Fall Dressmaking I Class!

What better way to celebrate autumn's arrival then by adding a new garment to our wardrobe!

Welcome autumn and refresh your wardrobe by taking a Dressmaking I Class!

Let's make a garment for ourselves!  I offered the first session of this class last April ... sew much fun!  I've chosen a pattern that allows me to teach basic clothing construction skills ... is available for all body sizes and shapes ... and includes many design options!

 I began sewing at the age of nine and by Junior High was making most of my wardrobe.  My mother taught me to sew initially, and I took every Home Ec class available in High School.  Textiles were my first love ... a passion that has remained with me my entire life!

Spring Dressmaking I Class - 2019

When choosing a college ... my first concern was whether or not I could study textiles!  I took every textile class available!  My passion grew ... and clothing construction was always my first love!

I enjoy sharing that passion for clothing construction with others! The remaining photos in this post are of the Spring session participants in their finished dresses!  These women are so inspiring!

Spring Dressmaking I Class - 2019

 I am thrilled by the interest and current popularity of clothing construction!  Sew ... my excitement in offering another class for adults makes this dillydally heart sew very happy!  We are going to have such fun!

Spring Dressmaking I Class - 2019

Here are the details:

When

• We will be meeting four times, September 24 & 26th and October 1st and 3rd.
• Set up will begin at 6 pm with instruction from 6:30 - 9:30 pm.

Where

• High School Home Economics Room

Participants will Learn the Following Skills

• Body measurements & Determining Size
• Fabric preparation & Grainline
• Pattern Layout & Cutting
• Marking
• Staystitching & Darts
• Clipping corners & Curves
• Seams & Finishes
• Grading Seams
• Bias Facings
• Side Seam Pocket Construction
• Gathering Techniques
• Multiple Hem Options

Spring Dressmaking I Class - 2019

Dress Pattern

• We will be making the Hinterland Dress by Sew Liberated.  
• In Dressmaking I, we will be using this pattern to make a pullover, sleeveless version. 
• The pattern is available for purchase at The Net Loft.
• Sizes range from 0 to 24.  It is a style that is comfortable and flattering for all body shapes.
• It is very versatile.  Participants will choose between a tunic, short, or midi length dress.
• If you would like to view this pattern made by people from all over the world, use #hinterlanddress on Instagram.

Equipment Required to Participate

• A sewing machine in good working order
• Sewing Machine Needles, size 12  
• Fabric scissors
• Tape measure
• Straight Pins
• Seam Ripper
• Sharpes (hand sewing needles)

Supplies required to Participate

• After you register, I will be emailing you a supply list that includes the fabric and notions necessary to take the class.
• Fabric, notions, and equipment is available at both The Net Loft and Forget Me Not Fabrics.

Spring Dressmaking I Class - 2019

Registration and Cost

• Space is limited.  Be sure to register online by clicking here.
• Once you register, I will email you a supply list.
• The class fee is $100 (due at the first session) and includes over 12 hours of instruction.

Questions and Concerns

• Feel free to email me at tsdillydally81@gmail.com
• Use Dressmaking I in the subject line.
• I check my email every morning and evening, and will reply as soon as I read your email.

Spring Dressmaking I Class - 2019

Spring Dressmaking I Class - 2019

Spring Dressmaking I Class - 2019

Lots to Celebrate!

Here in DillyDallydom, I am always embracing different ways to celebrate!

This is the first week of a new month ... always a time to refocus on my goals and current intentions!  Every month is like a new beginning ... a fresh start!  Welcome September!

September is also ... National Sewing Month!  I have been celebrating this since the 1980's!  In my classroom, we always began the new school year learning how to create with a sewing machine!  Now that I have retired from teaching ... I still celebrate ... "Her Majesty" and I are busy.  I usually sew a bit every day!

A 10 year anniversary passed quietly in July ... I have been celebrating privately ... but now it is time to celebrate with you all!  Ten years ago ... while developing my dillydally philosophy ... I began this blog!

