Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

Tagged: horse race dress

the apple blossom horse race dress

me and katie at the belmont stakes in our sundresses and hats

I finished my dress in time for the big day! I started it on Tuesday and finished it Thursday… and we didn’t even leave for New York until Friday evening! Plenty of time to spare… especially considering how I usually perform when crafting garments for specific events.

fast horses at the belmont stakes

Despite Friday night’s torrential rains, Saturday was a great day for the Belmont Stakes. It was quite warm, and the sun was in and out of the clouds. I got to wear my dress and my hat! So I was happy. Fewer people wore hats than I’d expected, but I was still very glad I had mine. I’ve never worn a hat like this before… it was awesome! Cute and I didn’t have to worry too much about sun on my face and neck.

The part I liked best about the horse race – and this is going to sound silly – is seeing just how fast the horses go. I’ve seen the races on TV, and while I can tell that the horses are certainly sprinting, it’s hard to tell just how much ground they’re covering with each step. As I watched them on that giant track, I was amazed at how quickly they zipped around.

horse with orange stripes on his socks

I bet $5 total, and lost it all. Two of those dollars went on this guy in Race 10 because of the orange stripes on his socks. The other $3 went on a similar bet: a jockey in the Stakes whose jacket was orange, green, and blue. It’s true: I’m not a pro horse-race-gambler.

me, in my belmont stakes dress and mandatory hat!

And here’s me again, in my new dress! I love how it came out, and I think it was perfect for the occasion. I’ve been loving gray lately, so hopefully I get a lot of wear out of it this summer. It was a fun event and a great weekend!

sewing ‘the right way’

apple blossom dress in progress

I’ve been stitching away on a new sundress in anticipation of this weekend’s Belmont Stakes! I’ve never been to a horse race, but if anything justifies a new sundress, I think “horse race” is pretty high on the list. I can’t wait.

And, for once, the inside of this dress looks just about as good as the outside. I’ve been working harder to sew things “the right way”, inspired in no small part by The Great British Sewing Bee. I know I’m a bit late to the party, but if you are too: you must watch this show. It’s all on youtube, starting with episode 1 here. The season is only 4 episodes long, but I’m still completely blown away that there’s an entire show dedicated to stitching darts, easing sleeves, and bias binding.

The dress is done, but as I was searching for the fabric I managed to accumulate a giant pile of “next projects”. I feel like I could sew forever and never get bored. It’s a good feeling.