Housedresses

I like to wear housedresses.

They are comfortable, cool, and if someone comes to the door (or I need to take out the trash!), they are modest and presentable. Don't get me wrong--if the house is cold in the winter, you will usually find me in sweatpants and a flannel shirt--but, since we heat our very small house with a large woodstove, my house is rarely cold!

Recently, I got an email about a bargain on a flat-fold bundle of quilter's calico from Marshall Dry Goods. At $1.95/yard, I decided the time had come to make some housedresses. 

Most of the pieces were about six yards in length, so I knew they would be adequate for the project. They are 100% cotton, which I wanted, and are fairly busy prints. Busy prints will show stains and mends less, and since I wear them for housework, yardwork, and cooking, this was a plus. They also remind me of the dresses my grandmother and great-grandmother wore. 😀

I used this pattern:

The design is loose and comfortable. It is an easy sewing project, and at less than $14.00 per dress, it was much less expensive than buying ready-made. I could also change the design to make it fit my own needs and wants.

I made the sleeves fuller and added more width to the skirt. I sewed in-seam pockets (reinforced so they can really be of use) rather than the outside patch pockets.

I love them! They are easy to wash and dry and are very comfortable to wear.

Apparently, I'm not the only person who enjoys wearing house dresses. There is a Facebook page for a small company called thisismyhousedress. Their designs look very much like mine.

You can learn about the history of the housedress at several different sites. This one has several pictures; this one has pictures of vintage sewing patterns; and this one has links to several different sites about the subject.

Happy Sewing! 😺

Yikes!

I did it again! 

Into my very small sewing area comes another bundle of fabrics. I did this once before with a bundle of tone-on-tones. I've been using them steadily and have enjoyed having plenty to work with.  This time, the fabrics are solids.

Seventeen 6-yard cuts of different colors

I get email from Sharon Thomas at Marshall Dry Goods Wholesale often, but since I'm only one quilter, I can't always use the huge quantities meant for fabric sellers. This bundle, however, is something I can use. Best of all, it is great quality 100% cotton and only cost me (with shipping figured in) $.93/yard!

I'd better get to work using it!


I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 94 at The Quilting Room with Mel.

Thrifty Purchase

The quilt I am working on right now is a gift, so I can't show pictures of it.


Last week, I made a thrifty purchase from Marshall Dry Goods Wholesale. I receive ads from them, but usually the amounts are too much for me. This time, however, the offering was a tone-on-tone flat-fold bundle.

Each is different in pattern and/or tone.

The bundle has fifteen different tone-on-tone fabrics--six yards each. These will be handy because so many quilts I make use this type of fabric. It would also make great backing.


In the end, even with shipping, I paid only $2.02 per yard. Thrifty indeed! If you should decide to order from the wholesale side of Marshall's,  I can recommend Sharon Thomas (Clicking on her name will take you to her email address.) as a sales rep. She was so very helpful to me. Marshall's, of course, also has a retail side--the quality and pricing is wonderful--give them a try--retail or wholesale. (This isn't a paid endorsement--I just love their goods.)


I hope to make some beautiful things with this fabric.

I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 67 at The Quilting Room with Mel.