9.7.10

Cold Snap


My sister and I laughed and laughed when I brought out this fabric.  I had been doing a show-and-tell of internet purchases that hadn't been quite as I expected.  This one was the last to come out, because it is all very well to admit a mistake, but who wants to admit to an expensive mistake...yes, the tell-tale zig-zags and divine colour combinations give this away as Missoni fabric.   The fabric is gorgeous and covetable, yes, but standing in the hot climate of Townsville, I felt like I was holding a horse blanket. 

A few weeks ago I was preparing to visit Brisbane for the christening of my nephew.    Two days before we left I decided that I needed to make up the fabric if I was ever going to wear it before the silverfish got to it.  I climbed out of my bed, where I had been languishing since having my wisdom teeth removed, and sewed the main peices together of a Twinkle pattern for a dropped shoulder minidress.  I looked in the mirror and was devastated at the result.  The weight of the wool and zig-zags across the shoulder made me look like a front-row forward.  The dress fell to the floor and I fell back in bed.

The next day I attended "nursery-rhyme day" at school, visited the dentist, ran around on errands and then found myself with half an hour to spare before school pick-up.  Could I salvage the dress in half an hour?  Well, in for a penny, in for a pound, and I pulled out my Ottobre t-shirt pattern and starting snipping away and stitching up.  The result was promising.

Late that night, halfway through packing, I added the cowl.  The Twinkle pattern had pleats around the neckline as well as the cowl, but I found I had only cut one length for the pleats instead of two, and short of time, I decided to do away with pleats.  I guess I could go back and add them in now?  I finished all the little handstitching bits when I got to Brisbane.

I got to wear this dress a-plenty during my holiday because it was so cold.  I was freezing whilst Peter snapped this photo, and went out and bought a singlet and thicker leggings to wear underneath.  Back here in Townsville, cold weather is so difficult to comprehend!  However, we do usually get one or two more cold days, so I just may get to wear this dress again before I pack it away for the summer.

I did have a little bit of fabric shopping success whilst in Brisbane.  I stumbled into a dress shop in Paddington to find a table of remnants left from seasons past.  Beautiful linens and silks at great prices.  I bought up most of the remnants for less than the price of a single garment in this shop!

8 comments:

Sue said...

It has been cold lately - & I am totally jealous of your great fabric buy at that boutique. The Missoni is really working!

Bernice said...

The dress turned out great - no blanket in sight! The colours are fabulous. I particularly like the flared sleeves and the edge along the sleeves and hem. Nice one! BTW I came across a reasonably large-ish range of footlight tights in Myer just recently. I'm guessing they've been stocked for winter. I was going to pick you up a pair but thought I should consult you first - quite a range of thicknesses, weights, lengths and degrees of transparency (plus a few colours and possibly patterns). They were a bit pricey ($30 - $45) but looked like they'd last a long time. They were leaps and bounds ahead of the tuxedo stripes in terms of quality and appearance! I did buy a pair and have been happy with them. This is probably not the best place to have this discussion but your photo triggered my memory and I'm not sure if I would have remembered.

kbenco said...

Fabulous tunic. I'm glad you got to wear your internet surprise. I am envious of your fabric score. Brisbane seems a fabric desert to me whenever I visit.(except for Gardams)

Jess Lindsay said...

Hi! Great dress! Have you sewn the top called "Dark Secrets" from Twinkle Sews? I am having trouble with the balloon sleeves. I dont understand the directions...

katherine h said...

Hello jesslindz...I have not sewn "dark secrets" sorry :(

Mary Nanna said...

I saw the picture and said, "hey, Missoni print!" and sure enough, it was too. I'm so glad you got to sew and wear this great print it would be a crime for it to become silver fish fodder. I'm also glad I live in a climate with a decent winter. A few frosts, a few 10 degree days - cold enough to wear wool but not so cold that you suffer. (my home town in the far south however, is just suffering all year round)

Jess Lindsay said...

Okay, thanks!

Gail said...

I made a coat out of this fabric last winter. Your dress is very nice indeed.