I feel like I go in waves with my hobbies. Embroidery has been my main squeeze for a while, but back in college, I spent almost all my free time sewing. Really. After school on Fridays, I’d take the bus to Hancock Fabrics (RIP) for supplies. I’m sure I drove everyone in my dorm and apartment building nuts with my machine going all the time.
But I kind of fell off the sewing wagon a few years back. I’d hop on now and then for a simple piece of clothing—like this skirt—or a quick gift (I’ve made so many pillowcases over the years).
Now that I’m inside with more free time, I’ve been sitting at my sewing machine more than ever. Making all those masks (103 and counting!) reminded me of how satisfying spending a day at the machine feels.
So I decided to break out one of my favorite sewing books and get going on a project I’ve been eyeing for a while: the Chemise Dress from Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses. This project also gives me the chance to join in on Gertie’s #stayhomeandsew challenge.
One of the joys and curses of being a sewist is having a huge hoard of fabrics on hand from years gone by. Some of those fabrics have lost their appeal with time, but luckily this zebra print hadn’t.
The print is a bit wild, but I think the color is pretty for spring and summer and will only become more flattering with a tan (I’m definitely at my most ghostly right now).
The dress itself was a pretty easy make. I cut it out and sewed it over a weekend (though it could have been easily done in a long afternoon). And I had plenty of scraps perfect for a matching mask.
I’m a fan because there’s no zippers or buttons—you just pull this one over your head. The dress gets all its shape from a bit of elastic sewn into the waist. It looks just fine as-is, but I find a lot of uses for this $4 Forever 21 belt from 2009. I think it makes the outfit a bit more finished.
As quarantine makes go, this one was fun and easy. I don’t think I’ll be making another Chemise Dress (I’d prefer a bit more of an A-line shape and a neckline that doesn’t make me look so busty), but I’ll be happy to pull this one out now and again.
And if anything, this project got me excited to get moving on more sewing projects. I ordered some more material from Z Fabrics in some stupidly cute patterns. One is destined to be a skirt and the other a Popover Dress from Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses. Stay tuned!
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