I haven’t made an actual pledge or promise but I am really trying to use my current fabric stash for sewing projects before buying anything new. It’s not always going to be possible – I recently ‘had’ to buy some rigid denim for example – but I’m trying. I really do believe I have fabric supplies beyond life expectancy and that’s not a sensible place to be. I don’t want to posthumously entertain the executors of my will by listing the beneficiaries of various fat quarters, jelly rolls and assorted yardage but, on the other hand, I don’t want all the lovely fabrics I’ve collected to be cast, like pearls before swine, on the undeserving or, worse, the unappreciative. Does that make me a bad person?
Anyway, while I’m still breathing, I have made a start by using some fabric I bought either from a charity shop or from somebody’s general clear out – I don’t remember now – I’ve had it a while.
The pattern is a French one called Dorothie from a company called ‘Slow Sunday Paris’ . I was reading a post from a blogger I follow who, despite not speaking or reading any French, had a delve into what the French Indie pattern designers have to offer.
As I’ve lived in France for 14 years, I felt a bit ashamed because, apart from ‘Deer & Doe’ who offer their patterns in both French and English, I had never bothered to look at any others, although I have made the odd thing from French magazines. ‘Slow Sunday’ do now offer a few of their patterns in bilingual versions but this isn’t one of them (yet).
So, here is my ‘Dorothie’ in stash fabric which, coincidentally, happens to be in an ‘on trend’ colour.
I love those sleeves, they’re just that bit different – not too floofy but a nod to the current trend for a bit of a ruffle.
I also like the way the collar sits and the pleats beneath the front yoke are another nice detail.
Will these tiles ever get grouted in?
The sleeves are set in with just a little floof and the back yoke also has a few pleats for interest. The slightly longer and curved back hem is just the right length – on me anyway – and I like the little slits at the sides too.
The buttons were also from my stash so, as you can tell, I’m feeling pretty happy….
……especially as those tiles have finally been grouted in . This bathroom project has, for various reasons, been a very long one and it’s not finished yet.
I really like this pattern and will be making another one in the fullness of time – from stash fabric of course.
If you like the pattern and don’t read French – never fear – what has been done by others was to buy the PDF version and cut and paste the instructions into Google Translate et voila!
Tialys 
#1 by lovelucie1 on May 18, 2019 - 08:19
Really lovely. I like the red one on their website too. As you say, there’s a lot to make this look a little different from the norm. And strangely it looks very ‘french’!
#2 by tialys on May 18, 2019 - 08:49
I’ve just noticed they have a tutorial on their blog to turn it into a dress and also a free ‘add-on’ download for a cap sleeve and ‘ordinary’ short sleeve – so quite good value really for all those options.
#3 by katechiconi on May 18, 2019 - 08:20
That is really lovely, and suits you perfectly. I love the ‘lapel’ collar, and that colour is good on you, particularly in the shots where it looks more gold than beige. And bravo on the stash-busting. I really must do something about my dressmaking fabrics, having done my thing with the quilting ones. I feel a big apron coming on…
#4 by tialys on May 18, 2019 - 08:53
I would say my dressmaking stash isn’t as bad as my other fabric stash but, because it’s usually bought in larger quantities, it’s worse really. I don’t tend to hang on to the scraps so much though as they’re not always as useful as quilting scraps. Still, I have slowed down quite considerably in new fabric purchases – though there is still room for improvement.
#5 by katechiconi on May 18, 2019 - 10:28
I have to forcibly prevent myself from heading to the shops when the sales are on. The only exception is where I need fabric for backing or binding. I really do need to do some making…
#6 by DawnGillDesigns on May 18, 2019 - 10:41
That’s a beautiful blouse. I’m enviously in awe of your sewing skills!
#7 by tialys on May 18, 2019 - 15:09
And I am in awe of your jewellery making skills. If we were all good at the same thing it would be boring wouldn’t it?
#8 by DawnGillDesigns on May 18, 2019 - 15:32
ha ha. absolutely. Yours is rather more useful though 😉
#9 by KerryCan on May 18, 2019 - 12:11
Every time I go what’s called an estate sale here–when someone has died and the family opens the house for one huge sale and everyone just rifles through the home and its contents–I tell myself I need to use up my weaving stash, get rid of extra clothing, etc., etc. I don’t want strangers monkeying around in my stuff, even if I am dead! You are smart to make pretty, flattering things you can enjoy now . . .
#10 by tialys on May 18, 2019 - 15:15
I feel the same in house clearance shops and am almost brought to tears when there are old framed photos and photo albums.
Once we went to a house where the owner wasn’t actually dead but was terminally ill so he was present and had to witness the monkeying around in his stuff. His wife was going to be moving back to Scotland and they needed to sell the house and all its contents for the best price. I know it was very pragmatic of them but I felt terribly uncomfortable being there. We bought a lawn mower.
#11 by thecontentedcrafter on May 18, 2019 - 12:28
Well, you can’t take it with you they say, so it’s only sensible to make and wear now – And it looks so lovely on you……. It’s a win-win-win ❤
#12 by tialys on May 18, 2019 - 15:20
Thanks Pauline. I have lots of upholstery fabric (plus horsehair, webbing, tacks, etc) left over from when I could be bothered to do such a thing so I really ought to put that on Ebay or somewhere – which would free up a whole cupboard or two.
