Lumberjack Dress

For years now, I've been getting so much use and pleasure out of the Built by Wendy books, that I thought it was high time I shared a few of the resulting projects here. I own Sew U Home Stretch, Built by Wendy Coats and Jackets, and Built by Wendy Dresses, but the latter has been my most-used book by far.

My one caveat in recommending these books is that I don't feel they are terribly helpful for beginners. The instructions are often general and somewhat vague (and I've found straight-up mistakes as well); that being said, once you've got a few "regular" patterns under your belt (I'm thinking Simplicity, McCall's, etc.), and are comfortable with the basics of garment construction and sewing techniques, they are a wonderful resource for basic patterns and ideas that can be riffed on endlessly.

This one is called the Lumberjack Dress, and it's a variation that is included in the book (though, as I mentioned, even the included variations end up being patterns of your own making for the most part). I spent quite a bit of time perfecting the fit of the basic Dirndl dress, and making plain versions with very minor tweaks and updates until I had it fitting just so, then I started going wild with variations. With its full, swingy, bias-cut skirt, adorable leather toggles, rounded collar, and ultra cozy flannel fabric...this might be my favorite thing I've ever made.

I'm hoping to share the other versions with you in the near future, but I'm currently in an awkward hair grow-out phase, so I'm mostly avoiding cameras. ;)

In the meantime, tell me: Do you sew? Have you ever wanted to learn? Do you make up your own patterns?

P.S. Here's the free pattern for the hat pictured above.

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Bookscapes

Have you seen these bookscapes by Guy Laramee? They're incredibly detailed topographical sculptures carved out of old hardbound books!

Found via Colossal

 And here I thought it was cool that I could fold a paper crane. You win, Guy Laramee. You win.

P.S. More here.

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First Lines

Deciding what my first-ever blog post is going to be strikes me as a bit daunting, so I thought I would leave it to the pros. Here are a few of my all-time favorite first lines of books:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."  - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (This seems to be everyone's favorite!)

"I woke this morning with a stranger in my bed. The head of blond hair beside me was decidedly not my husband's. I did not know whether to be shocked or amused. Well, I thought, here's a novel way to begin the new century."  - Tracy Chevalier, Falling Angels

"If this typewriter can't do it, then f*ck it, it can't be done." - Tom Robbins, Still Life With Woodpecker

What are your favorites? I kept a journal of the first lines of all the books I read for a while- such a fun way to remember them! 

P.S.I have a friend who reads the ends of books before she starts them!! This is tantamount to sacrilege in my book. Would you dare? 

For you shoe-a-holics out there (guilty), my shoes are a kids' oxford from Nordstrom, but here's an almost identical adult version for those who aren't quite so wee-of-foot.

 
Photo by Michael Hudson for Is + Was

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