The Minnesota Quilt Shop Hop was the original purpose behind Dilly-Dally Days ... I had happened upon it in 2007 and wanted to share it with my QBees (Quilt Buddies)!  In 2009, I returned to Minnesota with the purpose of journaling this statewide event ... blogging seemed the best way to accomplish that ... and here we are 10 years later!  Sew fun to revisit those early posts ... seeing the adventures I had ... and eventually it did lead to four QBees joining me in 2011!

As you can see, sewing was the driving force behind the beginning of this blog!  It made complete sense to celebrate this blogging anniversary in September!

Then the question was ... how to share this anniversary here ... with you!  I wanted to make something that was sewing related and would spread the dillydally message! A plan formulated in my mind ... it had to include my beloved Alaska Forget-Me-Nots ... accented with my favorite fabric, gingham!

Her Majesty and I got busy ... privately celebrating as we worked together creating ... definitely in our happy zone!

Appliqué, quilting, and binding done!  All that remained was the hand stitching!

We took that task outdoors!

Long time followers know how much I love dillydallying outdoors.  In order to truly reflect me and my nonsense funsense ... some of its construction had to done "out the road" here in my remote corner of the planet!

Finished!  It is a sewing machine cover!  But actually it could be used for other purposes as well!

It could be a toaster cover!  If the ties were tucked in ... it could be a table mat!  It can cover the back of a dinning room chair!  Oh ... the possibilities!

 

I love how the bow ends up looking like it is part of the Forget-Me-Not bouquet on Her Majesty!  Originally I had intended to give this away through a drawing ... collecting comments and then randomly drawing the recipient!

But then it occurred to me ... why not reward a follower ... one who has shown their loyalty by commenting the most often.  When you are a blogger who lives in the middle of nowhere ... the fact that anyone reads your musings is humbling ... add to that a comment ... and my dillydally heart is filled with affirmation!  Sew ... Marilyn ... from Waukehsa, Wisconsin ... I have sent you an email requesting your snail mail address!  Thank you Marilyn for consistently reaching out and supporting my silly dillydally life!  Your comments and kindness have touched me in ways that are impossible to measure!

Do what you love!  Celebrate!  Do dillydally! 

Mrs. DillyDally

I Believe in Magic!

As a child, I felt magic everywhere around me.  Growing up on a farm meant that the natural world was to a large degree our livelihood ... and it felt magical.

Associating nature to magic is an easy assumption to make ... especially while we transition to autumn.

And ... while we're on the subject of magic ... twenty-one years ago today the magic of Harry Potter entered the DillyDally household!  All four members of this family excitedly read the first book ... we began to see a bit of magic from the Wizarding World in every aspect of our lives!  We are all Harry Potter fans and each of us agree that we have been mistakenly identified as Muggles!  Today the magic continued for me ... all these years later!

I received a message at 11:00 am this morning that an owl had delivered a package near our front door.  What?  Sure enough ... there was an Owl Post!  Addressed to ME!  Now that is magic!

Yep ... it is September 1st ... and 11:00 am!  To think I might have missed the magic!

More magic was found inside the brown paper envelope!  I received an official membership to S.P.E.W., the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare ... a cause led by Hermione that I am happy to be involved in!

And more ... this bewitching hand dyed yarn ... from A Homespun House ... called "Diary of Tom Riddle"!  And if you look closely ... a knitting progress marker ... it is Tom's Diary!  It even includes the fang from the basilisk that Harry used to destroy the diary! So fun ... and magical!

 

But authentic magic ... like what we find in nature ... can be found in our relationships as well!  My dear friend, who created all of this Harry Potter themed fun ... is the real magician!  The thoughtfulness that went into her planning and preparation to make September 1st magical for several of her friends is touching in the most wondrous of ways!  I am so grateful to have her for a friend ... one who creates magic ... and shares it generously with those around her! I believe ... and today I was touched by magic!