#13 by thecontentedcrafter on May 18, 2019 - 21:27
Absolutely and then, with the thousands you make, you could go shopping……. 😀
#14 by Sara Lawler on May 18, 2019 - 13:49
Lovely … and just goes to prove every day’s a special occasion so release the stash 😉 xx
#15 by tialys on May 18, 2019 - 15:22
‘Release the Stash’ – I’m going to adopt that as my new mantra.
xx
#16 by claire93 on May 18, 2019 - 15:36
that’s a lovely style and looks great on you, Lynn!
I sometimes Wonder what would happen if I popped my clogs and the husband was faced with clearing out my “sewing room”, which doesn’t just contain my sewing stash but my dolls as well. I reckon he’d probably have a heart attack if he knew how much stuff I’ve managed to squirrel away . . . which means our 3 kids would then have the job of sorting lol. I’m therefore with on the “use up stash” idea, but it’s so hard not to buy in more.
#17 by tialys on May 19, 2019 - 11:05
I know – having had to sort my Mum’s stuff out a couple of years ago was a bit of a wake up call although she had nothing like as much stuff as I do, having moved out of the family home into a flat after my Dad died so a lot of the sorting had already been done.
It is hard not to be tempted although, around here, it’s only online temptation so just as long as I keep off the fabric and yarn websites and don’t get tempted by the emails they send out, I should be alright. I’m definitely getting better.
#18 by Lynda on May 18, 2019 - 15:44
You always surprise me with you sewing talents. This really is lovely and looks perfect on you!
#19 by tialys on May 19, 2019 - 11:02
Thank you Lynda.
#20 by Going Batty in Wales on May 18, 2019 - 15:46
It looks lovely. We’ll done for starting on the stash. I must make a start on mine too
#21 by tialys on May 19, 2019 - 11:01
Then we’ll probably have too many clothes! 🙄
#22 by Moira on May 18, 2019 - 15:50
Great looking blouse an it looks lovely on you! I love that king of collar, and I’m tempted by the pattern, but know that I need to loose way too much weight to be able to make something like that for myelf at the present time.
#23 by tialys on May 19, 2019 - 11:00
Thank you Moira.
#24 by Dartmoor Yarns on May 18, 2019 - 19:46
Beautiful – I love it! With you on the sleeves, anything too frilly is not for me.
#25 by tialys on May 19, 2019 - 10:58
Even when I was young enough to be frilly I wasn’t keen. I bought a dress recently in Mango’s sale which I like apart from the frill round the bottom but it was cheap so I bought it. I’m going to do some sort of makeover on it – if I cut the frill off the bottom though it will be short for a dress so it’ll have to be a top. I don’t like the neck and the sleeves need to be made into short sleeves otherwise I wouldn’t be able to wear it in the Summer.
On second thoughts maybe I’ll just donate it to the charity shop.
#26 by Dartmoor Yarns on May 19, 2019 - 13:00
Ha ha! Don’t like the neck, don’t like the frill and the sleeves are wrong. Which bit do you like?
#27 by tialys on May 19, 2019 - 13:19
The colour, the fabric, the price.
#28 by Dartmoor Yarns on May 19, 2019 - 13:24
🙂 Can’t wait to see the makeover 🙂
#29 by tialys on May 20, 2019 - 10:46
Well, I can pretend I’m on the G.B. Sewing Bee doing the makeover challenge couldn’t I? Another thing to add to the ‘to do’ list.
#30 by Dartmoor Yarns on May 20, 2019 - 23:50
Or you could enter GBSB and we could watch you do lots of makeovers.
#31 by magpiesue on May 18, 2019 - 20:20
I really like that blouse pattern. And well done for using up some of your stash to create it! I probably have stash beyond life expectancy too but I’m not fretting over it (yet). One of the quilters I know wrote out a will, only partly in jest, in which she declares that mourners were to toss fat quarters into the casket rather than buying floral arrangements for the service. 😉
#32 by tialys on May 19, 2019 - 10:55
That’s hilarious!
#33 by kathyreeves on May 19, 2019 - 01:27
That has just the right amount of different to give a basic blouse some nice zing! It looks great on you (the tile looks great too). I love those sleeves.
#34 by tialys on May 19, 2019 - 11:09
Thanks Kathy – I’ll tell Mr. Tialys you are impressed with his tiling skills – that should give him the boost he needs to get the shower, bath and sink plumbed in so that we can, hopefully, put the ‘family bathroom’ back into use again. It’s only taken since February!!
#35 by kathyreeves on May 19, 2019 - 16:41
Anything to help the cause!
#36 by Lindashee on May 19, 2019 - 17:45
That shirt is gorgeouuuus !!! I wish I could do that good a job with my stash – I’ve mostly got fabric bought years ago, taste change and I’ve no idea how to make a good use out of them anymore. (I used to go crazy for florals and dresses, but I’ve gone lazy and I mostly wear jeggings and stretchy tops now)
#37 by tialys on May 20, 2019 - 10:38
Don’t we both know somebody very close to you who could make good use of some floral fabric? 😉
It’s easy to lapse into comfort clothing isn’t it – especially if you live, as I do, in rural France and don’t generally go out anywhere that needs ‘poshing up’ for. I always make an effort when I do go out though, even if it’s just a local restaurant or round to a friend’s house, otherwise I’d live permanently in the dog walking clothes I put on in the morning.
You’re in the U.K. now though aren’t you so there’s more opportunity to get dressed up a bit without people looking at you as if you’ve got lost en route to somewhere else.
#38 by Alison Toni on June 10, 2019 - 04:44
Wow, I love those sleeves! And the collar. Beautiful work.
#39 by tialys on June 10, 2019 - 09:17
Thank you. I was going to make another but, having looked through my wardrobe, I’m not sure I really need another blouse. Maybe next year.