TNT Times Two

A few years ago, I remember lamenting I didn't have any TNT patterns.  Since then, I've established a few TNTs.  I just finished back-to-back versions of BWOF 03-2007-129, moving this pattern firmly into the TNT category.   It started with a fabric purchase impulse and a fabric purchase mistake.

When I dragged my daughter to Fabric Row to find fabric for a dress, I met and fell in love with the gold colored batik.  I wanted to get it sewn while it was still warm enough to wear it.  I first choose a sleeveless top, but it was getting late in the summer and I didn't think I'd get it finished in time.  My window for wearing sleeveless is very small.  So, I looked through my Burda index and selected 03-2007-129.  Serendipitously, the fabric matches a pair of pants I made a few months ago.

I didn't buy lining fabric for Lindsey's  dress during the first trip, so I went back to Fabric Row.  I was in such a hurry I left my brain at home on the dining room table.   I bought fabric that was totally wrong for the lining – but totally perfect for a blouse.  Time was still of the essence, so I chose #129 again.  (Actually, I was just too lazy to search for another pattern.) I don't like wearing white because I always seem to spill something on myself whenever I wear white.  But, there is always an occasion for a white blouse and now I have one appropriate for the summer. 

I like this blouse pattern because the seaming gives the blouse a little shape - a less boxy look.  I feel extremely fortunate to have found the buttons that were a perfect compliment to the gold batik. 

After these blouses, I'm going to make two dresses, in absentia,  for my daughter.  She won't be here for any trying on, fitting or photographing for blogs.  Before she left, I measured her from waist to hem so I could hem the dresses without her.  She was so funny!  She was worried that I wouldn't remember to add a hem allowance to the measurement and the dresses would be too short. Twenty-somethings really believe they know everything and their parents know nothing!

Burda 8227: DD's Dress

Finally, I got to sew something for my daughter!  I sewed dresses for her when she was young and didn't have a choice.  It's been such a long time since I sewed anything for Lindsey that I didn't really remember why I stopped sewing for her.  But she asked me to make a few dresses for her and I was happy to do it.  It's nice to sew something that is a regular size for a change.

This dress also comes in a sleeveless version and in two lengths. It comes in sizes 10 - 24, so if we were into that sort of thing, my DD and I could have matching mother-daughter dresses. The instructions were straight-forward.  I used a sheer stay tape to stabilize the gathers in the front.   The fabric is a cotton batik.  Lindsey said the colors reminded her of a friend from India.  I wasn't sure cotton was the right choice for this dress, but with the broadcloth lining, it worked. The lining is actually an interlining – two layers of fabric treated as one – on the bodice.   I didn't have to make any design changes and fitting wasn't necessary.

While working on this dress, I remembered why I stopped sewing for Lindsey in the first place. She doesn't enjoy selecting patterns.  In fact, I went to the Burda website and pre-selected and printed out several options I thought she would like.   She's usually too busy to shop for fabric with me and trying on clothes for fitting is torture for both of us.  But while we were in North Carolina, we survived a visit to Mary Jo's in Gastonia, NC where she selected two pieces and three patterns for future projects.

Bean and his proud Dad

And what were we doing in North Carolina?!?  We drove there to meet the newest member of the family –  my nephew, who has a perfectly good given name, but whom I lovingly call "Bean".  He also answers to "Love Buggy", "Pedro", "Prince" and "Asparagus"!  I guess I'll have to start sewing little boy clothes in the future!