16 April 2020

Skirting My Time


I'm finally halfway finished with my green batik leftovers dress I started way back on February 24! I finished the machine embroidery on the skirt over the weekend, and I finished the sleeve insets and machine embroidery last night!

One of the reasons this project took so long is I've been making a lot of masks. I didn't really like changing the bobbin and top spool every single time I sat down to sew, so I didn't work on the dress every chance I got. It was easier to keep the mask thread loaded, and I'd be ready next time someone requested a mask.


Running out of solid green thread for the bobbins was another hurdle. I ordered more thread before Shelter in Place, and thank heavens, the thread arrived at my work a day or so before I wasn't allowed to go into the office anymore. I have a Missouri Star Quilt Company package there waiting for me when I do get to go back, and that will be sort of like Christmas!


I ordered giant spools of solid green thread I can use with the longarm, not thinking about how I would wind it onto bobbins for the domestic sewing machine. With a little bit of patience and ingenuity after Shelter in Place, I realized I could use the longarm bobbin winder to hold the big spool while I wound a bobbin on the domestic machine. Then I realized I could also use the giant spool as top thread by keeping the longarm bobbin winder right behind the domestic machine. That's when my sewing projects really began moving. I really didn't like winding bobbins from a giant spool on a knitting needle I held in my left hand while operating the domestic machine with my right hand.

I didn't have to buy anything extra, and I didn't have to build anything to hold thread spools in place. And the longarm bobbin winder gets a little bit more use than it's been getting in the long months of no quilting activity.

Now I'm ready to begin the bodice and sleeves (and the pockets), which I initially had planned to do in green hand-dyes (not my own hand-dyes) but then thought perhaps purple would be prettier.


I went through my fabric stash last night, and there is only one purple with enough fabric for the bodice and sleeves, shown above. I was pretty bummed. The lavenderish hand-dye doesn't look that complimentary to me. I had thought a darker shade would be just perfect. I have just a small piece of the purple below.


For a fleeting moment, I thought perhaps I could order another yard of purple hand-dye. I even have a Hoffman color chart to make sure I get just the right shade.


This is a leftovers dress. It sort of defeats the purpose of using up leftovers, in my mind, if I buy more fabric to finish it. So I'm going to try to use something from the stash.

But which one?!? Too many choices!!!




I have enough of three different blues, and against the sleeve insets, I was almost convinced to go with the blue-green.




I auditioned one of the batiks I have enough of... because I liked it so much, I accidentally bought it twice. If I go with the batik, I will have to change the applique I want to make for the front of the bodice. I'm not sure I want to do that. Plus, to me, this looks a little too busy.




There is enough of five different green hand-dyes, as well as a handful of solid greens. Now I guess the next most difficult part of finishing this dress will be picking which one I like best. I think I'm leaning toward the sour apple Kona solid. Ironically, I had trouble making a choice when I picked a border color for the main quilt I made with all these green batiks before I began crafting projects from the leftovers.




















Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

13 comments :

  1. Yeah, that would kinda defy the point if you bought something new haha plenty to use indeed though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gonna try to hold out Pat and use what I've got! One of those greens should work!

      Delete
  2. Could it be as simple as choosing the bodice fabric that looks best on you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's such a great idea, Ruth! Thank you! I'm a spring, so I'm going to hold some of those greens up to my face and see which one looks best!

      Delete
  3. 1st blue, 2nd or 4th green. Those are my favorites. Good luck with the choice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joy, I was surprised how well the blues went with it when the purple didn't seem to harmonize as well. I may still have to go with one of the blues...

      Delete
  4. I have a favourite and can't wait to see what you will choose. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Regula! I can't wait to wear it, and I can't wait to have an occasion to wear it!!!

      Delete
  5. Wow, that's a lot of choice! So many pretty fabrics! :o I agree with Ruth, pick the one you like best and that suits you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, ItinerantChemist! I like Ruth's suggestion, too. Now I can't wait to finish!

      Delete
  6. Ohhh Such yummy colors!!!! I wonder what you will choose!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Alycia! Boy, I think I have too many greens!!!

      Delete
  7. I am anxious to see your leftover dress completed. Which ever fabric you choose will be the right one!

    ReplyDelete


Dusty words lying under carpets,
seldom heard, well must you keep your secrets
locked inside, hidden deep from view?
You can talk to me... (Stevie Nicks)

All spam is promptly and cheerfully deleted without ever appearing in print.

If you are unable to leave a comment and need to contact me, please use the email address in the sidebar. Thank you!

Related Posts with Thumbnails