A long-awaited hinterland Dress

Should you follow along in my knitting and sewing adventures on the blog with some regularlity, you’ll remember that sewing up a Hinterland dress by the talented Meg has been on my list of to-makes for, well, about 18 months. I purchased the fabric and pattern something like last February and there they both stayed for the longest time. Once again a small fear ballooned in my brain until the idea of actually putting scissors to paper and needle to thread seemed too too much against the dreaded unknown of buttonholes and sewing buttons on a garment. I toyed with the idea of a pattern modification to omit the buttonholes, but they really are a key feature of the pattern and really make it the special thing that it is. I thought, “Snaps could be a good substitute!” But resisted the urge to consume more craft supplies in light of the only reason for my consumerism would in fact be the fear of using something I had. I sewed dress after dress and jacket and knitted sweater, took on knit fabrics and gathers and in-set pockets but firmly avoided buttons. (I am very good at procrastinating when I set my mind to it.)

As with 99.99999% of things for which I have an irrational avoidance, one day I woke up and decided that Enough is Enough and I am sewing these buttonholes today. I reasoned with myself, “Just do one step at a time!” and before I knew it, I had sewn my first placket, gathered a little sleeve, and this dress was looking distinctly ready for buttonholes. And then, I just went for it (after a practice or four on some scrap fabric). Turns out, sewing machines are very good at sewing buttonholes and it was over in about five minutes. And wouldn’t you have guessed, I love these little buttons, slightly crooked though they may be, and am very invested in sewing at least two more of this dress, buttons and all.

The fabric is a linen/cotton blend I purchased at a big box fabric store. I did, as is likely obvious, the short version of the Hinterland with sleeves and a half-placket. The only modifications I made for this first version were to omit the bust darts, which I generally dislike, and to include the optional waist ties in the back. With my favorite season quickly approaching and the stash-diving already begun, I’ll next put together a kind of colorblocked version with longer sleeves and a little more length, I think. This pattern is very straightforward for a beginner and I would highly recommend it to those who are in search of a delightful and easy dress to wear at home in these hot final days of summer.

Artist's Box Top Dress Take 1 & 2

There are so many great indie sewing patterns in the world, sometimes it can be overwhelming to choose which ones to start with as a beginner, or which variation on a basic dress shape you should choose when you get started with an idea. I was introduced to the Artist’s Box Top and Dress by my friend Rae, and had not made this type of dress since I attempted my first Fen dress several years ago. It was a similar shape and I had some thrifted cotton fabric in my stash that I thought would make a great little summery dress.

I kind of rushed to make this first one as I was in my pre-travel make-all-the-things headspace before heading out of town for a trip and wanting some new clothes to take with me, but it still turned out so so cute. The sizes are grouped into three general size ranges, 0-12, 14-22, and 24-32 and I made the dress in the first size range. It was still plenty boxy even though I usually sew a size 10 or 12 in dresses depending on how much ease I’m trying to work in.

When I got back from my family visit with a few new fabrics to my name, the first thing I wanted to make was a second version in a Moda cotton lawn with a floral print that somehow screams spring and summer at the same time. This works because right now in my life I am routinely forgetting that it is August and not, say, April. Time, you thief.

This fabric was also 100% cotton but with an incredible swishy, drape-y factor to it that the first lacked. I also cut in the sides, using the pattern’s directions, about 1.5” on each side of the front and back of the top to make it less voluminous but still boxy. I think I’ve worn it four times in the past week already and added another little decorative stitch on the hem like I did on my Roscoe dress. I feel like the rhythm of my life right now, working from home and with no particular place to go, canning and making and knitting and snuggling on the couch is the exact pace for these casual pieces. I’m actually re-thinking about re-purposing a few of the fabrics I had designated for slightly dressier makes this summer into more flowy and easy shapes because for the forseeable future, that’s what I’m going to want to wear. Clothes that feel and look like “real clothes” but are also comforting and easy.

I’ve gotten a few questions on IG about the pattern - it is called the Artist’s Box Top but does include directions for sewing both a top and a dress, as I have done. My hope is that if you make this dress, you’ll find energy and excitement for what being at home feels like right now in a easy piece to wear. And definitely check out the pattern’s author Taryn who is so creatively inspiring.

sewing stitches: fen dress

Pattern: Fen by Fancy Tiger Crafts, View B with optional pockets and sleeves

One of my first finished makes of 2016! Fen is a beginner's sewing pattern that has options for a top and a dress, long sleeves or short sleeves, rounded top or v-neck, so I knew I would get a lot of use out of purchasing this one pattern. A few weeks ago I got the help from some lovely women at Downtown Knits in Apex, NC and after much deliberation, picked out this beautiful chambray (because I definitely don't have enough chambray in my closet already). Being a beginning sewist, I wanted to make sure my lines looked sharp, but didn't pop too much, so a coordinating blue cotton thread was what I chose to sew with it. 

Sewing, unlike other crafts, is not something that has come particularly easy to me. My lines tend to be imprecise, and being a lefty, I never developed fantastic scissors skills, both of which are pretty essentials skills when garment sewing. Ha! After taking a full week to trace, cut, and sew this lovely garment, I'm convinced that I'm probably the slowest sewist out there. The pattern was very straightforward to trace and cut, however, and I'm sure someone with better skills or a more experienced hand would fly through these steps much more quickly. The sewing itself was fairly straightforward, the only real problem area being the binding around the neckline. I had a hard time visualizing exactly what I was supposed to be doing with it, and ended up improvising a bit. Amber from Fancy Tiger Crafts was very helpful in describing what the neckline was supposed to look like, and on my next Fen I think I'll be a lot more successful. 

Favorite parts of this dress are definitely the sleeves and pockets. The sleeves are a perfect 3/4 length and the pockets are super sturdy. I just love dresses with pockets! I was able to sew the skirt, pockets, sleeves and finish the dress all in one night, and was so encouraged by how easy the skirt was to make so professional and clean-looking. Not all of my lines were so lucky ;)

This is a dress I hope I'm going to get a LOT of wear out of, and I'm grateful to have finished it during the crazy snowstorm that left me stranded on the top of the hill at our house for the past few days. Spinning and knitting are re-commencing this week, with many fun and exciting projects ahead!