Or do I...
Half a black dress?
 |
 |
Wah-hey, it's BLUE!
*: not really vows as such, more an observation at the end of MMM13 that I should wear colours more :-/
Do you recognise the pattern??
Hey don't worry, this is not pattern trivia; I wouldn't expect any of you to recognise it, but it's Vogue 1193, an OOP DKNY dress pattern.
My previous version (2 years ago! Wow!) was red ponte - so different!
I sewed this up as a size 12 in the upper bodice / shoulders / sleeves, and a 14 from the waist down, as usual - and it feels like a really good fit. There's a little extra room at the waist and at the shoulders, but I'm not too fussed about it.
And in any case - even though I'm kind of ecstatic about the way the dress looks to fit from behind - for me this dress is all about the fabric. I bought this amazing stuff 6 months ago at Tessuti Fabrics on a whim, and I was absolutely busting to make a wiggly, fitted dress with it, but I was scared I'd mess it up and waste the fabric.
You can see in the photos below what my fabric looked like as I dried it in the sun, back in January. A dark floral border print starts along one selvedge and extends to about the centre of the width - and the fabric is really wide:
My "vision" was to have the flowers growing up one side of the dress, trellis style, and for the fabric to wrap around me without obvious breaks in the side seams and without any big flowers in the wrong places. Obviously I didn't go so far as redrafting the pattern to remove side seams (!!) but I did spend a few happy hours moving pattern pieces in different permutations on the fabric and working out how the flowers on the angled (due to side pleats) front skirt could be made to look like they were running up the same line as those in the non-angled bodice.
With the centre back seam very stark, I moved the invisible zip to a side seam. I have to show it to you because I think it's my best invisible zipper ever - YAY!
I had so much fun making this dress. And I know it's going to be so much fun wearing it!
See you soon
- Gabrielle xx
Very clever use of that beautiful fabric. Really nice dress and you look great in it. With that red lippy...wow!
ReplyDeleteThanks Merche, I'm so pleased with how it's turned out!
DeleteWhat a fabulous dress, the fit is great and the way you used that fabric is really cool :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Cecili - it was a joy to make :)
DeleteGreat dress. Clever placement!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rebecca! I did -seriously- spend a few hours on the placement, so would have been pretty cranky if I'd stuffed it up!
DeleteYour use of that gorgeous fabric is brilliant. I love how it looks colour blocked at the back and bursts into flowers at the front. Wow. You look terrific in it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I can't remember being so happy with my own efforts before...
DeleteThis dress is stunning Gabrielle. Great use of the fabric.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteSincerely,
The Accomplice
All I can say about this dress is WOW! The fabric, the fit, and how wonderful you look in it! Just WOW!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteI also can't help shake the thought that this dress would be perfect if you were Two Face's accomplice from Batman! Love that awesome split at the back!
ReplyDeleteBut I am!! Does this mean I need a new disguise?
DeleteSincerely,
The Accomplice
Wow, just wow. That fabric is simply fabulous and you've shown it off in the best possible way I am so jealous! I probably would never have picked up a fabric like that but if I ever see something similar I am inspired to grab it now! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! :) I used never to touch the crazy prints, but they've had a strange attraction recently...
DeleteReally gorgeous. Your print placement is spot on and this pattern is amazing. Beautiful fit.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much :)
DeleteBeautiful dress - what a great way to use a border print.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I kind of had to use the print that way due to the direction of the stretch - but that little fabric challenge seems to have worked :)
DeleteHow clever. You've used the print so well. And you have sewn in the best invisible zipper ever!
ReplyDeleteThanks Maria!! It looks neat, doesn't it! I'm sure that's mostly to do with the fabric, but this time around I also followed the instructions on the zipper packet - turns out I've previously used the zipper foot a little bit the wrong way (oops).
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh this is stunning. Please make me a dress just like it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, flattery will get you everywhere!! Actually Tessuti might still have this fabric in stock... and I think it was only about $10/m too due to the stretch being in an odd direction compared to the print!
DeleteI love it - what a fantastic way to use this fabric. Stunning
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
DeleteVery creative use of this print...I would not have thought to use it this way. Fab dress...have fun wearing it (looks like you already are!)
ReplyDeleteThank you Katherine, it took quite a long period of marination though before I had my ideas worked out :). Yes, I was having fun there, mucking around with the feather duster...
DeleteBeautiful dress! I love how you used the fabric. So smart!
ReplyDeleteThank you Margo!
DeleteWhat a great pattern but the use of the fabric is really fantastic. Great job. You look amazing in it.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm really happy with it, thank you!
DeleteJust too fantastic!!!!! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kirsty :)
DeleteYou're so funny - those photos are a hoot! You found the perfect solution for using a beautiful but tricky fabric - your design shows it off fully. And your fit is spot on too, it looks very flattering.
ReplyDeleteThere were no neighbours around at the time, so I had some fun hamming it up :). Thank you, it was a really enjoyable challenge!
DeleteWow, fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteSuch a gorgeous fabric, and it works so well with the pattern!
ReplyDeleteI love the fabric placement. I would have walked away from a border print like this because I wouldn't have had the vision! I want one! Well done on all the colour btw!
ReplyDeleteThis is what's so great about sewing: you have a unique and beautiful garment!
ReplyDeleteWow this dress is beyond fabulous! It's fun for me just looking at it. You were brilliant at cutting and piecing it. I absolutely love the photos with the duster!
ReplyDeleteFantastic dress and love the way you have used the fabric!
ReplyDeleteWowser! That dress pattern is a serious winner (I'm off to hunt for it now!) and the fabric is fabulous. A fantastic frock!
ReplyDeleteSo cool! The fabric is awesome and I reckon you've made the most of it with this eye-catching number :)
ReplyDeleteClearly you love the dress; and rightly so. It's gorgeous! My favourite part is the back. I just love the contrast between colour blocking and print.
ReplyDeleteLove this pattern and this fabric is out of this world. LOVE IT! So fantastic!
ReplyDelete