do you feel it? it couldn't be more summer-time if it tried. people in the city are drunk on summer. people in the country are drunk on summer. people in blogland are drunk on summer. we barely have a minute to holler out a comment because THERE IS SO MUCH SUMMER.*
(*unless you are on the flip side of the world, in which case, happy winter. i love you, southern hemisphere.)
summer means dresses for me. actually, i guess every season means dresses for me. i've grown accustomed to feeling over-dress-ed, literally.
proof: even when my hot li'l summer hands possess a perfect li'l empire waist button up top pattern, what do i do?
i go on and extend it to dress length.
although said "length" was very much in flux. i thought i had enough of this cotton voile (a michael levine prize from project sewn!) to go maxi, but midi was all she wrote. mini was pinned into the mix for a hot minute, and i think it may still be in the cards....
but i landed on midi. yet somehow midi makes this more of a "doing the chores" dress, don't you think? shall i dissect?
here, i am giving you "did that brick really just crumble when i leaned against the wall" face.
this was a delight to sew up, even with my hackerings. she is skinny bitch curvy chick's empire waist blouse, a line sized for petites of ALL sizes, for real, XXS-3X. i've actually worn her out more times than i can count. i was just waiting to holler about her, as betsy is in the process of reformatting her PDFs. this blouse got the first makeover-- lemme say, the pattern is beautifully drafted, but when i bought it, the PDF tiling was... advanced. she's on sale right now to celebrate said fixin'!
alright, people of all seasons, i know you're busy summering and sewing. go do stuff. make this top, or sign up for carolyn's tried n true class tomorrow, or go to the charles james exhibit, or drink some hot cocoa.
cause i love you, southern hemisphere.
I'm sorry. I hate summer so much. Is there something wrong with me? I live in North Carolina and true natives are somewhere in my mind on a front porch, drinking sweet tea, and dozing off with the fan blowing softly over them setting off little flutters over their flowery cotton dresses. I am inside working and making flowery summer dresses long into the night. That I wear around the house and tell my husband that soon it will be "shark week" on A&E which means that summer is almost, finally over.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for myself.
colleen this made me laugh SO HARD. the picture you paint of natives is so very pretty....spike that tea and give it a try!
DeleteI love our thick-walled probably late-17th century ugly dilapidated house in summer.
ReplyDeleteAnd dresses.
I need more dresses in my life, I guess. Not this one, because me and buttons don't mingle, but yes, I do need something along those lines...
Those gathers in the side panels are intriguing.
I don't know, it does look a bit like "doing your chores", but then it's one of the coolest printed "doing your chores" dresses I've ever seen (probably the coolest, really), and sometimes you just need a cool dress to do your chores in. Like that Lithuanian poem my sister told me about, about the lady who puts on lipstick and a hat to take out the trash. Chores with class. You could pull that off.
oh, i do like to class up the chores. i have a little pink plastic tiara that i wear when vacuuming.
Deleteand buttons, yes! not my friend until my pfaff :)
It has less to do with the machine (although that, too, I guess) and more with a little thing called koumpounophobia (I'll forever love Neil Gaiman for bringing that up on his blog, because now I know I'm not alone).
DeleteIt means buttons make me queasy. Especially small button-down buttons.
Do you know, this is the hottest and most humid summer I have ever lived through, and yet it's also the most bearable. Australians live in denial of their climate and seem to prefer to swelter and freeze through the seasons rather than build suitable housing - we do like big windows! Although I think we are slowly getting better on the air con front...I mean, my parents shelled out for air con at least five years ago, and it wasn't cost that took them so long. It was the mentality of, "we'll be right mate, winter's only two months long and we'll just open the windows in summer!" But back to that dress...that fabric just made me stop in my tracks...I LOVE it! I actually also love the style of that dress, especially with the front panel, side and back gathers. You are summer personified in that frock! Ok so now I NEED a breezy cotton summer dress too...
