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I have been forever grateful that I taught myself to sew.  In our changing economic times sewing has freed me from the bondage of believing I needed a vast amount of income in order to dress well.  The art of sewing has lent to the art of living well on little income.  I used a vintage pattern I found at a thrift store of a 1950’s square dance dress.  It was 50 cents.  Some time later I was at a sales close out of a square dance store and saw the red ruffled panties and peach/orange skirt for $2.50 each!  The colors were odd and I never dreamed I would find fabric to complement them, but the price was right and I had hope  that I would be able to create something wonderful with them.  Not long after my 3 purchases I found the fabric and it was $1.00 a yard!  I felt rich!  It was a gaudy peachy/orange, red, greens and some black but it looked GREAT with the slip and the panties!  I used yards and yards of my husbands fishing line to create the yards and yards of ruffles for the sleeves.  I recycled a zipper and added the skirt ruffles using fishing line to give them body and life!  In the end I ended up with a dance dress I could never afford to buy when I was employed.  But most of all I ended up with the positive experience of how important it is to learn to sew and to be creatively self-sufficient.  It is a feeling more secure and valuable than the unpredictable value of money!

GodSewedFirst, member
Posted on Nov 2nd, 2011 in sewing, design, garment construction, fabric, reader's closet, dance dress, econimics, budget, carmin marinda, Jayne miller, fishing line

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Comments (3)

GodSewedFirst writes: Thank you NubianGoddess! I felt it dancing inside of me before I made it! The dress loves to dance and it is electric to wear!! I would like to see some of your designs!
Posted: 12:54 am on November 14th

NubianGoddess writes: I love your dress!!! Very Beautiful!!!
Posted: 9:45 am on November 8th

GodSewedFirst writes: I forgot to mention! The square dance dress pattern has different sleeves. Little puff ones that just did not express what I was feeling about all the peach, red and orange water melons and cantaloupe designs on the fabric and the exotic way the colors actually matched the slip and panties! I designed and added the Carmon Marinade sleeves and three rows of ruffles on the skirt. It is a thrill to dance in and my joy about the dress and experience designing it is contagious! I want everyone to sew!!!

I teach classes on sewing using antique treadle sewing machines! I use a vintage Brother from the 1950's when I am not on the treadle. I learned to French seam and other fine finishing techniques from many of my Threads magazines. I don't have a serger or many options on my machine so learning good hand techniques or tailoring techniques is a must! I have collected several antique sewing books that also give me good advise. All my dresses including this one are French seamed. Go to my farm Web site at www.GrapeLanePoultryFarm.org and click on the work shops - scroll down past the horse plow workshop I teach and you will find my treadle sewing workshops!! I have two beautiful all original perfect treadles in their original ornate cabinets!
Posted: 9:18 pm on November 4th

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