You may remember that Mummy Ask made a MMM pledge this year. Completing and then wearing a garment may not sound like a huge commitment but this is only Mummy Asks second garment! She worked with stretch fabric and used several techniques for the very first time. I always had faith that her dressing gown would turn out beautifully but I am very proud her! Sometimes I encourage and other times I push but it’s wonderful to watch her skills grow! I’m going to hand over to Mummy Ask –
Well, I really needed to make this dressing gown because there is nothing in ready to wear that met my specific idea of what I wanted a dressing gown to be, hence for years I didn’t wear one. That is what sewing is all about isn’t it? That’s the joy! So in my extreme novice state I described my needs to Sarah and together we selected a crossover stretch dress pattern Kwik Sew 3489. This pattern had a curved edge to its knee length hem and I wanted a full floor length straight edge. So we set about drafting the skirt length by simply extending the lines to the floor and squaring the front edges. Sarah explained that this would add the fullness at the hem, the way I wanted. Oooh that took so much material! I had chosen a mid weight ponte in black (cosy and practical). I chose relatively tight long sleeves (so they would be warm but not hang down into the washing up water!) and I didn’t want any bulk in the bodice so I would not be constantly readjusting or feel like the Michelin Man.
Having made my choices, I traced a Vilene pattern and cut my ponte and marked and pinned. I was then faced by my biggest fear……….the sewing machine, eek! It sat at the end of my dining table for more than a few weeks and day after day it stared me down. I have only made one garment before and had no confidence but I was going our ASG meetings and sharing the sewing spirit and finally our group enthusiasm and my staring sewing machine won. I got to sewing! I am a bit of a perfectionist and I’m sure I have OCD, but I was so encouraged by the groups’ acceptance that sewing goes wrong even for the most accomplished sewers and that it’s all about doing what you can. With that I managed to finish within a few days. I can sew it’s not rocket science! My fear of making a mistake has been replaced with ‘do the best you can’.
Then neckline had facings but I didn’t want to have them flapping around. So, for the first time I put in clear elastic around the neckline! I also omitted the ties and put in press studs and belt loops adding a satin ribbon just to make me feel swishy. I also used an overlocker for the first time to overlock the skirt pieces and loved it! It was scary (that knife!) but so quick! I also used a few different feet and had to troubleshoot machine hiccups when I needed to start sewing close to the edge – 6mm seam allowances are small! Thanks to Sarah and all the group for pushing me headlong into what is starting to feel like an addiction!!! I just love my dressing gown. It is the right weight for the Australian winter, I can wrap the skirt around me on the couch and of course the length of the skirt and sleeves are perfect because I made them that way. It is exactly what I wanted and I would have paid a hefty price for it if I had found it in RTW. In honour of my MMM pledge, I have been wearing my dressing gown. And happily, it washes like a rag! I’m just afraid it will stretch out if I store it on a hanger, it’s quite heavy. I don’t know that I will be a prolific sewer but I think I will always project on the go.
Thank you Mummy Ask! I am so very proud of you and I love how you are channeling your inner Joan Crawford in these pics! As Mummy Ask is new to this, I hope you will do the blog post equivalent of a round of applause and send her your comments xxxxxx
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10 Comments
Well done Mummy Ask! It looks super! ❤️
Thank you! You are very sweet!
I love this gown, my first and second attempt at sewing were pyjamas bottom, well done for taking the plunge, it’s so rewarding, isn’t it? Especially with such results!
Thank you! Yes, it is rewarding but actually finishing it and knowing sewing can happen is addictive!
WELL DONE!!! I wouldn’t believe for a second that that could have been your second garment.
Thank you! I sewed everything myself but I am lucky that I had Sarah by my side providing guidance and assurance!
So elegant! Using a wrap dress pattern a great idea for a sleek fitting robe!
Thank you! It’s exactly how I imagined it!
It’s such a fantastic dressing gown! With a dressing gown that elegant, there’s no way you’d want to put on so-called ‘proper’ clothes. Thanks for sharing your little aside about the fear of the sewing machine – I have a bit of that at the moment and it’s too to know that a) I’m not alone, and, b) it’s possible to get over it. Enjoy your gown!
Looking good Steph, well done, I hope to see it at our next meeting.