Got the latest August issue of Sewing World yet? If you have, turn to page 36 and you will see my latest project. This is a very useful beach dress with an elastic ruched top that doubles as a skirt. Simply put your swimsuit or bikini on and pull on the garment; once on the beach remove it and you are just wearing your bathing costume...brilliant! Of course after you have had your swim you have to somehow get the wet garment off and then put the dress back on again without anybody actually seeing you nude...better choose a nudist beach I think or buy a tent.
I've got the dress back now and being of the busty type I decided to add straps to it to save my blushes. It will slide down and bare my assets I know, and I prefer wearing a bra anyway. If you also want to do this then you need to save a bit of the fabric and cut two strips from it each about 20" long and 2" wide. Or if you are of the metric persuasion about 51cm long and 5cm wide. Right sides together and fold in half lengthway, then stitch and turn to right side. Press firmly. Put on the bra you intend to wear with the garment and try the straps on, pinning them in place. When you take it off again you will be able to cut off some of the excess unless you are very tall (like about 7" and I don't know the metric for that) and tuck under about 5/8" (1.5cm) each end. Stitch and press, your dress now has straps.
Why not dress it up a bit more with some beads and sequins? I often get mine from www.josyrose.com and they have loads of other goodies too so you ought to be the belle of the beach.
I know, I know you are wondering where on earth that bag pattern has got to. I cut it out and ironed on the pieces...then found another similar bag I started last year! So expect not one but TWO bag patterns as soon as my deadlines pass and I can on with something else besides work. Also expect news about my shiny new camera.
Hi there! I just found your site from Linkedin. I am a quilter, knitter and creator of American Girl doll clothing. Oh yeah, I love machine embroidery also. I hope you will show some photos of the dresses you are making. I think the dress sounds like something my daughter would like.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and leaving a comment! I aim to show a photograph of the dress soon and yes, there will also be lots of projects. Do come back soon and hopefully the bag project will start appearing...just too busy right now to set up the photographs and make the templates to replace the ones I seem to have mislaid!
ReplyDeleteNoticed this in the Crafters Dreams group at linked-in. I know how difficult it can be to get a blog noticed in the internet world. You obviously need to get it out on to the social media (I have +1'ed it as a new blog), are you on Twitter and facebook, make sure that you post about it on any sites that you use - as with Linked-in.
ReplyDeleteHowever, one site I have found particularly helpful is Squidoo.com. They have a good standing with Google and writing short articles on there can bring visitors to your blog via your Squidoo articles. And a bonus is that you can sell your (and others) stuff on via your articles to make a regular monthly income. Hope you find this useful.JOhn
Thank you for your comments! I don't actually make anything to sell (I just sell designs) but will check this out. I am on Facebook, used to be on Twitter (dealing with both takes up too much time) but might go back and have a look if I can find my old password. Thank you for taking the time to visit.
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