Do what you love!  Believe in magic!  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDallly

My Blueberry Friend!

Sharing an interest with a friend is a the absolute best way to dillydally!

I love berry picking ... in particular our Alaska wild blueberries!

And I especially appreciate a friend whose berry picking passion is equal to mine!  That is Barb on the left ... her college friend was up visiting that summer and joined in our fun!

Every year ... rain or shine ... we harvest berries together!

Berry picking isn't all we enjoy doing together!  We share a love of wool appliqué, cooking, baking and quilting ... life in general!

Together, with a few other close friends, we schedule and plan regular Dillydally Playdates!  It is always fun to share projects and life in general with others ... all the ingredients that add up to wonderful friendships!

Barb's birthday recently came around and I was trying to decide what to make for her.  Last week I had a dillydally brain windstorm ... and instantly knew what to do!

I bought this blueberry basket fabric years ago with Barb in mind ... just couldn't decide what to do with it until that windstorm hit!  Using Lori Holt's pattern as a resource I began to bring this sewing machine cover to life!

Machine quilting ... raw edge appliqué ... piecing and quilting the spool blocks ... and before I knew it, I was nearly done!

Barb and I have the same sewing machine ... sew ... I had to try it on for size! 😁

Yep ... the ties work!

The fit was perfect!

A mutual friend hosted a birthday luncheon for Barb today!  When she got home, she sent me a pic of how she has been covering her sewing machine!  Too funny!  Cracks me up!

Now her machine has a proper cover ... one that fits both the machine and her!  Makes this blueberry pickers heart very happy!

Do what you love!  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Barb was there on Nissa's first blueberry picking adventure!  

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today, May Day, would have been my mother's 82nd birthday!  As young children, she would help us make up simple May Baskets for our grandparents and neighbors.

We celebrated her day ... by doing for others.  That was her way ... always doing for others!  In this photo she was 16 years old!

1957

Not long ago, my aunt sent me photos that I had never seen before.  This is my mother at 19 years of age ... recently divorced ... working two jobs ... and pregnant with me!  I cannot imagine the stress, pressure and exhaustion she must have been dealing with!  When I was 19, my biggest worries were taking exams and writing papers for college classes!  She was about to turn 20, and I would be born a few months later in July.

1958

Immediately after my birth, my mother returned to work while my teenage aunts served as babysitters.  This photo documented four generations, my mother and I are with my grandfather (her father) and my great grandmother.

My mother accomplished so much in her lifetime.  But what I admire most was what she did for others.  Since her passing in 2006, I honor her by doing some sort of act of kindness in her memory on her birthday and the anniversary of her death.

If you follow me here, on facebook or instagram, you know that I have been busy teaching a garment making class!  Mom taught me to sew and was our 4-H sewing leader!  I have so many fond memories of sewing with her ... a love we both shared!  It seemed fitting to sew and gift a garment in her honor this year.

This linen/cotton dress/tunic is being gifted to a young woman in our community that loves and appreciates the natural world.

She works hard to educate and coach young adults in the wonder of our environment!

 I appreciate all that she does to enrich our community!  She doesn't sew herself, but has an appreciation for handmade things!  When I thought about who I would share my mothers memory with, she was the first to come to mind!

June 11, 1960

My mother married my adoptive father shortly before my third birthday!  I actually remember their wedding day!  I have always thought that was very special!  Dad chose us!

1965

By 1964, Mom was a mother of four!  We enjoyed a wonderful childhood ... surrounded by love ... and empowered by our parents and extended family!  We were blessed in too many ways to count!

While wrapping todays gift ... I thought about what message my mom would send to this young woman ... I settled on "Enjoy Life".  A simple concept, but one that we often need to be reminded of!

1979

 Thanks Mom!  For everything!  I love and miss you every day!

Do what you love!  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally