Sixties style MIa dress

I took photographs guys! Somebody get this girl a cookie!!! I mean I'm still using my digital camera rather than my good one because its broke, and my hair is an absolute state because it needs cutting, and the camera did fall over half way through and I didn't notice so some are on a wonky angle.....BUT I took pictures which means provided I can find the time I can actually get back to regular blogging.

Because I've actually REALLY Missed it!

I actually made this a few weeks ago whilst Rikki was on his last ever night shift. On the one hand I'm glad that he doesn't work nights any more and I don't have to worry about him driving back tried but on the other hand I am really going to miss those long evening of sewing!!!

The fabric was from the fill a bag sale at abakhans and I have a sneaking suspicion that Lil man actually pulled this one out not me. Or maybe it was my mum? I dunno it was a long day [My dad keeps sarcastically asking when we can go back... cheeky swine]

Its a sort of poly something another with a teeny bit of stretch and a good drape. I promise at some point I'll start a swatch book or something so I can start properly telling you what fabrics are.

It does feel like it might be a bit sweaty? Luckily this is more of a autumn/winter dress so I should be okay.

The pattern is the mia dress pattern which I got in the big pattern swap on instagram. In fact I got quite a few patterns and sent some out but this was the only one I got sewn up and photographed before the deadline. Luckily all the other patterns are ones I know I'll definitely sew and I already have the fabrics for them.

The pattern came free with simply sewing magazine and i loved the 60's style of it and the great sleeves. I did make one change though I altered my pattern to make the sides flare out a bit more because I was worried a straight down shape would look a bit too boxy on me.

Other than that its very simple, it has neckline facings, theres no need for a zip and there two flouncy sleeve options. 

To make life easier I opted to sew my sleeves in flat But in doing it I missed out one crucial step. I forgot to sew the dart!!!! 

No normally your dart is a bust dart however for some reason on this pattern the dart goes into the arm hole! To this day I have no idea how I got the sleeve to fit without sewing the dart but somehow and did and surprisingly the dress looks okay on.

I think for next time I'm going to rotate the dart so it sits at the bust again. I'm just not sure I can get on board with the whole arm dart thing.....

Construction wise I just used my regular sewing machine. The fabric was quite "bouncy" so I did struggle with pressing the seams. In fact on the back seam where theres a keyhole detail I actually ended up top stitching the seams down to make it look neat.

Length wise I did take a bit off to make it look even more sixties and to make sure there'd be a gap between my dress and my thigh high boots. [Fun fact: I own two pairs of thigh high boots because they mean I can wear my dresses in winter! These boots keep me lovely and war,]

I did briefly wonder if the combination of the dress, the print and my boots made it look a bit like a costume but I like it so I'm wearing it. In fact I wore it bowling and whilst one woman gave me a right funny look a man said I looked just like his mum did whilst he was growing up and mentioned how nice it is to see someone getting dressed up! 

Truthfully I do sometimes worry that people might think that I'm TOO dressed up every day but I like wearing pretty things so I'm putting it to the back of my mind.

In other news!!!

-Its Rikkis birthday and I'm wearing what can only be described as a party dress! I'm also hoping that it stops raining so we can spend the evening in the garden.

- Polly went to the vets yesterday and shes in fine health. Shes still a bit timid with the boys and she still doesn't know how to play but I'm hoping she'll just keep getting better and better.

- I'm not getting much sewing done still but I've cleared out my sewing cup board organised my fabric and I've cut out loads of projects so as soon as lil mans back at school I can hit the ground running!

And I think that's it!!! 

Much Love 

Frankie xxx