I finally got to work!! Kitty, first attempt.

So, i finally got most of my other projects from the sewing box finished. Whew! I can finally devote more time to my main project/quest for this year--making up and resizing "Kitty" for a general audience of today's ladies. I had already cut the pattern out back in May, setting it aside when i knew i would start in without finishing my long list of already started projects. So i reluctantly put it away. But there it was, all cheery and smiling at me with it's cherry red and pink plaid as i started this week! And it went together very quickly and easily. I am really glad that i was able to finish it up in just a few days of sewing, about five hours or so. Not bad for a first try and having to redo a few bits here and there. In the first picture you see the bodice without any darts and a bit of the trim laying by.
Here in picture 2, you can see the skirt front all finished with the trim pinned in place ready to be tacked on. The hemming and gathering of this trim was one of the most time-consuming tasks. It really made me wish i had a serger. However, i do not, so know that i only have a plain,old machine. Because of that, i find that it is better for me to use old methods of finishing and construction, since i do not have very many gadgets.

The only part of this little scheme that was not smile-inducing was putting in the zipper. I would insert here the sonnet i composed entitled "Zipper, How i hate thee!", but i will spare you the sorrow. Just know that even if you have sewn many, many things does not mean you do not have weak areas. Mine is zippers. I will admit that i had to rip/re-sew this side zipper THREE TIMES. I will also admit that i spoke very harshly to
said zipper, and i am sure it is a tongue lashing it will not forget! After consulting my favorite sewing guide (circa 1943), i was able to do it properly. On try #3. sigh.
So, after putting in the sleeves tonight, the only thing left was to hem it! I left that alone for now, since i want to set the hem to the length best for whomever will model it later.
I did, however, have a little try-on tonight with my dear friend, Sarah, to check the fit. After taking her measurements, i found that she was actually (gasp!) smaller than i had guessed. She matches the measurements for a size 14, while the copy i have made up is a 16. Even being a size too big the dress has a lot of ease built in. I will post the pictures of the finished dress tomorrow. So happy to have finished my first attempt, and just as glad that i still love it made up! It made up to look just like the picture, which is always a risk with a pattern. cheers, Aunt Kat