Portfolio Dress

Lisette Portfolio dress

I learned to sew from my mom, an excellent seamstress. She currently designs and repairs costumes for a ballet company. I can hardly remember a moment of childhood that doesn't include her handmade touch: clothes, outfits for my dollies, quilts, toys, Halloween costumes. (And I didn't even mention the edibles!)

Since Mom was up here for a visit this weekend, I thought I'd recruit her to help me make this dress. It looked super cute, and maybe not too hard?

And it wasn't too hard. Except the neckline. Which was a whole other thing. But I made an important discovery.

I really don't like making clothes. I like to have them. But not make them. Maybe it's my measuring phobia. Or having to follow a pattern. Just not my thing. But I'm super happy to have this dress in my closet!

I quilted myself.

Dork-fest: I saw a little square piece in the pattern and had to make a churn dash to go in there.

The dress has since been hemmed and is awaiting a pretty little button.

It is thoroughly:
-comfy
-cozy
-Amish-looking
-what I will be wearing every Saturday if it's not too cold

Appreciating the Tortoise

This sampler is forcing me to go slowly. I keep staring at those bits and scraps, waiting for inspiration...something I want to make, that uses the pieces I have. Ideas refused to be rushed. But it's a pleasant sort of preoccupation...as long as I don't pressure myself too much.


I tried some wonky churn dash blocks:

 

And another log cabin:

The next project might have to be a design wall. So far all the blocks are heaped up on a chair, and, true to my measuring phobia, I've been making them all pretty random sizes. I have no idea how they're all going to go together.

Lovely carpet background, huh? Yeah, a design wall is getting put in the queue...