A Garden Party, three days before

The rain makes it difficult to continue getting the garden ready for Sunday's  afternoon celebration with my huddy's family so it's time to see to the table setting.

I'm so excited to finally have enough random pink and green vintage plates to set a place for every one.

It's time to make them all clean and shiny.

The beautiful green dessert dishes from a departed Aunty will be perfect for dessert.

Crisply pressed linens, bows with silverware already tucked in, so simple!

Mason jars with a few crystals for added sparkle double as vases and candle holders.
Every party is better with a little sparkle.

Voila, one eclectic, vintage table setting  ready to go.

Two days before

It's time, I suppose, to plan for foul or fair weather.
The seers say it will be cool and rainy. Better to be prepared for all eventualities.
The City Cottage is tiny while the gardens are ample. Dinner may be quite cozy!

Draped Linen Dress

After years of flat pattern drafting I am experimenting with draping on a dress form.
The dress I'm doing is pretty basic so it went pretty good.
You really need plenty of pins on hand.

The draping is done and I've just added seam allowances and cut out my fabric.

I'm sorry but I didn't stop to take photos of the draping.

 There's a tendency to have a deep concentration when I'm doing something new.

Well anyway I'm going out on a limb here.

I'm not measuring anything except the adding of seam allowances. 1" on the side seams (just in case) and 1/2" every wear else. I cut it extra long to give.

I am bravely diving in and sewing the thing, I want to wear it tomorrow.

I'm writing as I go and will post no matter what. Good or bad! Yikes I must be mad.

The plaid is the fabric I used to drape, I thought a woven plaid would be helpful

for aligning the vertical and horizontal hang of the draping.

 I incorporated a shoulder bust dart  shoulder dart into the front neckline.
 I will created an insert to bring it up to decency depth.

All the darts are complete and I've made the inset for the neck line.

Now how to get it in there perfectly?

1. Sew the shoulders.

2. Sew a piece of organza to the right side of the neck line then clip, turn and press.

3. Place the inset behind on the form and baste in place. Sew by hand.

4. Sew the upper bodice lining and put it n by hand when the time comes.

The organza worked so well, I was able to easily sew the inset in by hand after setting it in place on the dress form. I trimmed it to size after sewing it in.

Everything has really gone well. I did a quick fitting and the only change was taking up the shoulder seam.

The facings and zipper are all in and edge finished. All I have to do tomorrow are the tucks I plan to put close to the bottom the the skirt and the hem.I think I'm might make it.

What could be better than designing, sewing and wearing a dress all in a 24 hour time frame.
All told the whole project took about 9 hours start to finish

I'm so happy with the fit that I think I will use that plaid pattern for something else.