Hmmm... Maybe not really his style? I asked him what he thought, he thought definitely not. Within about 5 seconds of that rejection, the fabric was on the ground and the Gabby pattern pieces were strewn about :). I wish I could tell you the fabric was a cool 100% cotton or linen, but sadly it's just a cheap poly-cotton from Lincraft - I simply fell for the oversized checks.
Speaking of oversized checks, there seem to be lots of wonderful gingham garments around but THIS Celestial dress of Rosie's is the one that fired up my imagination most recently. I absolutely love both Rosie's dress and the bucketload of inspiration pictures she's posted alongside it.
Oh and I should mention that when I posted a picture of this dress to Instagram shortly after finishing it, Carolyn commented that she was just finishing off a very similar dress - so look out for Carolyn's gingham dress on her blog VERY soon (I'm already expecting to prefer hers to mine!)
I'm sure the Gabby is not the perfect summer dress for everyone, but it really works for me, and now I've made it a few times (the Starry one, this one in a stretch, and another recent, unblogged dress in a heavy Nani Iron cotton) it comes together ridiculously fast - so this dress was all done in a day, in between chatting with the kids and feeding them. As I've made and blogged it before and it's such a straightforward dress, I won't review the pattern itself and instead I'll just list the changes I made this time around:
- Lengthened the sleeves about 2cm.
- Added 16cm length all around, then removed 16cm length after the dress was all done bar the hems, then noticed it was a bit short (I'm about 5'8"), so left an overlocked edge instead of a hem.
- Added in-seam pockets, the size based on putting my hand down on the fabric, and position based on trying on the partially sewn dresss and pinning the top and bottom of a space where my hand naturally wanted to slide into a pocket. I didn't have enough fabric to be able to pattern match pockets to the dress, but the pocket pieces match each other and are symmetric too.
- Added bust darts to assist in matching up the checks on the side seams and because that little bit of excess length in the front edges looked like the right amount for a bust dart.
Spot the bust darts! Oh and btw, the front has moved off centre in this picture. |
Pattern matching and in-seam pockets |
That's all, but I'll be back soon with the Nani Iro version and a dress in the fabric of the year (ah, but which year?).
See you soon
- Gabrielle x
What a great dress! So appropriate for summer, and as always beautifully made. Love your check matching.
ReplyDeleteThat dress does look lovely and cool. Shame about the poly. It is lovely though.
ReplyDeleteA perfect no fuss dress for the heat. I'm almost a bit envious of your heat wave - it feels like summer has skipped Melbourne this year :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a striking dress. The checks are gorgeous and so perfectly matched. You definitely have the legs to wear this length. Looking fabulous.
ReplyDeleteAll you need now is a rattan picnic basket, a thermos of tea and a strawberry sponge cake and you'll be set to go. Great dress.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea! Sadly the heat went last night, and now we have a few cool rainy days ahead of us, but I'm sure there's more hot weather ahead... How is Christchurch - are you having a warm summer?
ReplyDeleteGreat summer dress for the heat we have been having and I love gingham checks.
ReplyDeleteFabulous dress Gabrielle! this simple chic style suits you so well too :)
ReplyDeleteand yes, great minds think alike! The gingham is perfectly suited to an uncluttered swingy stye like this. I think we need to go on a picnic together!
Thank you Lara :) The check matching is a compulsion - I find it very hard not to match things up!
ReplyDeleteThank you Beajay, and yes I so wish it wasn't a poly mix! I know it would feel a million times softer it is were pure cotton...
ReplyDeleteThanks Robyn, though the heatwave has now left us (always the way if you make something to suit the weather!). Maybe Melbourne will be like Paris last year and have a divine late summer?
ReplyDeleteThank you Jean Margaret! When it gets super hot I think shorts or shorter skirts are the most comfortable option, though I have to admit I'm not yet used to the breeziness of this skirt...
ReplyDeleteNOW you're talking! Gah, it's raining here now, but now you've suggested it I really feel like a strawberry sponge cake and tea on a sunny picnic!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sharon!
ReplyDeleteOh I love yours - I knew I would! That's so funny though - two breezy above-the-knee red and white gingham dresses with in-seam pockets on opposite seaboards of Australia! I would LOVE to come on a picnic, I'll bring that strawberry sponge cake Bernice suggested!
ReplyDeleteYou're both gingham matching ninjas! This is such a great dress on you, it's like the Gabby was made for you. Perfect summer dress
ReplyDeleteI love your dress. While I love gingham on others, I can't bring myself to sew it having been taught to sew on strips of gingham check by horrible nuns!
ReplyDeleteLove it - painterly prints are a particular favourite of mine, and the colours in this one are gorgeous :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Carolyn, it is divine isn't it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Suzy! How is your Emery dress going? I can imagine it must look gorgeous in this fabric - and if you haven't started sewing it yet, please don't get too worried about how your machine will cope, I'm sure it'll be fine! I went back and checked my scraps (hoarder alert) and yes, it's Anne Taylor fabric - well done in finding that skirt! I wonder if there was a dress in that line too?
ReplyDeleteThank you Mel, it's fabric like this that makes me wonder why I steered clear of prints for so long...
ReplyDeleteOh no! Do you prefer princess seams or regular bust and waist darts on a bodice?
ReplyDeleteNICE!!! Looks so comfortable!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks so perfect for summer! I love this style of dress on you & both you & Carolyn have nailed the pattern matching!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind. It depends on the fabric. I prefer darts for busy prints.
ReplyDeleteYes it has been very warm and I think the last time it rained properly was before Christmas. Everything is do dry!
ReplyDeleteThat's really interesting! I've worn and washed my skirt a lot but it still feels like it has no give. its still quite tight across my hips - particularly when i sit. I like a pencil skirt to be tight across the hips for the silhouette when i'm standing, but i do prefer a bit of give in the fabric for sitting, particularly when i wear it it work!
ReplyDeletelove this fabric and colour on you... such a lovely dress.. great fit as well...
ReplyDelete