Sundress enhances summer living

In the summer months, sundresses are a staple of my wardrobe from June to August – but not just any sundress. These lovelies are the product of my sewing machine.

The pattern I use, Simplicity 9613, is one I’ve had since 1990. It has a voluminous swirly skirt, ample in-seam pockets and a front placket with five buttons. The waist seam is slightly dropped and the dress skims the figure in a flattering way.

For the first sundress I made using that pattern, I chose a cotton print of purple and yellow roses on a bright red background. I sewed large white buttons of 1940s vintage down the front of the dress. Every time I wore it, it made me feel happy. It was cool, gave ease of movement and people asked where to get one just like it – they still do. For years, I wore that dress to the beach, to outdoor band concerts, on hikes, while gardening, wading in Wyman Lake and to impromptu backyard parties in the neighborhood. The dress didn’t wear out, it didn’t fade much and I never tired of it. I even loved ironing it.

This spring, after more than 10 seasons of wear, the purple and yellow rose print dress seemed a bit tired, although still very wearable. Clearly, it was time to make more sundresses. This time, I chose cotton batik prints – one in shades of blue featuring a fern motif reminiscent of underwater landscapes; and another in shades of sherbet orange and lemon yellow, like summer sunsets. I paid $2.49 a yard for the three yards of fabric needed for one dress. I didn’t need to buy thread for the dresses because I already had some tucked away in a drawer.

Because I am an old hand at sewing, making a sundress is easy for me, but without that experience, it might be daunting for anyone else. But try it anyway; you’ll learn as you work.

The part I always dread when I make a sundress is putting in the two parallel lines of machine basting for the skirt, which consists of four 26-inch wide panels seamed together, for a total of 104 inches. It seems to take forever to do one line of basting, let alone two.

The next step is fussy. The basting threads have to be pulled to create gathers in the fabric to make the top edge of the skirt fit the circumference of the bodice. The side seams must line up precisely, the pockets need to lay correctly in place. Much pinning is required. This is when patience is called for and careful attention paid to the gathers to make certain they lay straight without excess bunching in any one spot.

After the skirt is sewn to the bodice, I eagerly anticipate the moment when I make the buttonholes. It’s usually the last step done on the sewing machine. I sew on the buttons by hand.

The buttons I chose for the new sundresses are concave pearl white shell buttons I bought at a local department store. They cost 88 cents for two, or $2.64 for six – a great price considering the fact that some buttons cost more than $2 each.

The cost to make the sundresses was a little over $10 each, not counting my time – and worth every penny.

Although the sundress pattern I used is no longer available, these patterns are similar and may be purchased at your favorite fabric shop: Butterick b4187 and Butterick See and Sew B4495.

Snippets

. Michele Carter of Bass Harbor is one of 10 finalists in the Raggedy Ann’s 90th Birthday Essay Contest. The winner will be announced in September.

. The Pleasant River Strippers will display quilts in the community church sanctuary during Old Home weekend festivities Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 6-7, in Brownville. Call 965-9221 for more information.

. Another stop on the quilt display trail is A Garden of Quilts, a show set for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at the historic St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Hersey Road, in Pembroke. On view will be full-size quilts, garments, wallhangings, quilts made by children and antique quilts.

Local quilters will be on hand to answer questions and share how-to advice. Paper piecing demonstrations will be offered. A quilt made by the ladies and friends of the church will be raffled. A Quilters’ Corner will offer for sale recycled quilting books, magazines, fabric and quilting supplies.

Admission is $3 and includes refreshments and a chance to win door prizes. Proceeds from the show benefit the church building fund. Call Bonnie Hunter at 726-5117, or e-mail pennamaquan@earthlink.net to obtain more information.

Ardeana Hamlin may be reached at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.