The Ishi Dress

Hi everyone! This week will be very busy blogging wise I hope you won't get bothered of seeing my makings. :) I am starting off this week with a dress that has become my favorite - it's the Ishi dress, a pattern by Straight Grain. 

Straight Grain is a blog and indie pdf patterns brand run by An, a Belgian mom of two girls. An makes the most beautiful things in her own style and color combo, go check her blog and you will see what I mean.

Oh, and yes, this girl just had a major hair cut. About 15+ inches of a long ginger curly hair is being donated to a Cancer Treatment Center. It wasn't my intention to cut it this much - I was thinking a chin-shoulder length - but the hairdresser grabbed the scissors and cut it in the back like that before I could say a thing... I was speechless!... Glad I could save it somehow, because I suggested her that she would at least leave it a bit longer at the front, and I really like it that way.

Pattern: the Ishi dress, pattern by Straight Grain.

Fabric & Notions:
Striped chambray blend, dark navy blue linen, yellow piping and zipper.

Details:
This dress comes in sizes 1 to 10, with the following options: long and short sleeves, straight or slanted pockets, and an invisible zipper or button placket closure at the back. 

I was immediately in love when I first saw this dress. Its clean lines, A-line, princess seams, and big pockets make an all together great style. Sewing it up was really easy and rather quick!
And of course I had to add piping to those straight seams, right? They were screaming for it, it's not actually my fault. :) 

Lately I have been thinking if there is a style, a trait, a color, a je ne sais quoi (like the French say) that characterizes my makings and I think I don't... People like Mie, Trine, Tasha, Ana Sofia, Celina, April, Rachel, have a style of their own, something that makes you know they made that when you see it anywhere around the web even before you read their name. 

One year ago I would say that using floral fabrics was a signature style of my own but now I don't think it is anymore. And I don't think there is a color or color combo I use a lot or a pattern style that I always tend to use... Do you? When you look at the things I make is there anything you see and think "oh, this is totally Sara!"?

Thinking about this I came to the conclusion that maybe it's because sewing is mostly experimental for me.

I have a few colors I love (all shades of blue, white, black, red and pink - yes, pink) but I force myself to experiment using others that I don't so much (yellow, orange, green) because I don't want to limit myself or influence (so much) my kids preferences, and the truth is, yellow is growing on me. :) 

And I use patterns that look so different because I do love to try new techniques and styles. I can sew up a modern looking dress and then a vintage one, with ruffles and gathers. And the thing is, this doesn't bother me. I love to try new patterns and designers, different styles, discover new ways to make things, try new (to me) methods even if they don't end up like they should (like my first attempt on Lattice smocking... :) )... 


I have to say I don't think it's a bad thing not having a signature style. Not all of us are (sewing) artists, right? :) Most of us are just moms sewing practical everyday clothes for their kids. But... why not make them with style? :) 

Can you relate with this? Is there something of your own that you think makes your sewing kind of unique? A color combo, a style, the kind of fabrics you use? 

There is a super fun contest with about $700 in prizes running over StraightGrain! You just have to sew up an Ishi dress and link it up here for a chance to win.

Here's the line up for this pattern tour! 

VanAtotZetje | P'tits Monstres | Aamore | Flieg Federfrei | Neven Jansen | Lieveke en Zus | Feathers Flights | Brigitte Whatsup | Lily & Woody | Kaatjenaaisels | Our Chez Nous | Creative Needle and Threads | Sisko By Mieke | Conversas de Hermanas | My Minnie Mie | Bobby & Minouch | Bonnie and Lottie | Bellelien | Kid Approved | Les Jardins d'Elysse | S Is for Sewing | Groovy Baby and Mama | Made By Sara | C'est La Vie | Boomie Blogt | While She is Sleeping | Kelly Jade | Miestaflet | Glitter & Wit | La Folie Sewing Booth | A Jennuine Life | De Zusjes | Le Labo* d'Isa| Welcome to the Mouse House | Stannel | My Cozy Co | Morningstar Designs

Happy sewing!