In my previous post I mentioned flippantly that I had used this pattern nine times, well I was wrong! I have made ten dresses using this fantastically versatile pattern, or at least using key elements of it… and I like to think that the different fabric choices and other little twists have given each one their own distinct personality, so each one stands out as being different from the others in some way.
Below is version 1, never appeared here on the blog before.. because this is the best picture I have of it, and I no longer have the dress, unfortunately! It was made straight -up to the pattern with no changes. The fabric was quite interesting; white cotton with red taffeta ribbon sewn through in a criss-cross fashion just like a corset lacing, and also blue fabric cut into strips and sewn through the fabric in a running stitch (difficult to describe)

Version 2, I still have, but have been using it as my painting dress for a few years. Hmmm, taking real good care of my dresses, huh?? but anyway I was a bit over it and needed a painting dress sooo (blush) at least it is getting worn still, right? The dress part is quilting cotton, printed with golden wattle (Australia’s national floral emblem), the bodice is denim, lined with green and white gingham, which is the fabric I used for the pocket flaps also. The little pockets have a pleat in them, and buttons from my grandmother’s stash, which will be retrieved before the dress is given the final heave-ho, don’t worry. I ran a naive style, pale yellow running stitch around all the denim edges…



Version 3, I no longer have this one either, nor even any pictures of it! but I have reproduced it here, hehe… (and just because I love mucking about, drawing fantasy dresses in my Fashionary) This was of grey/silver metallic cotton, that had a dull metallic sheen to the surface… I made up the gathered bodice version of the pattern and used ivory piping cord for the bodice gathering cord come shoulder straps. It was actually pretty cool, but the sheen on the surface of the fabric didn’t last very long…
Version 4; a cocktail dress, using pale pink silk taffeta, and with a heavily sequinned and embroidered overlayer. Shifted the invisible zip closure to the right side seam and added net sleeves, attached to the shoulder straps.
Version 5; back to the princess seamed bodice, made of ivory broderie anglaise cheesecloth. Have worn this one a bunch of times on this blog, and did a 6 different ways post on this dress too. Just the colour and the very plainness of it has made it an incredibly useful little wardrobe builder, and it has been a staple in my wardrobe for the last four years or so… now sadly probably on its last legs if I’m being honest with myself… 🙁
Version 6; using an old navy-blue polo shirt of Craig’s for the dress part and some navy and white striped cotton for the bodice, this is still a hot weather favourite. I used the sleeves of the Tshirt to make inseam side pockets in the dress also, and widened the body of the dress accordingly to accommodate them. (dressmaking details here)
Version 7; adapted the princess seamed bodice to have wider shoulder straps. This dress has an embroidered pale gold silk taffeta skirt and a pale green silk taffeta bodice. I was never super happy with that bodice and eventually ended up removing it. This is now a very successful high-waisted skirt.
Version 8; a beige/pale gold satin petticoat, made to wear under a silk-taffeta cocktail dress/coat. It also went perfectly under this silk chiffon dress, that has been since passed onto Cassie, but I kept the petticoat! Don’t worry, she has her own petticoat…
Version 9; a pale pink satin petticoat, made to wear underneath my pink lace dress. This ensemble has also been seen a tonne here on the blog…
and finally
Version 10; the Missoni knit and linen dress I posted about just previously. With the gathered bodice, and with the body darts drafted out of the skirt piece, so as to keep the pattern of the fabric intact.
So! Obviously this pattern has been enormously successful for me in my wardrobe and I highly recommend it! It is simple, versatile and a creative and imaginative seamster can create looks all the way from extremely casual, to lingerie, to extremely glamorous, just by juggling about with different fabrics, different trims and employing a healthy dose of imagination 🙂
