The Daisy Dresses Set

                                   

                                          Daisies by Hermann Seeger, German, 1857-1920

                                       

The mother-daughter dresses are complete and I am working on my own outfit using the daisy fabric from Fabric Tradition.  This is very expensive quality cotton, a heavier weight than a lot of cotton prints.  The print comes in a blue background and also a yellow background, as well as a white background.  It is quite expensive unless bought using a coupon.  I purchased a yard every time I was near the fabric store until I had collected enough.  They look like some of the Prairie dresses at Kattle Kate, so I call them prairie dresses. 

The ruffle on the hem was to add length which I found out was preferred, and I used the selvedge for the hem.  One thing you need to know about sewing with cotton is that it makes the garment heavier than a manufactured store-bought dress,  which is the reason I have little techniques to keep from adding weight to the dress. I avoid doubling the fabric or interfacing or added stitching if it adds more bulk or heaviness to the garment. For example, I only iron on interfacing for the button and buttonhole areas, not the back of the neckline.  I do not put interfacing on sleeve cuffs, and I never fold over the fabric in two layers for ruffles or collars. I use the selvedge where It works so that I do not have to make a hem, for example, on the straight edge facings where the buttons go.

The girls dress has a bow attached to the back to cinch in the waist, which can be removed for growth.

The girls size dress form was hand made, and you can read more about how to make one here: http://thepleasanttimes.blogspot.com/search?q=Dress+form

It also has pockets, which girls like, and I may add them to the ladies dress.  Pockets have to be more heavily stitched by reinforcing them with machine stitching several times at the upper corners. These are the areas that will rip open easily.

This is how I store my patterns in stackable drawers, and there are other categories not seen in the photo: men and boys patterns, sleepwear, accessories, blouses, skirts and aprons.

I used parts of this old pattern for the adult daisy dress.  One thing I really like about some of the used patterns I buy at goodwill is the thoughtfulness of the previous owners, who often iron each tissue piece and fold it with the name of the piece in view. That way, I can get a sleeve or a bodice without having to unfold a lot of tissue and then struggle to get the whole bunch neatly  back into the envelope.

As you can see, I use the zip-lock freezer bags from Dollar Tree to store my patterns in.  If I am in a hurry to clean up my sewing area, all the pieces fit in his bag and I do not have to fit them back in the pattern envelope.  The bag keeps the picture of the garment protected.

David textiles are sold in some Walmart fabric departments, and are a favorite of mine to sew with.  

I received a treat  in the mail today: a book by the same author as one I previously wrote about called "In the Garden With Jane Austen."  This one is called "Tea With Jane Austen" and it explains a lot of history and gives some recipes from the 1700's.  

Picking Daisies, by Hermann Seeger, Germany

The dresses do not really drag on the ground as it appears in the picture. The dress forms are not very tall.