The Sew Weekly Sewing Circle

I used to love Milly Molly Mandy. In fact, when I saw an omnibus edition of the books a few years ago, I just had to get it and re-read it! The stories are quite old-fashioned and were first published in the 1920's. For those who don't know Milly-Molly-Mandy, 'She had a Father, and a Mother, and a Grandpa, and a Grandma, and an Uncle, and an Aunty; and they all lived together in a nice white cottage with a thatched roof. This little girl had short hair, and short legs, and short frocks (pink-and-white-striped cotton in summer and red serge in winter).

There is an episode where she needs a new dress and there is a trip to the village store with her mother and a friend, 'Bunchy' and her grandmother. The story goes ... 'There was a light blue silky stuff which Mother and Bunchy's Grandmother said was 'not serviceable'. And a stuff with scarlet poppies and cornflowers all over it which they said was 'not suitable'. And there was a green chintz stuff which they said was too thick. And a yellow muslin which they said was too thin. And there was a stuff with little bunches of daisies and forget-me-nots on it. Ang a big roll of pink-and-white striped cotton. And there was nothing more (except flannelette or bolton-sheeting and that sort of thing, which wouldn't do at all!). Milly Molly Mandy thought the one with daisies and forget-me-nots was much the prettiest. So did Bunchy. Milly-Molly-Mandy thought a dress of that would be a very nice change'... Anyway, it turns out that there's not enough stuff for both dresses and Milly-Molly-Mandy lets Bunchy have the pretty stuff and they become friends.

As well as the stories, I love the pen illustrations done by the author, Joyce Lancaster Brisley. She was also an artist who had work hung at the Royal Academy. I like to draw in pen myself and there's some of my work early on in my blog.

To make my skirt, I thought I'd have to get a striped sheet or something but amazingly, my village store had a roll of pink-and-white striped cotton! Have I been shaped by Milly Molly Mandy? Well, I do live in the country now and always wanted too, having been brought up in an urban area...

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Comment by Trish Blair on May 8, 2011 at 4:21am
I had my Mum's Milly Molly Mandy books - lovely, lovely books you can still get them.  Great skirt!
Comment by Cathe on May 8, 2011 at 7:32am
I think you need to make a strip tutorial for all of us, it sure would be helpful!

Your bookplates (on your blog) are awesome. I hope you continue to post your drawings they are really great and fun to look at!
Comment by Farah Heron on May 8, 2011 at 8:29am
So nice.  great job on matching the stripes.  I have been been meaning to make something like this, but am terrified of getting the stripes right!
Comment by charlotte powell- brooks on May 8, 2011 at 11:48am
that is such a lovely skirt. MMM was also a favourite of mine, I called a doll MMM too.
Comment by margueritedesigns on May 8, 2011 at 12:50pm
OK - I'll try and figure out how to do an explanation on my blog!  Give me a little bit of time though - can't do it this week because of V&A meet...  
Comment by Alyssa on May 8, 2011 at 4:26pm
Wow, I don't know how you got all those stripes to match up so perfectly but I love it!
Comment by Debi on May 9, 2011 at 12:43am
What a fantastic skirt! It's great that you were able to find the perfect fabric.  I will have to check out these books. I love the description of all the fabrics in the book--what a treasure!!
Comment by Rachel Pinheiro on May 9, 2011 at 4:57am
Great work. Love the story. Will look for her books . Xx
Comment by oonaballoona on May 9, 2011 at 6:50am
i love the story, and the HAPPY HAPPY skirt! those stripes are so wonderfully placed, this is one of my favorites!
Comment by Veronica Darling on May 9, 2011 at 6:53am

I LOVED Milly Molly Mandy so much! I'd totally forgotten her! I really loved the map of her town (in my book, with those illustrations) and I'd imagine visiting her. I still remember the town so clearly!

 

Great pattern matching and the length is really great for you! Tea length? How daring!

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