lisette sew-along :: ta-dah

Ta-dah! My Lisette Continental Dress is finished.

A very easy pattern indeed. Theoretically it should have been whipped up in an afternoon but it wasn’t. Noticing that there was a 7½” ease I was in two minds about what size to choose… and after flaffing around with the yellow toile I finally read the pattern sheet more comprehensively and decided to adjust with a smaller size up top than below.

Then it was a matter of stealing moments to make this frock (it really is a frock don’t you think?). I was in high demand all week, it is often the way when the kiddos aren’t feeling their best. Mama is the one to cuddle, the one to hang out with… “MAMA!!!!” I was being called for left, right and centre so this dress was constructed during stolen moments.

 

 

Some late at night, others during the day sitting in the lounge chair outside enjoying the cooler yet sunny days, watching children play or baby O swing.

I hand sewed the binding and the hems . Whilst it does add time it also means the project is more portable. This is one of the reasons I really, like ruly truly, enjoyed the process of constructing this frock (because really it is a frock not a dress) It was lazy. Sitting in the sun sewing by hand, the calming motion, so cathartic. Perfect.

 

 

 

 

Good thing I did enjoy the process because being a breast feeding mama I’m not going to get a chance to wear this dress for sometime yet. Whilst I’m not shy feeding in public I do draw the line at pulling up a dress so that not-so-little-anymore baby O can have a feed - especially since I’m still in my maternity knickers!  Not to worry, I will wear it next Saturday to my sewing guild meeting (when I am sans baby!) and then it will go into the closet ready for next summer. Then I am sure it will get regular wear.

I am so pleased with the fabric that I used. It is 96% cotton/4% spandex sateen and it has a lovely drape coupled with a sweet hint of stretch. It is very comfortable to wear; not too heavy, not too light. The pattern reminds me of my Nan. The colour and design. There is something about it that just makes me think of her but I can’t explain exactly what. Perhaps the pattern looks a little Samoan and Nan and I used to discuss Margaret Mead and nature versus nurture quite a bit. It was a shared topic of interest. Maybe not. Memory is a funny thing isn’t it? 

Now before I run off to answer the children’s call…

I’ll leave you with some more, somewhat awkward images, or me modelling my new frock. Enjoy them because I’m heading back to my natural place behind the lens.

 

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