52 Projects, Week 3

I am not sure if I can keep this up! Week 1 was actually making a start on the list [that’s definitely a Work In Progress] and Week 2 was the Remake of the Amish Dress. But Scarlet asked about that white tunic which was stained [I blogged about it in October last year] and wondered if I had managed to rescue it yet. Having put that item on my 52 Projects list, I took that as an encouragement to fix things.

I began by tidying up my stash of lace and trimmings, and particularly sorting out the white cotton oddments. Empty wooden cotton reels which I’d been saving for some unspecified purpose came into their own as I wound lengths of lace round them

I also had a little bag of random motifs and collar pieces – I pressed these and looked at them carefully. I am not sure who gave all these to me!

This little collar is not white, it is ecru – but why did the original owner cut out that daisy? Perhaps she too wanted a little patch to cover a stain . I had some good lengths of broderie anglaise trim, both wide and narrow.

There followed much thought, and consultation with Bob . “Look at these, please – which is better, ‘A’ or ‘B’?”– it was a bit like visiting the Opticians. I came to a decision. I got some broderie trim about 1½” wide. I pressed a pleat all round which started at the top of the stain, and was 1” deep. Here’s a picture of the back of the top.

The stain still showed through, but I sewed three overlapping rows of trim [to the front only] and that looked good.

There were afour small black spots still showing, so I cut individual cotton daisies from a strip of narrow trim, and sewed them down. I now have a top which I can still wear – entirely repaired from bits and pieces I had already. Very pleased with this.