sewing/swatching

I sewed myself a dress this weekend. Not my off-the-cuff primitive feed sacks of the past, but a real frock!


Sort of real, at least. It was my "swatch dress," my vehicle for learning how to set zippers and fit patterns, in a simple cotton muslin. It was definitely a learning experience. I can't even begin to tell you how many seams I had to rip, how many curses I uttered over the zipper, and how close I came to throwing it out in a fit of fury. But, however slowly, it came together.

It's amateurish, and, admittedly, not the most flattering garment (in such a crisp fabric, it puffs out like a balloon below the bodice!). But I learned a lot and expect to wear it anyways, and the next one that I make will go twice as well. If you're interested, the pattern is Cynthia Rowley, Simplicity 2587.


In other swatching news, I've been testing out a couple of yarns to make another version of my Vermont shawl. These are the base yarns for swatching. The final yarn will, of course, be a lovely green.