Gingham fabric! CHECK. Appropriate dress pattern, Butterick 7238! CHECK. Some rad listening material Johnny Cash! CHECK. Some light reading and DVD watching while you recover from a savage dose of the flu! CHECK. All sorted for this weeks Sew Weekly challenge.

Growing up I was bathed in country music , Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Linda Ronstadt, Waylon Jennings the list was endless they were on constant rotation in our home, oh the drone (sorry dad) I ended up hating it in the end but Patsy Cline, Connie Francis and the Man in Black stayed. I can listen to them forever.

I have got to say this week didn’t start out too flash and I wondered if I could  really get this challenge completed, when you’re sick you’re sick right? I actually listened to the doctor and slept for two days until I felt better, dosed up on antibiotics and a healthy dog-like bark I embarked on this weeks challenge with a runny nose and popping ear drums. The story gets better, but lets talk about the dress for a second, I am dead chuffed with this dress and I adore that pattern, this is the second time I’ve made it and choosing gingham meant I needed to double everything because the fabric is so thin and tissue like, it just wouldn’t of sat right so she is fully lined right down to the hem approximately 3 metres at $8.99. I made my own piping and belt and finished her off with a self covered button and side zip. I like how the bodice looks being cut on the bias, I tried to do the same with the belt but ran out of fabric I think I’ll re do it. The back yoke looks pretty great too with a frill and white piping to add that ‘giddy-up’ factor to it.

Once I completed the dress it hit me, I don’t have any cowboy boots! the last pair I had were eaten by my doggy some ten years back so they both lay to rest in some random backyard in Sydney. So without the boots it would hardly look western would it ? I lamented the idea of hiring a pair, or going to one of the many funky little retro stores in Fitzroy and buying a vintage pair, yeah! I’d wear them, with my Daisy Dukes in Summer while I washed the car *coughs* Last resort before venturing into Fitzroy; Op shop! I kid you not, there they were just sitting there in my size with a $5 price tag stuck to the heel. I smiled like a child sucking on helium you couldn’t plan that stuff if you tried, oh it doesn’t end there, stay with me stay with me… I then ventured down the back to the sewing nook and I seriously could not believe my eyes…

I had stumbled upon a goldmine, metres and metres of embroidered trimmings.

We all know how much this stuff costs by the metre right? Three big bags full for $3.99 a bag. Pictured is only half of what I picked up.

So after feeling quite crappy most of the week finding the boots and these trimmings certainly cheered me up. I think I might make some knickers.

Just hitching up the holster.

I just can’t get the hang of these dance steps, I’m hanging up my boots.

Did you catch my post on my little sewing den?
Depending on next weeks challenge I may or may not make it, we will be celebrating a birthday and hopefully if weather permits will be riding the roller coaster at Luna Park with a bunch of screaming teenage girls yipee.

Happy sewing.