On to the details. As I said, I didn't cut the yoke lining- instead I cut a facing for the back neck, traced off the back yoke piece. Thanks to my dodgy cutting it ended up slightly too wide, so it now has a pleat stitched up the centre back of the facing. Never mind. No-one will ever know except you guys!
I chose little black buttons with a swirl pattern. I can safely bet this design has been in production for at least a good twenty years- I found an identical one in my button tin that belonged to my nanna! I bought a good number of these in two sizes as they have a nice mid-century feel to them. I won't show you the buttonholes though. This fabric did NOT like doing buttonholes, in spite of being a nice crisp cotton that ought to have behaved itself. You just can't win sometimes.
The only alteration I made was to the width of the shoulders. Rather than simply take them in, I only took width off the back shoulder edge, then gathered the front in to add an extra detail there. While I like the visual effect it has, the extra width at the front means it slips off the shoulders here slightly and pulls, something I've only found out after wearing it all day! I'll probably go back and add some rows of shirring or gathering below the shoulder to help pull it in. Probably not though. I can rarely be bothered going back to fix little problems like that!
The brooch is one of my most recent purchases, a little 1950s bow. I think a few of the stones must be replacements, as there are several clear ones in mixed in with the rows of smokey grey toned ones. It's very pretty and easy to wear though.
The brooch is one of my most recent purchases, a little 1950s bow. I think a few of the stones must be replacements, as there are several clear ones in mixed in with the rows of smokey grey toned ones. It's very pretty and easy to wear though.
All in all I'm pretty happy with this dress. My only misgiving is with the shirred back: I think it's a little unflattering on my erm... generous proportions back there. See the pooling fabric where the excess is released from the shirring? I don't know. I might try adding some tuck-darts on my next version and see how they work instead. Other than that I really love this dress! Now we just need the weather to let me wear them without the slip, tights and cardigans. We've had lovely sunshine this week, but there's still snow on the fells and a bite in the wind.
Oh, and hats off to my not yet three-year-old for taking the photos!
Oh, and hats off to my not yet three-year-old for taking the photos!
Excellent photos, and the bow pin is adorable!
ReplyDeleteNice job. :-)
Thank you!
DeleteOooh, it is lovely. I was waiting to see someone sew this dress and I'm converted. I love your fabric choice.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I had that issue too when I was planning this; there weren't many reviews around the web for this dress. I like to get an idea of how a pattern makes up before I dive in. The only other issue some people noted that I saw was that the collar notch sat quite far back, but it doesn't seem to on mine. Something to bear in mind, but possibly an issue that will depend on the shape of your shoulders.
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