I’ve made a little sundress for myself 🙂 in very fine, light handkerchief-grade linen from Fabulous Fabrics, deep browny/olive green. I asked my husband how to describe the colour and he replied immediately “Sherman tank”, haha. Hmmm!
I’ve been told a zillion million times that I should wear drab colours, but I struggled with them for years. My teenage self desperately loved pretty feminine colours, hey it was the 80’s; and I thought muddy sombre colours like this were horrible and ugly, like the exact opposite of pretty. *sigh* Anyway. I’ve learnt to embrace couleur de Sherman tank.
I added a little bit of pretty in the form of some cream lace-y motifs appliquéd around the lower hem edge. I cut the motifs from a quite thickish, lace-y fabric and hand-stitched them on to look kinda random and rambling and lending some semblance of froth and frivolity… I think the lace was maybe from Spotlight originally, but honestly I’ve actually forgotten where it came from exactly.
The pattern is the Mississippi Avenue top/dress by Sew House Seven, a pretty, easy-to-wear little number with a modest V-neckline and skinny ties gathering the shoulders up. It’s a satisfyingly quick and simple project that goes together easily, and I think it’s all of sweet, cool, casual and flattering. The very thorough and helpful instructions are aimed at the beginner.
And it is included in the bundle of patterns to be sold as a set for Sew Indie Month.
What is Sew Indie Month? do I hear you ask? well it is in September this year and has a charitable component, yes, we all joke about sewing selfishly and this is seamsters trying to give a little bit back! The lowdown…
- The idea behind Sew Indie Month is to create a global community sewing event, sort of like a big, online sewing workshop, if you like, while simultaneously supporting small women-owned businesses and raising money for charity. During the month of September, pattern designers are collaborating on the Sew Independent site to put together blog posts and informative tutorials; and a terrific bonus is a sewalong contest with prizes! Sew Indie Month is co-ordinated this year by Mari from Seamster Sewing Patterns
- The pattern bundle is available to buy here, and the sale will run from Monday 3rd August to Wednesday 12th August.
- 20% of bundle proceeds will be donated to the International Folk Art Alliance, which provides education and exhibition opportunities to folk artists from around the world. Just a few examples of what the International Folk Art Alliance has been able to accomplish by helping artists create stable, year-round livelihoods includes helping shelter women from domestic violence in Ecuador, building a school for children in Pakistan, empowering women in repressive cultures around the world, and feeding villages in Niger.
- You can check out all the details and information on participating patterns and the pricing options, here; on the Sew Independent site
My fellow participating seamsters who will be making their own lovely and unique creations using one or more of the patterns are:
- Almond Rock
- CarmencitaB
- Casa Crafty
- Girls in the Garden
- Grey’s Fabric & Notions
- House of Pinheiro
- How Good is That?
- Idle Fancy
- Lucky Lucille
- Miss Crayola Creepy
- Pretty Girls Sew
- Scruffy Badger Time
- Sew Busy Lizzy
- Sew Sweetness
- Ten Thousand Hours of Sewing
- Thread Theory
- Workroom Social
I also added slanted front pockets to my dress… because, well, pockets. Where there’s a will there’s a way, mwahaha. I did these same sort of pockets for my blocky sundress, and it’s an easy feature to add when the front is already in 3-panels like this. For this reason, my method could also work in a princess seamed dress. I took a few piccies this time to illustrate how I put them in…
Mark on the pattern piece a slanted line where you want the top of your pocket to sit, and another horizontal line to mark the bottom of the pocket edge. Instead of cutting the side front as one piece, cut three pieces:
1. piece at left, upper S (side) front, from the top edge of the pattern piece to the bottom edge of the marked pocket allowance, plus seam allowance,
2. middle piece, pocket; from the top edge of the slanted pocket line to the lower edge of the pocket allowance, plus seam allowances top and bottom.
3. piece at right; lower S front; from the slanted pocket line plus seam allowance, to the lower edge of the pattern piece. It’s a good idea to add an extra, say, 4-5cm in length to the lower edge to allow for possible boo-boos in seaming, just in case.
Transfer all notches and new marks to all pieces.
Stay stitch the slanted edges, and then stitch the pocket piece to the lower S front piece, right sides together, along that top, slanted edge. Press seam open, turn out, under stitch inside the pocket.
Lay lower S front/pocket piece over upper S front piece, aligning notches, pin along side edges.
Lift aside the lower S front piece and check how well the lower edge of the pocket aligns to the lower edge of the upper S front piece. If they differ, trim them to match each other.
