I feel it’s time to crank out a quick post full of total wishful thinking: projects that, at some point at least, I want to attempt and maybe even complete and hang out in. Perhaps I’ll revisit to re/assign priorities or change the fabrics around or edit the projects themselves, but either way I should keep some sort of track of them all, right? It’ll be like a field trip! grab yer juicebox and c’mon!

There are certain garments that I feel I must have now that we’re all fully and awesomely moved into our deco-fantastic home. The weather is warming up, Beck is getting a super swanky grill for her imminent cumpleaños, and we have the best ever porch right off the living room that I will use to cement my awesome presence in downtown Durham by playing the ukulele in late afternoons whilst wearing tea dresses. Which is to say, I totally need a tea dress. I found an excellent fabric at the scrap exchange when we were in our temporary place (i.e. there was NO ROOM for new fabric purchases but I went an’ did it anyway), and I am *in love* with the idea of making it into this, for example. Something long and slim-fitting (though I’ll probably shorten it a little ’cause those dresses from the 1930s were for real almost ankle-length) with a fitted waist a smidge on the high side and little flared sleeves, maybe with a pleat in the center. I have about a hundred images I’d like to partake of, but I should probably start with what I have on hand. I’m not sure if I’ll wear it with a slip or underline the bodi—whatever. No. Totally making a slip. Just thinking about underlining a summery dress is making me cross my arms and assume the ‘no way jose’ stance you see moms of younger tots do in toy departments. Plus I need a slip to wear with that ancient simplicity dress I am practically done with, so there! Add to my list of summer sewing: One White Slip.

*ETA: the excellent fabric for my tea dress:

It’s going to be so boss; I can’t wait.

Next: a housecoat. I so, so badly need a housecoat for weekend lounging and midnight trips to the fridge. Every single character in Golden Girls has several, and dammit, I need to strut down the hallway with a long floral print billowing behind me.

made out of

Plus it will be excellent for brunch hostessing and running downstairs to grab the times on Sunday morning. (I’ll just have to reinforce the sideseams and buttonholes at the waist in case I eat too many tim tams.)

Now I am almost always blathering on about dresses these days, so that’s not really something y’all haven’t heard before, so I’ll ‘fess up that I need to start my list o’ summer dress madness with something specific. I’m quite fond of the bateau neckline, and I have a decent length of black stretch sateen that I found for a song at–you guessed it–scrap x. Pattern options: Simplicity 7574, a vintage find from 1968:

or maybe this recent Vogue designer dress from last summer,

And you know, the more I think about this latter Vogue, the more I think I may just get it. The bow in the back is growing on me more and more, and I don’t think raising the back should be too hard as long as I convince myself to make a muslin first. Also I have an awesome book that will help me approximate that curly-q updo the model is rocking. There are some fantastic reviews of this Vogue pattern over at PR, so … maybe I’ll move this one up on the list. Although I do totally still want to try out the ‘68 simplicity, perhaps in one of the many VWL brocades I bought last year?

Now rest assured that there are still about 36 things I want to sew up in the next two weeks, so my list is really much longer than this, but I think this is enough for the first installment. Plus I still (OMG STILL) have some pics to take of a couple fabrics I’m thinking about, so … yes. Till next time!