Monday 22 October 2012

FO: Autumn flowers dress

 I started this dress in late August.  I am sure I was channelling Jessica and her floral dresses when planning it.  The fabric is from my mum's vast fabric stash.  It is liberty-esque or possibly even liberty.   I used the dress pattern 3c from "Simple Modern Sewing", but left off the sleeves as I didn't have enough fabric. 

The dress is a simple A line with a boat neck and a casing at the waist.  I put some pale pink ribbon in the casing but am planning on swapping that for something darker, as the pale pink looks too lady's nightie for me.

The pattern is easy to follow only two main pieces and two facings, one casing.  I made life more complicated by trying to be clever and sewing the neck facing on the outside to create a yoke.  It didn't work.  At all.  The yoke wouldn't lie properly so I had to unpick it and sew it back on to the inside.  I made the centre front have a little notch as it is a very high boat neck. 
Instead of the arm facing I made and added bias binding. (Not a fan of arm facing)  I handsewed the binding and hem as it is easier to find pockets of time for handsewing than machine sewing.  Quite a lot of this was sewn in the car outside school or while watching the i-player with a sleeping baby on my lap. 

Today I test drove my new dress.  Despite it being a floral best suited to summer, I enjoyed wearing it more than I expected.  The floral dress with tights and boots is a bit of a 90s throwback and I liked that.  It was comfortable and practical enough for a walk and bus ride morning out. 


This strange picture is me on the bus!  Brown woolly tights and green boots.

The bad points about the dress?  I sewed a size large and it is a little too big on the top, the neck is a bit too high.  I am thinking I could lower the front neckline easily enough by about half an inch.  I am not so sure about the bodice fit.  My bust size is a slowly shrinking measurement as I still nurse RG but not as frequently as when she was younger.  So I am tempted to leave the bodice fit until next year and hopefully only have to alter it once.  (I am also too lazy to do it now, and too keen to move onto the next project)

Strictly casual dressing round here.  Smart, well dressed people need not call round. (just joking)  And yes of course I always co-ordinate my colours with RG's clothes.


So I am happy with my summer floral dress completed just as Autumn edges towards Winter.  I hope to manage to sew something seasonly appropriate one day.

16 comments:

  1. Well I love it, and am a huge fan of floral dresses, tights and boots whilst its warm enough to only need one cardigan on top! Totally pretty fabric and such a simple style that although you say is a bit big on top, is very flattering. RG is super cute and how very clever of her to choose clothes to coordinate with you :-)

    I think it's very dedicated that you managed to take your dress sewing with you and I don't blame you if you leave your alterations until you know you're out of ' transition' ...no point making more than one lot of alterations!

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    1. Thank you. I love it too. I did try putting a thin long sleeved tee under the dress but it looked instantly awful! I did so much walking yesterday that I was warm enough. xx

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  2. This looks really cute! I like the '90's look, too. Very nice! Rocket Girl is really looking adorable these days!

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    1. Thank you - I am happy to have finished the dress. Let's have some more 90s inspiration. :)

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  3. I love how you styled it. My favorite way to wear a floral dress (or any dress) is with tights and boots. :)

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    1. Thank you:) Yay for tights and boots...xx

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  4. Loving the photo session on the bus! I bet nobody batted an eyelid! I quite like the pink ribbon but I bet a green one would look great as well. Very pretty dress anyway.

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    1. Tee hee, we were the only passengers on the bus! It is a weekend only bus that links the Ironbridge museums and seems woefully underused.

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  5. Lovely result and well done - you should be very pleased with yourself, I never managed any dressmaking at all when my girls were small.
    I feel a 90's throwback moment coming on myself!

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    1. Thank you - funnily I never sewed when my other two were babies! Just a bit of teeney knitting. I look forward to a peek at your 90s moment??x

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  6. had to laugh - my three are all teenagers now and I still rarely manage to sew anything seasonal! Still, love your dress. Feminine but not girly with the styling X

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    1. Ah, thank you, seasonal sewing is tricky when life gets in the way! x

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  7. What a lovely look you have pulled together. I love the tough boots with a pretty floral, and that is a very lovely fabric.

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  8. Absolutely adore this! Florals can be ridiculous addictive but I love yours - they look like they'd be equally happy in spring, summer and fall (with clever and stylish layering, as you've done). And, seasonal sewing? Wassat? You managing to edge one in with a toddler, now that's impressive!

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  9. That's a really lovely pattern on that dress, the colours are very seasonally appropriate. Don't blame you for leaving the alterations until next year, I'm dying to sew something bigger than a pair of knickers but am a little stuck as want to make so many things in such little time!

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  10. I love, love. love this dress! It´s really so pretty. I really think the fabric and pattern combination is spot on! Cute autumnal flowers! :-)

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