Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Lotta Jansdottir fabric in a simple shift dress = LOVE!


I've recently subscribed to a British craft magazine called Mollie Makes. Issue 13 featured an article on designer Lotta Jansdottir. I bought her Simple Sewing book a long time ago and really like her style. I was inspired by the Mollie Makes article and by one of the dresses Lotta is wearing in the photos AND by the yellow and taupe/grey fabric to make myself a shift dress. I used my book Built by Wendy Dresses: The Sew U Guide to Making a Girl's Best Frock (finally!) to draft a pattern. The vertical lines of the print are terrific and I really like mustard yellow lately - especially with grey. When I modeled it for F he said "looks like the fifties" and he's right, it has a great retro feel. The sleeveless style reminds me of my Grandma MacStephen, and a 1970's photo I have of her in a yellow polyester pant suit (will try to scan and post this soon...). I'm really pleased with the sleeveless shift, and really not pleased with the weather forecast of FLURRIES for tonight. Wondering if and when I will get a chance to wear my new dress. Oh, and it took me 2.5 hours total, from drafting the pattern on tissue, cutting and sewing up! All in all a success story on the making front!