Sewing Vloggers

Monday, October 26, 2009

Toile Bishop for Carly is Complete!


This just seemed to take so long with interruptions of toothaches, out of state visits, etc... But now it is full speed ahead. In yesterday's post I gave a description of what a Bishop Dress actually is. This design by Gail Doane has a nice medium amount of fullness. Gail also designed the smocking plate. I customized it a bit. My Carly is very tiny in the shoulders, like her Grandma BunBun. I did not want the smocking design drifting down past her shoulder bone so I only did two repeats of Gail's design. I chose to embroider this with bold colors and four strands of floss, the better to stand up to the graphic nature of the black and white print. It almost gives it a Folkloric influence which I like. I did the button decoration but also chose to do the back opening with different buttons, plaid covered half balls. I fused the homespun plaid to a black tricot before making the buttons so the glare of the metal button would not show thru thin homespun.There is a fifth button that dropped somewhere never to be found so if you see a BH without a button, it will be sewn  on tonight.  On the neckline and cuffs I chose to do a double piping. The only drawback with this is some sections of the neckline piping sort of disappear (the print ones) and the whiter sections really jump forward. But all in all I am pleased. This really is a rather simple design that I will definitely make again. Without life's interruptions, it could be completed quite quickly. I highly recommend Gail's book, "Sew Cute Couture". It is full of great designs all with coordinating jackets. I will trace off the pattern for the jacket as soon as I am done posting here. I may further customize Gail's embroidery design for the coat but will do a few samples first that I will share with you all. I also have to hunt down a lining for the coat. I would love to do the homespun for the lining but think I would prefer something more slithery. Then again, I have often seen toddler's winter jackets lined with just flannel. I'll give that more thought.
        I would like to publicly thank Gail Doane for her encouragement on this project. It was greatly appreciated and her emails a welcome support. I hope I do her darling jacket pattern justice.
        Without further ado here are some pics:

The back:


Yoke detail: 
 ETA: Can you see the seams? I think not with Martha's wonderful tute on Seamless Smocking. The   seam is in there, just invisible. 

Cuffs:

Growth tuck, also discussed in yesterday's post:



I can now put this one to bed and move on!

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A word on UFOs, dear bloggers: Try not to let them happen. One of the bittersweet moments spent with dear Ima was encountering all the UFOs. We are talking 30-40 of them at least. Most pinned, interfaced, basted, and just never finished. Many were made with very expensive fabric, quite a few Pendletons and coatings. Since we wear the same size she thought I might want them. Then she double backed and said "you need to spend your time making new things with new ideas." She was right. However I told her I would make use of the fabric if that was OK. So I have been pulling out some rusty pins and basting stitches and felting a lot of gorgeous wools. I know she would be happy with that. To me a UFO is an idea, something from your brain that somehow didn't see fruition. Sorting them into boxes may temporarily assuage the guilt of moving on to more interesting possibilities, but they don't go away. Do you really want your kids to see all the things you never got around to finishing, things that may have even been for them? It just all pulls at my heartstrings. So I am more determined than ever to stick with my two at a time policy and no more. This editorial brought to you by........Bunny

28 comments:

  1. Gorgeous! Glad you put in a growth pleat so she gets maximum wear out of this. I love the plaid accent.

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  2. Leave it to Bunny to come up with an exciting and creative twist on a bishop!!! This is just the cutest thing!!!! I love it!!!
    Sara

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  3. Bunny, The Bishop is breathtaking. It's just so beautiful.

    I appreciate your advice on UFO's. It's a good word for us sewers. I remember finding some aprons my mom started for us when were young and never finished. I remember how I looked forward to getting mine and never did. It was a little disappointing. I'm scarred for life. No. Just kidding on the scarred for life part.

    Thanks so much for visiting Emily's blog and encouraging her. She loves hearing from you.

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  4. I love this little dress! The bold colors, the plaid cuffs, and the buttons are perfect.

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  5. THe bishop is gorgeous, Bunny. I love it! Really inspiring and beautiful.

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  6. The bishop is just so beautiful. I would never thought to put the plaid with the toile and then the bright colours of the stitching and buttons. You have a great eye for getting all the elements right. Now I am holding out to see what colour you are going for with the coat!

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  7. It turned out GREAT, Bunny! I love all the pretty colors.

    Now you've got me hanging my head over all my UFO's, waiting for me. :(
    I was just thinking about the heirloom baby quilt that I have all the blocks completed...just need to assemble & quilt it. I MUST tackle that before I die!!!!

    ♥ Rettabug

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  8. the bishop is just gorgeous. Those close-up pix really show the details. Great job!

    Rose in SV

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  9. Thanks for the lovely comments, all. The little coat is red cashmere.

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  10. Pure delight to see such perfection
    It's like a dream
    Merci Bunny
    You are so talented!!!

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  11. So adorable, Bunny! Love the plaid for the cuffs and lost my mind over the double piping at the cuffs! You are amazing! Point well made on the UFO's, I'd never want my daughter to see "the dress that never was"...

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  12. Your detail work is incredible! Love the contemporary/folkloric touches of color with the toile and classic style!

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  13. The bishop dress is beautiful! I love the combination of black-and-white toile with tartan... like a snowy day in Scotland!

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  14. Beautiful - I especially love the plaid trim
    I have a couple UFos to finish. I used to cut out stuff ahead. Now I never do, because I don't finish them. Two at a time is a workable rule

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  15. The contrast of the plaid against the toile is just beautiful. You are blessed with such talent. Good advice about the UFOs. I never thought of them in those terms.

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  16. Adorable! This would go for at least $200 in NYC. Your fabric combinations and buttons are top-notch. This needs to be in a magazine.

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  17. Oh, it is just too perfect - the combination of fabrics and colors is just right. Those little buttons really make the outfit, too.

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  18. Your comments about UFO's really hit home. You have such a wonderful way with words.

    Carly's bishop is just as pretty as I thought it would be.

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  19. Carly's bishop is beautiful and I can't wait to see it with the addition of the LRJ!

    Hope your surgery is not extensive and it will give you a good excuse to sit and stitch!

    Cissie

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  20. Lovely dress! I found your blog on "we love to sew". Check out mine....http://whimsycoutureboutique.blogspot.com/

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  21. What an amazingly wonderful dress! I am in awe of your talent!!!

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  22. That dress is just darling. You are so talented.

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  23. Honestly this is the most beautiful thing...so magnificently detailed and the fabric and detailing is just exquisite! Love seeing your work.

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  24. That is about the cutest dress in the world! Love the print with the plaid accent, the piping, the buttons with contrasting thread. Like the idea of the "growth" pleat but my eyes want to watch up the pattern . . . on the body, it probably looks great.
    Love your choices and attention to the small details.

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  25. Wow! That dress is absolutely stunning. I would never think to mix toile with plaid, but it looks fantastic. You are very talented.

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  26. Love the toile bishop! That's such an unexpected fabric, and when combined with the plaid and the smocking it is gorgeous. I'll have to keep that combination in mind.

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  27. I just discovered your blog and I am in love with this little dress. It is adorable !

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