carrauntoohil said...
I just discovered your blog via Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic), and I signed up for your RSS feed right away! Your projects are gorgeous, plus all of the information you provide is invaluable. I feel like I'm in a master sewing class. :-) I have a quick question about the purple knit dress -- I usually think of knits as "throw in the washer" clothes, but with the lining and applique, is your dress "dry clean only"?
Oh goodness, Carrauntoohil, thank you so much for toodle-ing over here from Carolyn's awesome 'blog. Every time I read a new 'blog post from her, I feel happy. It's the way that she celebrates sewing, each and every day. Gotta love a woman like that.
And thank you for the uplifting compliments on my sewing projects and 'blog posts. If I knew how to put a put a smilie in for blushing I would.
Let me just say that anything that I make for my 26y0 DD must survive days, weeks even, on her bedroom floor and then get stuffed into the washer, hoping that 50 lbs of clothing is not too much for the home washing machine (and dryer) to handle.
That's why I love that Sophia knit fabric, because, honest to goodness, you could bury it in the ground for 3 days, dig it up, put it on, and look absolutely smashing when you go to work that morning. It's daughter-proof. And that's saying something, don'tcha know! (smile)
BTW my DD does not read this 'blog. If it's not on Facebook, in a text message, or on Glee's home page, it does not warrant her attention from her studies. (Uh, hi Honey! Call your Mama!)
Anyway, to answer your question, this dress can be washed on the gentle cycle, with that new color-gentle Tide that Tim Gunn advertises, dried on the low setting and come out looking like a winner. I tried it with a sample, and would not hesitate to tell DD to use her laundry day torture routine with it. That's why I wanted to use a short straight stitch to affix the appliqued pieces. To me, that's the strongest stitch for this type of doubleknit. I know that a small zig zag allows for a bit of stretch, but I was very careful to place the appliqued pieces on the same grain as the purple dress, so they should both stretch the same amount. Plus I inserted a center back zipper so that she would not have to stretch the dress in getting it on/off.
FWIW, if my DD actually took that dress to the dry cleaners (and paid for it) I would probably plop over dead.
The silk charmeuse that I used for the lining had been prewashed, so I knew it could stand up to the washer, even the Godzilla brand in my DD's condo. It may become more sueded with multiple washings, but sueded silk feels good as a lining too.
I read on a Stitcher's Guild topic once (shameless plug here), that what bleeds the color from a dark fabric is not the washing, but the drying. That's why I tell DD not to put her Sophia knit dresses on anything hotter than low-as-possible in her Dante's-Inferno-brand clothes dryer. Those knits come in such beautiful colors that it would be sad if they faded.
Kathryn
8 comments:
Hi Kathryn, you make me feel a bit better about my 19yo now. Her bedroom (still at home) is a disgrace. It is her room, so I let it go, but I sure don't want to sew for her :))
You are too kind with your praise! It is amazing to me that I've "known" you for about 5 years but still haven't met you in real life! And I think all daughters over a certain age treat their things like that...my 20 yr's room looks like that too...and like Vicki I refuse to sew for her!
Well, I really love reading blogs. Thanks for sharing about your daughter. Same issue here, exactly the same, clothes on the floor, she stuff the washing machine, etc, etc. I have been sewing for my DD since birth. Finally, last summer was the last stray, no more until she learns to care for her thngs. Anyway the dress is beautiful!
I've been experimenting with applique lately and have picked up some great tips from your posts. I think the dress is spectacular, your daughter is one lucky girl.
hilarious! Thanks for the additional information and the laugh :)
The dress is gorgeous and your comments about your daughter are hysterical!
Kathryn, I just had to crack up at your description of your DD's washday torture. It seems that your DD and mine are identical twins separated at birth, except that mine is 22. I just skipped over to your blog from Stitcher's Guild and now I'm hooked :-)
I love the commentary on this fabric, will have to get me some. I must say, even at age 51, I'm not that good at laundry. I learned in exactly the same way your DD is learning. Maximize laundry day (and in the days of laundromat, maximize quarters) by washing every last thing at once. To the point of washing wearing only undies so only they are dirty! I think I love this fabric and I haven't even seen it yet! I do love the dress. K
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