Hello all on this lovely sunny Sunday,
Guess what? I’ve been having another one of my little ponders and have realised that the garments I make multiple versions of are the ones where I have had success e.g. Sorbetto and Kim. However, the trickier ones where I have been to a workshop and KNOW that I should make another as soon as possible after to consolidate just doesn’t happen despite my good intentions. And so is true of Gatherkits Glorious Mortmain which fitted so well I previously thought it must be magic.
I made my first Mortmain at a workshop run by Handmade Jane at Badger and Earl. I was delighted with the result (notwithstanding that in my haste to finish I managed to insert the armhole facings back to front/upsidedown). You can read about that workshop here. As I said, full of good intentions I bought a further large exposed zip from Badger and Earl whilst I was there. I had a rootle through my little stash and came across the fabric I had bought when I first got my sewing machine so at that point it was a year old and I guess my first ever “stash”. I bought it from Clothkits. It is covered in large daisies but the centre is actually a rose. I’ve included a close up here so that you can see the fabric as it is not really so clear on the photos.
I cut the dress out straight away and there it has sat – since March – on the corner of my sewing table. I think I shied away from it for so long because I was worried about the exposed zip – and the box pleats for that matter without Jane to hold my hand. I kept putting other projects on top. A week ago I cut out an Anna (another previous success) in a lovely Liberty poplin …
… and just as I was about to start working on it, I heard a little voice in the corner say “What about me? You were excited about making me once. What went wrong?” Well … I thought it was a good point, well made so I put my Anna (and an Edith I got out of the scraps) in the corner spot instead, picked up poor, abandoned Mortmain and just got on with it. By the way, does anyone else think of Brideshead Revisited every time they read Mortmain because they link it with Marchmain? Remember Laurence Olivier as Lord Marchmain swanning around Castle Howard (Brideshead).
I am so pleased that I did. It really is a lovely pattern. Everything is so carefully explained with diagrams and then close-ups of the diagrams.
It turned out to be a straight forward sew – armhole facings in correctly; exposed zip – almost perfect.
You can see here the box pleats and the close fitting bodice. I do still need to get a decent camera instead of my ipad so that I can improve my blog photos. I haven’t actually got a specific event to wear this frock for – I always like to have something special for a first public outing. Feel free to invite me to anything Mortmain Appropriate!
Which reminds me. Thank you for all your kind comments on my blogiversary which I celebrated in my last post. I really do appreciate the lift that our supportive sewing community gives. My lovely friend and neighbour Ali popped round unexpectedly with a little gift: a metre or so of a navy blue wool with a pin stripe in a brighter blue and a vintage pattern of a skirt which I had admired on her, for me to trace. This will probably be my first make of the Autumn sewing phase but I am not there yet – too many summer plans still to get through!
I was hoping to give my blog heading a facelift but so far have only managed to get my sewing machine serviced. You may remember some moans about that fact that my machine has never been able to do button holes? Well, now it does and it won’t surprise you to read that, apparently, it has always been able to do button holes if only I had set the dials appropriately!
Lots to look forward to next week: Open Day at Fabric Godmother; working on my project for The Monthly Stitch Two is the Magic Number Challenge and … A level results.
Toodle pip,
Clarinda x
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What a fabulous dress! It fits you like a dream. X
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What beautiful fabric. This dress is great, it fits you like a glove. I am loving the exposed zip too. See you Saturday!
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Gorgeous dress, well done!
http://www.jaymieocallaghan.blogspot.co.uk
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Ditto the above comments, fab fit and loving the exposed zip!
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finally getting round to reading peoples posts again! this dress looks fab 🙂 glad you went back to finish it :-). Love exposed zips so much right now. Hope all those A levels results turn out well 🙂
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A level results mixed – A2 good but students disappointed at AS ( but in-line with effort and ability so fair – they just all expect As!). I have just bought a gorgeous exposed zip in hot pink – found a great seller on EBAY.
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Stunning – the fit and the zip and the fabric! Great job!! Can’t wait to see your new Anna, and will we be seeing 2 more Sorbettos? 😀
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Your dress is lovely, and that exposed zip is briliant!
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It looks really lovely and well done on the exposed zip – I haven’t tried one of these yet as they look a bit scary to me! See you Saturday! 🙂
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This is a really nice dress, the style suits you really well. (I think I first found your blog when Jane posted about the Mortmain class).
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Thank you – I am so pleased with it I have already cut out another one for August’s monthly stitch challenge.
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Beautifully fitting dress and amazing exposed zipper! Its first ‘outing’ could be to the fabric godmother open day?
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I thought that would be more casual but if we are dressing up …..?
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Beautiful fit Clarinda! Love that exposed zip at the back. Good luck with A levels results😃
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That is a beautiful Mortmain dress. I think it’s magic too, the fit is just amazing on you and (dare I say it?!) the exposed zip looks fab! So pleased you went back and finished it! x
PS. I always think of ‘I Capture the Castle’ whenever I see this pattern as there’s actually a character called Mortmain in it.
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I was so chuffed with this I have just cut out another one with sleeves – the cuffs with elastic look a bit fiddly so I am just going to sew them on similar to the Belcarra and hope for the best – watch this space!
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It cracks me up that you happily cut Liberty while avoiding pleats and a zipper! My fears would be totally reversed. Glad you got on with the Mortmain though because it’s looks great on you!!!
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