ReplyDeletewell, i mean, that makes sense, aussies are a "everything that lives here is deadly so we will womp everthing's ass with our fortitude" sorta bunch, no?
DeleteI'm definitely not in my underwear cutting out a sundress in my sweltering apartment. DEFINITELY NOT.
ReplyDeleteLove this on you! That print!!!!! I want to try Betsy's patterns, but am being lazy about de-petite-ing them. Gotta get on that!
Duh on me - never thought of "de-petit-ing" patterns before - then again, I procrastinate so much (and Oona can attest to that) that I'll probably shrink down to my little old lady petite size before I get to it! *lol*
DeleteAll my summer sewing is now done in my underwear... Living on the edge!
Deletei swear if we didn't live street-level i would be in my skivves all day!
DeleteI love this! I've had my eye on this pattern for a while but haven't quite pulled the trigger yet, mostly because I hadn't seen one sewn up. This might just convince me!
ReplyDeleteit's a goodie! and it looks like she's reformatting a pattern a week!
DeleteI would love summer if I didn't have to fight off all the mosquitos, Instead I love autumn and I'm actually counting till the first frost when they disappear, sorry. But I do love that dress, the fabric is gorgeous, it looks comfy too.
ReplyDeletenow that you mention it, and GOOD LORD i don't want to jinx it.... there has been a lack of mosquitos this summer! that or my blood sugar levels have finally equalized.
DeleteLookin' sassy, frassy, and all out classy, my dear! SUCH a lovely material, too - I really should put down my G & T and get hunting through my stash o' stuff *le sigh* Work keeps getting in the way of my life, dammitt! *LOL*
ReplyDeletegirl, do the lladybird thang and sew for 15 minutes a day. when i'm in crazy work mode, that 15 minutes keeps me sane!
DeleteBetsy has some really cute patterns. This came out really nice. The colors kind of remind me of the fabric I have in my work area, that's supposed to be my Oona inspired project. It definitely screams summertime. Has it been ridiculously hot this summer?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate for me, summertime tends to equal anti-social, minimum dress, uninspired cranky pants laziness.
I tried to sew up some oilcloth coasters and since the bobbin thread was being a problem, I just walked away. I know terrible. At least I can say my brain is getting some love, with learning a new language.
hey man, it's GOOD to walk away when sewing makes you angry. there is no angry sewing. that's when you go to an AC'd bar and buy something with an umbrella in it:). and there's never a deadline on sewing in technicolor.
DeleteGorgeous I must say!
ReplyDeletethank you faye!
DeleteThat is a perfect summer dress and I really like the length. I love, love summer and this one has been one of the best in the midwest. Just a few days when the humidity was so high you just had to stay inside.
ReplyDeletethankya lori! yes, it's been mostly bearable here too. even breezy!
DeleteI like this length on you! Does that mean I'm old?! hahahaha! Don't mini-ize it...okay? And thanks for the shout out!
ReplyDeletei thought of you when i was looking at that dressform!!! in my mind you told me i would get more wear out of it at the longer length. you were very sensible, and not in the least bit old.
DeleteOk, I'm sold. I was JUST looking at this (aka had it in my cart) yesterday, and didn't buy it because I haven't seen any versions of it and didn't know what it would look like on a person. And here you are on my blogfeed solving life's problems yet again! Love the dress, love the fabric, love summer, love ooonatastic powers of internet shopping persuasion!
ReplyDeleteoooo i can't wait to see yours! it really is a delightful pattern.
DeleteLove this dress! Thank you for reminding me about SBCC. Great line of patterns. This summer the kids are at camp - home soon! I have a few more days of sewing with delight in an air-conditioned space. I have rarely been outside!
ReplyDeleteit's your own personal camp! how lovely!
DeleteAlllllllright, I'll go and get this gorgeous pattern and add it to my growing sewing list(at this pace, I'll finish sewing them all in the year 6350(still worth it, haha).
