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!

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

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  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

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    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!

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

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

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  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.

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    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.

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  5. Wonderful cool summery dress in that amazing fabric!

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    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!

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  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.

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    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?

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

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

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    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.

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

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    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!

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  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!

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    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 :).

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

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

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

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  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.

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