bought from one of my favorite online fabric sources, Fashion Sewing Group about 8 years ago, and found a project runway inspired simplicity pattern. 


The dress has two variations, sleeveless and this short sleeved version.  The empire upper bodice is underlined and the sleeves and midriff are self-lined.
The skirt is not lined, but easily could be.  I did raise the v-neck 1 1/2".  The pattern called for top-stitching around the front bands and midriff, but I chose to place self-piping in the seams.  The shaping in the bust is made with soft gathers and there are gathers at the front waist.  There are two length variations to the pattern.  I chose the shorter version.  Difficulty:  intermediate level.

Bill and me

Petal sleeves, lined

"Baby Dress" by Creations by Miche

Spiritual -  Lord, help me to remember that nothing is going to happen today that you and I can't handle together.

Sewing - The "sit and sew" group is working on an heirloom dress using "Baby Dress" by Creations By Michie - their first venture into heirloom sewing. Most of the students chose View A which is the dress with the scallop hem.  I made View C  using Martha's Favorite Batiste in white with ecru lace and embroidered with ecru DMC  floss (one strand).  Although, there are embroidery designs included in the pattern, I chose a design from a vintage embroidery book that I have in my collection. At this point, most of the students are completing the lace at the hem edge.  During the the next class they will trace an embroidery design and practice the embroidery stitches. Some are loving "heirloom" sewing and some are finding it a bit "tedious" after sewing less complicated projects.  Some are working on their 2nd dress!  Pictures of the completed dresses will be posted later
.

Dress front

Round yoke, ecru lace, pinstitching

Embroidery on yoke

Embroidery on lower dress front

OFB Toddler Summer Dresses Pattern

Spiritual - Prayer of Being Forgiven  Loving Lord, mindful of your mercy and the love that took you to the cross, I place myself before you and ask your forgiveness for all the times when I have failed to follow you.  Lord Jesus, forgive me and help me become more like you each day.  Amen.

Sewing -  In 2011, the Old Fashioned Baby Sewing/Bible Retreat ladies made Jeannie's new pattern (not out at the time), Toddler Summer Dresses, size 1-3.  The dress has two views with different construction techniques.  One version has a tucked yoke with lace insert and the other version has a yoke in which hand shadow embroidery or your favorite machine embroidery design can be used.  It is made with white 100% cotton broadcloth.  I will have a picture soon with Gigi in this dress at the beach!

Simple sleeveless yoke dress, ribbon inserted in beading at waist

Skirt bottom border - hand embroidery, triple tucks, Swiss edging with floss woven through

Yoke - Lace edged Swiss insertion, floss woven into insertion double tucks, ribbon and beading at waist

Diane Kimono Dress from Serendipity Studio

Spiritual - When the Lord tells us that we will reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-8), He is not punishing us;  He's telling us that we are going to pay the "natural consequences" of our actions.  This Law of Sowing and Reaping eventually changes our behavior and we become better people.  Unfortunately, the Law of  Sowing and Reaping can be interrupted.  That is, we don't reap what we sow because someone else steps in and prevents us from paying the consequences which enables us to continue irresponsible behavior.   (Ex.:  mother keeps paying our overdue bills so we are not hounded by creditors and we keep spending beyond our means).  "The Law of Sowing and Reaping has been repealed. It is still in operation.  But the doer is not suffering the consequences; someone else is."  Boundaries, Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend


Sewing - Finally, I have a new dress! I got this pattern for the shop many "moons" ago and made it from a floral red print cotton lawn I have in the shop.  I really like it!  The lady who designs this simple little dress is Kay Whitt of Grand Prairie, Texas.  She has designed several other dresses that are "vintage" looking with  simple, but well done, construction techniques.  I'll be making another pattern of hers soon.

No. 117  Diane Kimono Dress from Serendipity Studio

 

Dress front

                                           

    Dolman sleeves & overlapped front bodice

Drawstring  "above" the waist;  edgestitching for nice detail

Back

The pattern has options to make a slim or full skirt with or without tiers in four different lengths.  Bodice variations include plain or ruched shoulder seams.  This dress slips over the head...no zippers or button plackets to do!