I made a lot of progress on the dress today. None on the Christmas decorations though. You all are a BAD influence. ;-) All that's left is binding the armholes and the hem. I did try it on and I'm happy to report that it fits like it was made for me.
While working on the dress I was reminded again of something I keep meaning to talk about since it's a topic I don't see mentioned a whole lot on sewing blogs. Glass head pins. One of my favorite notions. A little expensive for pins but worth their price. I also have regular sewing pins (quilting pins, actually, because I like the extra long length) that I use when actually sewing but when I'm near the iron and have a need to keep something in place without burning my fingertips, I reach for these special pins I keep within reach of the iron.
In case you don't know why they're so great at the ironing board, it's because you can iron right over them. The glass heads resist the heat, unlike plastic-headed pins. Which means I can fold up a hem, stab pins into the board, and then press. On extra-fiddley fabric or curves or wiggly bits, I might pin proper so I can carry the fabric to the machine with the pins in place, but either way, it's great to let the pins do the holding while I press and literally save my skin.
Now it's time for season 3 of Downton Abbey. Is anyone else as happy as me that it's FINALLY back on?
Okay that zipper is TDF! It just makes the dress...and seriously aren't you happier that you sewed instead of dealing with some Christmas decorations?! I'm gonna need you to finish this because it's pretty awesome!
ReplyDeleteThat dress looks really beautiful! What great work you did with the alterations, it looks just perfect now!
ReplyDeleteDress is looking good. I also love that zipper and the magical seaming. I do not own glass-head pins. I have plastic-head, flat-head, quilting, silk & applique, but I can see I will have to get glass-head too. You know what they say about having the "right tools".
ReplyDeleteGreat work on the seams lining up - dress is looking super. DA isn't on here just yet - we are still getting teased with the commercials showing exciting little segments of what is to come!
ReplyDeleteI only use glass head pins and I love them! That is a great dress and a gorgeous zipper. Where did you find it?
ReplyDeleteI learned the hard way that glass head pins are perfect and don't melt when ironed!!!! I too like those long quilting pins for some sewing projects.
ReplyDeleteYour dress looks great and really like the zipper.
the dress is looking great and I agree with the others beautiful zipper
ReplyDeletevery cute Debbie!
ReplyDeleteThat zip is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love glass head pins and I use the super sharp ones for knits. Also for stabbing myself. Series 3 of Downton Abbey is as good as the first two...enjoy.
This dress is looking great and I too love the zipper... can't wait to see you wearing this one. I'm also a huge fan of glass head pins actually that's all that is in my pin cushions so I know I don't have to worry about ironing over them :)
ReplyDeleteThis dress is looking great and I too love the zipper... can't wait to see you wearing this one. I'm also a huge fan of glass head pins actually that's all that is in my pin cushions so I know I don't have to worry about ironing over them :)
ReplyDeleteCute dress. Do you wear it sleeveles or is it more of a jumper? Oh, and yes, I LOVED Downton last night.
ReplyDeleteOh that is lookin so good! Very nice job lining up the darts/seams. Looking forward to seeing this on you.
ReplyDeleteI, like others, only use glass head pins now....yes, there is a reason :(
So cute! The zipper is the perfect touch.
ReplyDeleteIt's looking good! Apparently, Progress is not a four-letter word.
ReplyDeleteLove that dress. It is so cute!
ReplyDeleteLooking gooood!! Can't wait to see it modeled, I've loved that pattern ever since you first showed it. I like how you lined up the pocket/dart seams...ALL the seams actually!
ReplyDeleteI discovered glass head pins last year (blogger unknown) and LOVE them. It's all I use now, and I've been so glad to have them at the ironing board.
Going to watch DA now on the PVR!
I use glass headed pins too and have since I first discovered them years ago in JoAnns. It was a total ah-ha moment. I've got plastic of two sizes for various uses but mostly use the glass. I love, love that I can iron over them if needed. Which isn't often but sometimes you don't want to hand baste something. It is nice and lazy.
ReplyDeleteDebbie your dress is darling. I am in awe of your productivity. I must be teaching too much these days - not getting enough of my own projects done! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd if anyone needs a source for glass head pins - they are in my Etsy shop (Sew Maris). I order them from Professional Sewing Supply - the best ever!
Happy sewing!
Sew Maris
Congrats on getting the seams right. Your dress looks terrific.
ReplyDeleteI never seem to have time to enjoy my Christmas decorations before Christmas so I probably leave them up longer than most people.
Also, Eastern Orthodox Christmas was yesterday, you aren't tardy yet.
I watched Downton Abbey last night on my computer as there is NO WAY I can stay up from 9 - 11 at night and still get up at 5am. I was torturing myself with season three letdown nightmares and I am happy that's all they were because I was glued to my laptop screen from 7 - 9 on Monday night.
ReplyDeleteLove that zipper pull! Such a great detail. About half my pins have sad little melted heads because I haven't invested in glass heads. Maybe it's time...
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I just love the dress! I only use glass head pins; they've saved my bacon a number of times when dealing with difficult fabrics. And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Downton Abbey! Such a good show!
ReplyDeleteAs others have asked, where did you get that great zipper? I must get this pattern.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, in my youth, I used to drag in to work on Mondays for...um...various reasons. Now, I drag in because I was up until 11pm watching DA. What's cool is that the Season 3 DVD is released before the end of the showings on PBS. Yes, my copy has been ordered since September.
The thing about taking down Christmas decorations is ... you just have to put them back up in 10-11 months, so why bother?
ReplyDeleteDownton Abbey is the best! The episodes just aren't long enough though, lol.
Love glass headed pins - did you blog about them years and years ago? Cuz I learned about them from a sewing blogger (and I don't follow many) - bought them and loved them ever since
Patty
Fabulous...love the zipper!
ReplyDelete