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the length on this! It's not too long to look grannyish but it's not too short either. And the fabric, SOOO gorgeous.
hey, in a few short years they will have invented some sort of michael jackson disneyfied transmogrifier that will allow us to exist 10,000 years, so we'd better have a pattern stash ready.
DeleteOooo that fabric! So perfect. I need a "doing chores" midi dress too. I made a Saltspring knit maxi and now I'm fully embracing "summer". Knits and no iron are right up my alley for a quick summer sew.
ReplyDeleteSummer has turned into fall here in Seattle. It is pouring rain out here!
ooo, seattle summer, i was able to experience the super awesome sun weeks there, and i was sold. until i remembered the rain. hope you're sewing something colorful :)
DeleteUsually I don't say go mini, but this time I'd have to go against my usual. Go mini!!!
ReplyDeleteit might just happen. probably next year, when it'll be like having a new dress!
DeleteI think that fabric is drunk on summer. ;) It is seriously lovely, such a happy fabric.
ReplyDeleteIT IS. perfect fabric description!
DeleteOh, that fabric is dreamy. I bought the Manhattan trouser pattern from SBCC at the beginning of spring. I am really excited about the petite sizing. But, I shelved it to sew more dresses... because nothing beats a breeze and a good dress when the heat sets in. I didn't consider sewing this pattern in its blouse form, but I like it here as a dress.
ReplyDeletei never even looked at the pants section, must do that! i'm always dress-ifying things. really, nothing beats a dress....
DeleteMini, Mini, Mini! I think that's the Texas in me .... tipping the 100 degree mark definitely requires a higher hem line!
ReplyDeletehahah! yes, if this were last-summer-me in dallas, i would have totally mini'ed this!
DeleteWe love you down here too, Oona! It is freeeezing here - I am in my fleece dressing gown with a quilt over my legs, because the windows are open for the apartment's daily airingbefore being all sealed up again when we leave for work. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, but it's colder than the inside of the refrigerator out there.
ReplyDeleteStill, I look forward to pretty dresses in summer, and I have my eye on finishing a corduroy frock coat all cut out to enjoy while it is still chilly! Be cool!
ah yes, we do that come winter as well! then the boiler kicks in and it's africa.
DeleteDang that's a lot of buttons! But gorgeous and worth it for such a summery dress!
ReplyDeletelove my pfaff like whoah.
DeleteSouthern Hemisphere says hiya. We love you right back. Your dress is FIERCE. Pattern, fabric, and crumbling brick walls. Love SBCC so much - will check out her reformatted PDFs today (I have some of the old format ones. And I'm overdue so me-sewing.)
ReplyDeletelove ya michelle!!
DeleteHot cocoa, please and thank you! The fabric is faboosh Oona! I think the midi length adds a certain formality to the style, perfect for brunch perhaps!
ReplyDeleteah, the brunch point! a good one.
DeleteAlways on sewing-induced high, when you write, no? Contagious! :D
ReplyDeleteHA! sometimes i write so long after the sewing i get all amped up remembering the sewing, so yes!
DeleteYou're right, I'm in the summer mood, and you know what I just did? Booked a ticket to Florida for Friday. Sunshite State here I come.
ReplyDeleteLove this dress, as always :)
hope you're soaking up the rays right now :)
DeleteI like the idea of a mini! Dissect! The only reason I say that is, the dress is somewhat conservative up top, so the mini bottom would shake it up and make it more daring. Although maybe it's daring enough with that gorgeous fabric!
ReplyDeletemy feeling exactly. i may hold off till i feel the need for a new dress- enter scissors.
DeleteThanks for the Southern Hemisphere shout out! Much appreciated. It may be winter here but I'm still sewing summer dresses. Aren't summer dresses just the most fun to make?
ReplyDeletei would make them always if temperatures allowed.
DeleteGorgeous fabric, it looks fabulous on you. So bright and...summery!
ReplyDeletethank you!
DeleteNo! No! No! This is not a doing chores looking dress at all! Yes, Oona you're fierce and you could absolutely go shorter, but seriously....I think it's rather completely adorable just as it is! Love the colour palette going on...yep that print really does resemble my painting palette...in a good way! I love it!
ReplyDeleteAh, summer....the better I get, the more I love me my summertime. Today we have rain, and hopefully most of BC has rain too...lots of nasty forest fires going on...It's been the perfect weather to work on my Oona inspired summer outfit!!!! So excited to share!
i think this is a sue painter's palette dress for sure! if ever we meet, we are going to have to do some serious outfit planning.
DeleteWe ate having summer in the UK, and that's a thing of surprise... So much I haven't been wearing jeans for week, dreaming of summer dresses... And ohh that's one for me too add on my list. Great prize.
ReplyDeleteAre.. Ohhh auto correct
Deletejust be sure you de-petite it, you long leggy luxurious lass :)
DeleteI bought that exact pattern just YESTERDAY planning to lengthen it to a dress - and you have stolen my thunder completely! It looks fantastic - love the print, and summer, it will come to those who wait (yes, I'm in Melbourne, Australia). I'm making this instead of a Grainline Alder - I don't wear button up collared shirts, but like the rest of the style and thought that this would be a fantastic alternative. It also helps that I am a petite! Thanks for showing me just how good it will look.
ReplyDeleteAH NO! consider it great minds thinking alike, let's see that dress!
Deletethe alder came out after i'd finished this hack, and i did see the resemblance! of course jen was thinking up the alder who knows how many moons ago, so maybe her brainwaves influenced my hack...what a lovely web...
Sydney seems to have forgotten it's in the Southern Hemisphere and has been wowing us with a winter of sunshine and mild days. It's pretty spectacular....remind me of that when we are sweltering through a long hot summer. And when that time comes we will all be wishing for a dress just like this one. Looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteyou know, i actually had to ask ruggy if it was winter time for y'all, because the sewing blogisphere just looks so dang awesomely sunny across the boards?
DeleteLovely! Just cut myself out a wool jersey frock but am dreaming, yearning for summer down here.
ReplyDeleteYou're a lovely summer cocktail. Can't wait to drink real ones with you ever so shortly....
ReplyDeleteyes! I just bought this as well! your version is adorable lady!
ReplyDeleteI love the fit in the bodice and your choice in fabric. It's so crisp, clean and the look of it makes me feel "cooled off on a hot muggy NY day". I love summer because I finally am warm enough to wear my skirts & dresses. It's so freeing! I have a couple similar fabrics queued for summer dresses. They are so fun to put on. And I like to transition them to autumn with a little matchy, matchy cardi. Oh so 1940's. ha ha! Bravo to you, Oona!
ReplyDeleteI love summer, I would love to be drunk on it all year long! Love this dress. Sew You!!!! Pretty fabric.
ReplyDeleteI actually just made one of those tops recently too (currently wearing it) out of white cotton eyelet. Love the fit. But the idea of making it a dress is genius. I am going to have to try that next. LOVE that fabric as well!!
ReplyDeleteHow the heck did I miss this?? Busy in sewing mode with a new pattern so obviously I am oblivious to the outside world. This dress looks awwweeesooomeee!! I luv the fabric and it turned out really awesome for you! Thanks for the shout out!!
ReplyDeleteOh! Beautiful! Beautiful! I love the fabric and the pattern. Ah, summer. Summer? We've been having strange weather out here in the country. We've had a few hot days but it's mostly been like never ending spring. (It's only 70 degrees today and pouring rain.) I'm a summer kind of gal. And it's only a couple of days until August. So little summer left and I've hardly had any summer at all.
ReplyDeleteLove the dress! And love the fabric, can you just mail me a few yards of all of your fabrics? Thanks. (-; I was already going to buy this pattern but it has just moved to the top!
ReplyDelete