first Geranium
So, I may have created the ugliest Geranium ever...
Briar Rose arrived on the very day I quilted and bound Tilt-a-whirl. Perfect motivation! This new collection by Heather Ross for Windham Fabrics is definitely a winner. Personally, I love that many of the prints have subtle story features, like the crickets hidden in these clovers. They're not so "novelty" that it's limiting.
I also picked up some strawberries and Nanny Bee in the coral, which I chose for Aria's Geranium dress. I was thinking that its saturated color won't show stains and that Aria loves to wear bright, warm colors. But, well, I wasn't expecting it to read so orange in person. Sooooo orange. I decided to line it in Kona pomegranate in hopes of bringing out the "red" in my imagination.
Unfortunately, that only works in my imagination. In real life it really is orange, not exactly the best color on Aria (she and I have similar coloring, so I guess I'm also projecting that I wouldn't wear that color). That, and I feel the print is maybe "young" for her? Not sure how to put my finger on it. I think it's a beautiful fabric - don't get me wrong - but that this is not the best application.
Ok, so maybe I have a thing or two (or ten) to learn about making clothes. Like, when working with a somewhat classic/traditional dress pattern and even including ruffle sleeves, choose a modern or simple fabric if your child is almost 9 years old. Yep, the ruffle sleeves really push it over-the-top. I did love the ruffle look in the solid gray version that Rae made. I'm convinced it's all about my particular situation here.
But, hey, my buttonholes all came out perfect. At least there's that.
Fortunately, Aria loves this dress. For all of the "I'll choose better next time" I'm feeling, she loves it, wore it Sunday and will be wearing it to her first day of co-op homeschool tomorrow. She's been wearing only dresses all summer, unless absolutely necessary, so she can definitely use something new. (Watch out - if your child re-reads the Laura Ingalls Wilder series like 5 times through you may be headed towards a dress obsession.)
And so, freshly picked pear in hand, off she runs!
I'm going to insist, adding to Friday's post, that it's also OK if you don't like everything you make. In daring to be honest with yourself, you create space to learn from and move ahead. I'm not happy with this one, but my next two (or three!) geranium dresses are going to leave me smiling. You'll see!
P.S. you can find Briar Rose at these shops: Intrepid Thread, Sew Modern, Fresh Modern Fabric, Lark Cottons, Fabricworm, Pink Chalk, FabricBubb and Fat Quarter Shop. And, in Canada at Mad About Patchwork and Fabric Spot.
P.S.S. This post represents my honest opinions. But, for full disclosure you should know that Briar Rose fabrics were given to me by Windham Fabrics at my request. Alrighty then, carry on, carry on.
Briar Rose arrived on the very day I quilted and bound Tilt-a-whirl. Perfect motivation! This new collection by Heather Ross for Windham Fabrics is definitely a winner. Personally, I love that many of the prints have subtle story features, like the crickets hidden in these clovers. They're not so "novelty" that it's limiting.
I also picked up some strawberries and Nanny Bee in the coral, which I chose for Aria's Geranium dress. I was thinking that its saturated color won't show stains and that Aria loves to wear bright, warm colors. But, well, I wasn't expecting it to read so orange in person. Sooooo orange. I decided to line it in Kona pomegranate in hopes of bringing out the "red" in my imagination.
Unfortunately, that only works in my imagination. In real life it really is orange, not exactly the best color on Aria (she and I have similar coloring, so I guess I'm also projecting that I wouldn't wear that color). That, and I feel the print is maybe "young" for her? Not sure how to put my finger on it. I think it's a beautiful fabric - don't get me wrong - but that this is not the best application.
Ok, so maybe I have a thing or two (or ten) to learn about making clothes. Like, when working with a somewhat classic/traditional dress pattern and even including ruffle sleeves, choose a modern or simple fabric if your child is almost 9 years old. Yep, the ruffle sleeves really push it over-the-top. I did love the ruffle look in the solid gray version that Rae made. I'm convinced it's all about my particular situation here.
But, hey, my buttonholes all came out perfect. At least there's that.
Fortunately, Aria loves this dress. For all of the "I'll choose better next time" I'm feeling, she loves it, wore it Sunday and will be wearing it to her first day of co-op homeschool tomorrow. She's been wearing only dresses all summer, unless absolutely necessary, so she can definitely use something new. (Watch out - if your child re-reads the Laura Ingalls Wilder series like 5 times through you may be headed towards a dress obsession.)
And so, freshly picked pear in hand, off she runs!
I'm going to insist, adding to Friday's post, that it's also OK if you don't like everything you make. In daring to be honest with yourself, you create space to learn from and move ahead. I'm not happy with this one, but my next two (or three!) geranium dresses are going to leave me smiling. You'll see!
P.S. you can find Briar Rose at these shops: Intrepid Thread, Sew Modern, Fresh Modern Fabric, Lark Cottons, Fabricworm, Pink Chalk, FabricBubb and Fat Quarter Shop. And, in Canada at Mad About Patchwork and Fabric Spot.
P.S.S. This post represents my honest opinions. But, for full disclosure you should know that Briar Rose fabrics were given to me by Windham Fabrics at my request. Alrighty then, carry on, carry on.