something blue

 A retro dress that still does need to be hemmed. I tried using my narrow hem foot, but it didn't like the curved circle skirt. Foo! So I'll run a gathering stitch all the way around, slightly gather the bottom, and then press up the hem. The pattern calls for a 2" hem, but I think that little girls wore their dresses much shorter in the 50's. So I'll use a 5/8th's inch hem instead.

I've never used a pattern that called for elastic sewn into the seam allowance (formed from joining the bodice and skirt). Smart! The "belt" is just some inexpensive 100% polyester tubing. I burned the edges to keep it from fraying and will probably satin stitch the edges for good measure.

The pattern condition is none too pretty, but all the pieces are there. I rarely come across an old pattern that is unused. The women in the 50's and 60's didn't buy a pattern and stick it into a drawer. Too wasteful! But I find that many of the patterns from the 70's and later are unused. Says something about a change in our culture....