Threads Duct Tape Skirt Sloper

Oh, my!  I have been so busy in my sewing room.  

Working with my own slopers!

Below are pictures of the crumpled remains of my duct tape sloper.  

Front of my Duct Tape Skirt Sloper

Back of my Duct Tape Skirt Sloper

Threads Fitting for Every Figure contains wonderful directions on how to make this sloper.  My sweet husband helped me to wrap duct tape around my waist and hips.  

The results were startling. 

I discovered some of my fitting issues:

1.  Need for very shallow and short darts in the front.

2.  Need for more width in the front, especially on the left side.

3.  Need for shorter darts in the back and almost perfect width.

Original Pattern in blue is Simplicity 1465 with my sloper darts drawn in black.

Original pattern in red is Simplicity 1465 with my sloper darts drawn in black.

Pattern:

Started with Simplicity 1465 and then added my own darts and width.  So, I think this means the skirt was almost self drafted.  

Fabric:

Lime green linen from Robert Kaufman

Silk organza underlining

rayon lining

rayon Petersham ribbon waistband

Construction:

This started as a couture skirt.  But, I had one week to finish it, so it became the "almost" couture skirt.

The pattern was traced onto the organza.  

Organza hand sewn to the linen.

One inch seams.

Then, the hurry started.  

Machine basted side seams.

Machine sewn side seams.

Hand sewn side seams to organza.

Macine sewn darts.

Hand picked zipper.

Steamed and shaped waistband.

Machine sewn lining.

Machine basted waistband.

Machine sewn waistband.

Snaps applied and all the interior tidied.

All ready for the fitting program I did for the American Sewing Guild group in Houston.  

Petersham ribbon waistband!!!!  Makes it so comfortable.

Back view after a few wrinkles

Side View

Other side view

Happy with my skirt.

More fitting samples from my class to come...............

1, 2, and 3 OFB Toddler Summer Dresses

Have you ever noticed that babies come in groups?  You hardly have one addition to your circle of friends and family.  I have three new girls that are arriving soon (one is already here) in my extended family.  So when my local SAGA group decided to do a sew-along using the OFB Toddler Summer Dress, I jumped at the opportunity to spend two days with friends and make three little dresses.  

Here they are:

Old Fashioned Baby Toddler Summer Dress,  Dress 1

Swiss edging on the hem.

Old Fashioned Baby Toddler Summer Dress, Dress 2

Hemline Tucks and Swiss edging

Center yoke detail.  Swiss lace, French lace, tucks, and beading with pink ribbon.

Old Fashioned Baby Toddler Summer Dress, Dress 3

Blue trimmed Swiss edging with tucks.

Blue yoke detail.

Pattern:

Old Fashioned Baby, Toddler Summer Dress, View 2, Size 1

(without embroidery around the hem)

Fabric:

White Daygown Fabric from OFB's website.  I suspect it is a little nicer white batiste than I normally find.  Trim is from OFB.  

Construction:

This dress is easy to construct and finish, but it is not a beginner's dress.  I made three in two days of class.  It makes a lovely gift.  Not too fussy or over the top in details.  

If you have wondered about my internet silence, our family has been traveling.  We finished school and immediately left for Washington D.C.  I am back home and sewing like crazy!  Can't wait to show you my results.......  

Memorial Day 2014 in Arlington National Cemetery.
This is a picture of my husband's grandfather's grave who died in WWII.

White House

U.S. Capitol