Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Starry, Starry Gabby

Another dress - arghhh! Summer is upon us, and a loose cotton dress feels perfect in the heat...


Especially when the fabric is so pretty :) and so mathematical-looking! Triangles, tesselations, networks, constellations - take your pick!


Yes, the fabric is amazing (embroidered cotton from Tessuti Fabrics, Sydney Sewists meet-up, and originally intended for a skirt), but let's talk about the dress.  Do you recognise the shape? I made this same dress in a stretch fabric not so long ago - it's the Gabby Dress.






This time around I was again limited by my fabric metrage, but I decided I didn't want any piecing - I wanted as straightforward a dress as could be. I re-measured myself at the bust level and re-measured my size S pattern pieces, and found I could remove 1cm on the fold at centre front and centre back - that's 4cm in total! This makes for a good fit at the high bust and shoulders, and it meant I had enough width in the fabric for the full flare of the dress. The fit is probably helped by the fact that the fabric has a bit of that springiness you find in a seersucker.

I sewed the sleeve and dress lengths as drafted in the pattern, as I didn't have the fabric to do any lengthening. They felt just a tad short on my limbs (must be getting old - I'm going off minis) so I sewed bias binding close to the length, and turned and pressed the binding into hems. Actually I used bias binding on the neckline too - as you can see in this next photo. The crazy white overlocking and stitching were intentional - I was so taken with the white embroidery that I wanted even more white stitches, even though I had coordinating thread - I've managed more subtlety in the top stitching though.


When I wore this dress for the photos I wasn't sure about it - I thought it might be too flared and too short (note to self: photos with the camera placed less than 2 metres away on the ground make everything look too short!). I gave it another go this weekend and it felt perfect - really comfortable and a good length, plus I'm happy to have more blue in my wardrobe.


So - an easy dress, but a cute and comfortable one!

I have so, so many interesting dress patterns stored away, but a simple pattern like this that can let the fabric shine is probably one that I'll come back to again and again. I think it'd be really nice in a silk twill... or as a couple of layers; maybe organza on top of silk?

Next up? Well I'm planning pants, conceiving Christmas ornaments, and working on some bags - but it's going slowly. I seem to hate making bags for some reason! However, my sister-in-law desperately needs a made-to-measure bag, so I'm making a garish muslin before I start tweaking the pattern to fit the dimensions needed. Maybe the muslin can be a Christmas present for a little someone - yes, that's something else I'm running behind with!

See you soon

- Gabrielle x

24 comments:

  1. very pretty sashiko fabric, which you made good use of!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, so that's what it is - I should've known such an interesting fabric would have a name :). Thank you!

      Delete
  2. I adore this. The fabric looks like a Japanese sashiko pattern. Very swish and def not too short, esp in the last photo. Camera angles can change many things

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's an amazing fabric isn't it - and I am very happy to learn its name :). Camera angles - grrr! These photos were taken with camera on a tripod on a table - WHAT a difference vs the angle from the ground!

      Delete
  3. Perfect pick of the dress pattern for this fabric ~ great sewing ... J

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Judith, sometimes a simple style is just what's needed!

      Delete
  4. I love this! I wish I'd gotten some of that fabric. And I agree re: a simple style - I always pick patterned fabric that just looks best in a simple style.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a total impulse buy - fabric lust at first sight! The Gabby dress seems like the perfect canvas for a special patterned fabric - I must pop over and look at some of yours again.

      Delete
  5. Wonderful cool summery dress in that amazing fabric!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sharon, it does seem to work really well for summer. I was going to take a break from dresses - a bit of variety perhaps - but I'm feeling quite tempted to whip up another of these now!

      Delete
  6. You look really good in your new dress. So glad you bought this fabric:)
    I'm not a bag making fan either but this bag will be very appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Maria, the fabric was a happy impulse!

      I know, the bag will definitely be appreciated - but I'm finding it so hard to knuckle down and sew it. I can't figure out why I so dislike sewing bags, do you know why you don't like it?

      Delete
  7. What a perfect dress for summer -cool but smart at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You can't go past a shift dress and the fabric is lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apparently not - and once you find a good shift dress pattern there's a risk of getting stuck there too! It is a lovely fabric isn't it, I'm going to have to start looking out for similar stuff now I know what it is.

      Delete
  9. Such a dress was needed today - so hot. Love the textured fabric.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wasn't it unpleasant - a great day for sitting in an air-con office! It's such an interesting fabric - a totally lucky find!

      Delete
  10. Gabrielle, I adore this on you! I remember you buying that fabric at the sewist social and it's great to see it made up so perfectly. I love this shape on you and the length is spot on. I love when I see a pattern made up that I wasn't really a fan of and look so utterly perfect. Now I want one too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah - and did I look as guilty for the splurge on fabric-without-a-plan as I felt? I'm pleased to hear it looks good on; it certainly feels great on). Mind you, if I'd posted the from-the-ground camera shots everyone would be trying not to mention knees and thighs :).

      Delete
  11. Great combo of fabric and pattern. Agree that it is a perfect summer dress. Good luck with all your Christmas chores.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Still trying to find my jaw under the table...That fabric is utterly amazing! And you picked the perfect pattern for it! Lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  13. That fabric is amazing, it's like pre-made sashiko and looks perfect in that silhouette

    ReplyDelete
  14. The pattern you picked really allows the unique fabric to be the main feature of your beautiful dress. I do not think it is too short or to swingy.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...