Sunday, February 7, 2010

A little behind: 1 dress (Simplicity 2497) and 2 fabrics

I bought this pattern in the fall, thinking I wouldn't have the chance to make and wear it.


After I saw AllisonC's green silk dress, I knew I had to find an occasion for it... and it just so happened that Lee decided to get tickets to go to a New Year's party in DC, so I needed(!) a dress. I sewed this up just in time to leave on December 30th, and haven't had a chance to take photos until now. (It turns out that all those wonky photos meant my camera was dying, and I didn't have a chance to replace it this week.) As always, photos from that night are too facedrunkbooky to post.

The dress came together very quickly, made of gold silk shantung that I bought years and years ago. No major alterations other than shortening it. I wore it with the black tights you see here and a pair of black kitten heels. The party turned out to be a bust, but I got lots of compliments on my dress!

And I decided to keep the muslin, which I made out of multicolored seersucker from the stash. I have a feeling that this dress won't stand up to much washing because the seersucker turned out to be threadbare in some spots, but I guess that's what I can expect from $2/yard fabric from Joann Fabrics. I intended to bring this with me when visiting friends in Puerto Rico, but didn't have time to hem it until after my trip.


Nevertheless, I love how the stripes turned out in the collar and am glad that I cut the front as two pieces on the bias to make chevron stripes in the front. Here is a photo of me, seated, that shows the stripes in the ruffle collar, bodice and skirt.

14 comments:

  1. Both versions are fabulous! I love the skirt of the seersucker version. The chevroned stripes in front are so fun.

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  2. I love both versions, too. Great job matching up the stripes on the front of the seersucker dress.

    Did you make it to WinMil this week??

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  3. I love both of these. I made this for my Christmas dress and plan to make it again this summer for a more casual dress too. The skirt on the seersucker dress is to die for.

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  4. You look so pretty in your gold shantung dress. The striped version is really cool. I like the mitering you did with stripes in the skirt.

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  5. @A Sewn Wardrobe: My intentions were there, but the store closes at 6 pm during the week. I was so disappointed to find that out! I'll have to make time some weekend to get down there. Your reviews are tantalizing...

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  6. Both versions are very cute. I really like the striped one for a cute summer dress. And the gold one is very fancy!

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  7. I love both of your versions, having seen your striped cotton one reminds me that this pattern works for daywear too.

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  8. The gold version is cute but I really love the striped one! I love how you manipulated the stripes to make it something totally you! Really LOVELY!!!

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  9. Oooo... I love both versions, too! When the striped one wears out, you'll have to make another one... :)

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  10. Nice! But I prefer the striped one!:-)

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  11. That is so cute as a casual dress! I wouldn't have thought of it. I have a plan to make it for a wedding in early April; I better get moving!

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  12. Very cute...you pull off those ruffles so well!

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  13. I love both versions. I also agree with Trena, I would have never thought of this pattern for a casual dress.

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  14. I love both versions! Really lovely job!

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