hello pilgrim!

I had the most AMAZING time in Atlanta this past weekend!! I can't wait to show you photos. In the meantime, I've got to post some of the backlog of stuff I've been making for myself in the last couple weeks because I have been a busy busy little bee when it comes to "selfish sewing." Here's what I wore Saturday for our "Handmade Garment Success" talk and the afternoon workshop at Whipstitch:

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UPDATE: the dress in this post went on to inspire the Washi Dress sewing pattern, which can be modified using the Washi Expansion Pack to add a bow to the neckline.I can hear you thinking "why is she sewing dresses when she should be sewing tops?!?" Yes I know. And my only answer to that is: you know how once you've really truly committed to do one thing, you suddenly have a great fantastic totally unrelated idea that you absolutely must do, like, right now? That is pretty much the story of my life. Except in this case making a dress from Lizzy House's latest line (Hello Pilgrim) is at least somewhat similar to top-making in that I can use the same pattern to make a top if I wanted to. Though even if I wanted to, I'm not sure I would (see first sentence of paragraph).

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A few weeks ago I finally got a few hours to sit down and read Built By Wendy's Dresses and also Jackets and Coats (two different books) and I remembered why I like her books so much. Wendy is all about taking a basic pattern and riffing on it, which is exactly the way I like to sew for myself. After a few years of making tops for myself, some with commercial patterns, most without, I finally feel like I've arrived at a handful of basic outlines that fit/flatter me which can then be altered to make variations that look completely different. These outlines have changed a bit as I've gained/lost weight, had a couple babies, etc, but my overall shape has more or less stayed the same for the last 5 years. I've had some bombs and some wins. I learn more from the bombs than the wins, but I always learn something. This is the joy of sewing handmade for myself.

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This dress design began as a concept for a top, but then when I saw this beautiful turquoise cotton print in person (which, strangely, had NOT made much of an impression on me from the computer screen), I knew it had to be a summer dress. And since I'm supposed to be sewing tops right now, it was perfect timing to get bit by the Dressmaking Bug *rolls eyes at self* [end sarcasm]. At the time of this writing, the Hello Pilgrim fabric collection is currently being carried by Fabricworm, Pink Castle, and Whipstitch (you can click on those links to go straight to the collection) just to name a few that sponsor this blog. I have a feeling it's going quick.

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I heart the side pockets, and the back is shirred so I can pull it over my head (let's hear it for no closures, wooooot!).Though I don't wear dresses nearly as much as I wear tops, I think after the top sewalong is over we might have to have something for the dresses. Don't you think? We'll see. You know I'm about 50% reliable when I come up with crazy ideas, so don't get too excited. But making this one makes me want to make more dresses. Don't worry though, I just finished my second spring top last Thursday, and can't wait to show you some pictures!