This sewing out of season is perplexing. On the one hand, I am happy to have been able to complete this dress. But on the other hand, the timing of its completion means it is too late in the season to even think about wearing it – or much too early. Not that it will matter six months from now.
After my successful use of a new sheath dress pattern earlier this winter, I was anxious to use it again. And I just happened to have a piece of cashmere herringbone wool tucked away for such an occasion. I had been on the hunt for a wool to coordinate with the Classic French Jacket shown, and I was quite excited when I found this selection at Farmhouse Fabrics. The bonus was the fact that it is cashmere, and oh, so soft.
Wool is quite possibly my favorite fabric on which to sew. Christian Dior certainly had kind words to say about wool in his Little Dictionary of Fashion. “Wool shares with silk the kingdom of textiles… And like silk it has wonderful natural qualities. Always before you cut woolen material it has to be shrunk to avoid disappointment afterward.” [I always steam wool fabric heavily before I cut into it for just this reason]. Dior continues, “Wool has the great advantage over all other materials in that it can be worked with a hot iron and molded.” (The Little Dictionary of Fashion, by Christian Dior, Abrams, New York, New York, c2007, Page 122.)
Additionally, I have always loved the herringbone weave. The chevron pattern in this particular fabric is achieved by the use of two contrasting colors, yellow and pumpkin, which produces the lovely and soft deep persimmon color.
Making this sheath dress was very straightforward, its details identical to the sheath dress which preceded it: lapped zipper, underlined with silk organza and lined with crepe de chine, under-stitched neckline and armscyes, and a real kick pleat.
This jacket and skirt will be perfect for Fall – and I am delighted to have a dress to wear with my jacket which I completed two years ago.
And now for those of you who like to see the sewing I do for my granddaughters, here are two more dresses which were definitely too early (although on time for Spring birthdays.) Unseasonably cold Spring weather kept these dresses on their hangers apparently, but I do have pictures of them before they went on their journey across many, many miles to their final destination.
I found the fabric at Emma One Sock last Fall. It looks and feels like Liberty Lawn but is not. The bordered eyelet which I used for the collars is from Farmhouse Fabrics, as is the pattern, which I have used before. (This is the last year for this pattern for my girls, as I used the [largest] size 12 for my very tall and slender eight-year-old!)
The buttons are vintage Lady Washington Pearls. The pale pink rickrack is also vintage – and 100% cotton – which makes it lay beautifully flat, molding itself with the cotton fabric.
So quickly these weeks turn into months and then into seasons! Whatever the season from whence you are reading this, I wish you dresses which are just right! One of these days, mine will be, too.
fiftydresses 