Well, what can I say?
It was Valentine’s Day and for the very first time I was going to a Big Band dance as a general audience member and not as the bari player! A gal needs a new dress for such a monumental occasion, don’t you agree? I mean…I held down the bottom end for what…17+ years… and never heard ’em out front! Not once! Calls for a new dress, don’t ‘cha think?
And reason #2 (as if I need a reason #2 to sew a dress): the Big Band is in Whitehorse, duh! Which meant that I was going home back to my beloved Yukon for a whole week! In February! Whoot whoot!
I had a fabulous time! My in-laws were there. My sisters-in-law & brother-in-law was there, my niece was there. My number-one-son was there. My girlfriends were there!
Yes, these photos are taken on the deck of our little cabin in the woods at Fox Lake. In the Yukon! On a very balmy day, I might add! Excuse the wrinkles…suitcase, you know. And while I do have an antique iron at the cabin and can heat it up on the wood stove, I don’t have an ironing board there anymore. (note to Whitehorse friends…if you see a cheep ironing board at the Sally Ann, grab for me!)
Why yet another version of the vintage New Look 6510 shift dress? Because I only decided to sew the dress the day my flight left. Yup! You read that right. I woke up in the morning and said to myself, “Nita, you have 3 hours. You should sew a Valentine’s Day dress.” And of course the only dress I have ever sewn is this one, and I knew I could do it fast.
I didn’t have enough fabric to cut the dress as one piece. So I split it at the “adjust length here” line. In retrospect, that was the wrong place. I should have split it at the natural waist. Because when I wear a belt, it sits up on the bottom of my ribcage. Not the most comfortable spot to wear a belt…
And because I am Thrifty Retirement Girl (ā« insert super-heroine music ā«)… guess what? The dress .25. YES!!! I made this dress for twenty-five cents. Out of three pillowcases. Yes, pillowcases. From the thrift store. Ha Ha!
Gotcha!
(this post is dedicated to my friend Cynde who just can’t get over it, lol!)
That is beautiful and thrifty!! ;o)
Nita, your .25 pillowcase dress is fabulous and looks amazing on you!!
I’m so glad your sewing space was featured on Curvy Sewing, I am loving your blog!! š
Hey, Nita, I use the bed as an ironing board. It works pretty well if I throw back the covers. A surprising advantage… I don’t have to find some place to store it when I’m not using it. But I actually had to get an ironing board when I started sewing in earnest again. And sleeves are hard to manage on the bed. Another thought…I have wrinkles on my face. Why not my clothes too? š I love the pillow case dress. Gotta keep my eyes open for some good pillow cases!
SO CUTE! I love it and totally plan to steal this idea!
That is fabulous. I love the hemline. Thanks for checking out my dress on my blog. Do call again. Jo x
WOW! What a gorgeous new dress. So fresh and fun! And made from pillowcases? Priceless!
I can’t get over this 25 cent dress made of thrift store pillow cases. It’s awesome.
You had me in such suspense…I keep reading, and reading thinking is that dress from a tablecloth or pillowcase!???Great Job Nita! So glad your visit was fun!!
mahahh!! Ingenious!! It looks (and you too) fantastic!
very nice job! You tempt me to try garment sewing again! ;^)
Very nice! And I cant believe how long your hair has gotten, it seems like the other day you cut it short
It is such a pretty dress and it suits you very well. Cannot believe you made it for such a price. Amazing.
The dress is gorgeous and you look beautiful! Can’t get over the price! Fantastic!
And you looked fabulous!!!!!! I will keep my eye out for ironing boards. š