Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Mendocino Dress... at last!

Everyone on alert? A finished project!
Lucy!
I have seen this dress around the blog world, and I am so happy I am finally done. I confess, this dress gave me fits at first. It was my first time working with elastic thread. I got the thread to scrunch up, but not nearly enough. I was so frustrated that I put the dress aside for months (10, actually). In the super hot weather, I decided I wanted to finish it. I have been reading tips online so I was ready. My problem? It might have been the actual thread (I switched brands), but the main culprit was definitely that I was using too small a stitch. I had used the smallest stitch, but all the tips say use the longest stitch! It worked like a charm. Also, Heather Ross notes that it shrinks even more when you pass a steam iron over it because the elastic thread shrinks. In any case, it works now!
Glasses on Lucy!
I need to add straps, but I already wore it for a bbq last weekend. It's fun, fast, comfortable... I didn't actually use Heather's pattern, I just took a rectangle and shirred the top. I'm sure her pattern would have helped with the pregnant look. The fabric is a sarong from Indonesia.
3x3 for JuneFor Craftjunk by Lydigann
For Bootgirl72 by LydigannFor mini_milly04 by Lydigann
I also finished up my nine-block swaps, both for the Chaletgirl Block Swap and Three by Three. I think after I'm done with these my nine block obsession will be satiated.
Nerdy Lucy
Please notice that Nerdy Lucy has no ears!

8 comments:

Kelly said...

Cute dress!! Love the print you used.

Lucy looks too cute in glasses haha :) We kept putting sunglasses on Gibson this weekend and he had no ears either!

Oiyi said...

You look just too cute in that dress. Hurray that it worked out! I don't think I have the nerve to attempt a adult dress yet.

Stop torturing Lucy! Hehehe...my husband does the same thing. I have a pic of Caesar with the Xbox 360 head set on.

jannza said...

I have restrained myself as long as possible. Lucy has broken my resolve! I can't help but comment....she is too darn cute in those glasses. : )

Your dress is great. I love your quilt squares too. I've decided that I will make a Dear Jane quilt one day but I'm finishing other projects first. Wow, discipline!

Isn't it nice to know you've motivated someone to sewing-goodness?

Rebekah said...

cute dress! and Lucy looks so scholarly in those glasses.

FinnyKnits said...

OH! It came out really cute! I've been biding my time waiting to try this dress again. The first one came out so tiny, I gave it to my three year old goddaughter.

What did I do? Who knows.

Anyhoo, how did you get the measurements for the rectangle? Guesstimate?

Help? I have the cutest fabric for this dress and it's really hot here now. As you know.

Lucy is adorable as always.

Junie Moon said...

I'm back from vacation and trying to catch up on my blog reading. I love the new dress, you did a wonderful job with it. And Lucy is a hoot in the glasses.

SewAmy said...

love the glasses.

Mary said...

I just found your blog (via One Shabby Chick) and was reading through.... We have three furry babies so I'm always captivated by blog-dogs. Lucy is especially cute, in the glasses. I like your sewing projects so I'm going to add your blog to my growing list of eye candy.... Pet Lucy and give her a kiss on her wet nose!