This is my second Amber and it definitely won't be my last. This style of dress is right up my alley. After wearing my first polka dot version, I decided it was time for another. I went digging in my recently acquired "maternity capsule wardrobe" stash and found this green organic bamboo jersey that I had earmarked for a maternity shirt. I thought since I ended up shortening my last version so much and since I had fabric to spare that I could squeeze an amber out of what I had.
This was mostly true. By making a sleeveless version and omitting the modesty panel I was just able to get all my pattern pieces cut out. I don't mind these concessions as it's easy to wear a camisole underneath and without sleeves it will transition easier to warmer weather.
Adaptations I made to the pattern this time around:
Adaptations I made to the pattern this time around:
- No modesty panel.
- Gathers instead of pleats due to finer fabric.
- Added clear elastic to neckline to prevent bagging and stretching out.
- Shortened dress length by 4 inches. I'm 5'10"
- Left hem unfinished as my thread was acting up on me and I thought I would make a mess.
So what about bad thread? Well, I have this large stash of thread that came from my Grandma. It looks super beautiful in all these colours on wooden spools. However, and this is something I've read a number of times, it's old and despite it looking lovely and strong, it always seems to act up, skip stitches and tangle when I use it. I need to bite the bullet and throw it all away so I'm not tempted to use it any more. Thread does not last forever and for all I know, this thread is 50 years old. Time to just start buying thread to match each time I buy fabric and skip the headache.
So lessons learned and a wardrobe stable to boot. Are you ever tempted to use old thread?
So lessons learned and a wardrobe stable to boot. Are you ever tempted to use old thread?