Stitch lower edges of pocket and upper S front piece together in a French seam.
Pin the three layers of upper S front, pocket, lower S front together at side edges, baste.
Lay the original side front pattern piece over and trim any excess length off the lower edge. From now on just keep on putting the dress together just as normal.
Voila! slanted front pockets!
Details:
Dress; the Mississippi Avenue dress by Sew House Seven; in deep olive linen with cream lace appliqué
Hat; Vogue 8844, cream cotton corduroy, details and my review of this pattern here
Shoes; Bronx, from Zomp shoes
Looks amazing! I especially love the lace detail around the hem – I'm inspired to have a go at one myself now! I'm sort of the opposite to you it seems – all through my teens I was drawn to black, grey and drab greens, even though everyone was always telling me to wear blue, or at least a bright green. While I still can't go past a chic black ensemble or a little black dress, everything I sew seems to be in bright colours! 🙂
This is beautiful! I love the lace detail, and I especially love the big pockets–super smart addition!
Well, you do inspire! This is gorgeous.
Absolutely gorgeous!!! The lace is perfect compliment to this color. Outstanding make Carolyn!
Your husband and my husband came from the same planet. Sherman tank? Bwahaha. Yes, muddy colours, I've battled them for years but have signed a detente at long last. They're not bad, especially when you sproing them up with lace. I love this pattern and your finished piece, especially how you've styled it with the hat and shoes. Beautiful.
Gorgeous dress, as usual! 🙂 I also embracing neutrals and feel so much better avoiding loud colours and patterns that always felt as though they were wearing me or as if I was playing dress up.
On a completely different note: I am making a dress out a very fine linen, probably even lighter than this one you showed, and tested both flat felled and French seams (obviously following your wonderful tutorials). But I found that they added a little too much stiffness to the the seams and feared they would take away from the drape and lightness of the dress. I opted for regular seams. I wonder if you ever had that problem (or if this is actually ever a problem!). Thanks!
That is such an amazing dress.
Lovely! And not drab at all.
The lace lifts this pattern into a whole new level. I love it! Your pocket idea was also inspired. The whole outfit is gorgeous.
Very nice dress!
thats such a great dress!! the pockets make it though… 🙂
The lace looks gorgeous, what a great idea. And the color is really great on you, can't argue with that! Thanks for the sew independent pattern bundle reminder and the tutorial, the pockets look great! 🙂
Wow, this is so beautiful! I'm always in awe of the gorgeous creations you come up with. The lace is the perfect addition to the "Sherman Tank" coloured fabric – which I happen to think is lovely. I wouldn't have looked twice at that pattern had I not seen your version, but I'm seriously considering it now.
Great idea with the slanted pockets!
Sherman tank indeed. It looks lo, and the lace additions are beautiful.
Outstanding! You always get to turn a simple thing, like this pattern into a highly interesting make. Love the pockets and, of course, the lace!
Just stunning!
Your dress is beautiful. The colour is flattering you indeed. (I love prints so much, but for me, too, there are colours flattering I would not choose firstly.) The idea with the lace border is showing your creativity. Thank you for the helpful little tutorial for the pockets. I love the neat work you are doing!
Very pretty indeed.
What a dreamy combination!! Lovely.
Your dress turned out beautifully Carolyn. The lace addition was inspired!
What an amazing dress you've made! The pattern you used is lovely but the lace embroidery gives it so much of an upgrade 🙂
Also thanks for the great tutorial.
After seeing your dress I now what to make the Mississippi dress. Perfect Summer sizzler.
Lovely, lovely dress! The lace really sets it apart and takes your dress from ordinary to extraordinary… but oh my, the pockets! The pockets are not only functional, but add to the overall design, methinks. And as for the color, my husband would say 'jeep color' as he's restoring a WWII 1945 jeep…. yep… he recently called the AC ochre fabric that very name. 🙂
Your dress is so beautiful! I've been admiring this pattern for months now. I really need to sew this!
This is so pretty! I just adore the white lace bits along the hemline. I will file that away for later. 😉
Carolyn, one of my friends has your coloring and wears colors as in this dress (taupes, khaki, creams, olive, greyed coral, etc.) She glows in those colors. She said a friend once told her that she can wear all the "ugly" colors and look wonderful! These colors happen to be favorites of lots of women, but most all of them do not "glow' in them as you and my friend do!
Your dress is beautiful. I think the lace motifs perk up the color. Love your dress!
Love the lace. Looks beautiful!
Beautiful and the use of the lace really changes the look of the dress.
That dress is so lovely!
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the lace elevates it so much! You're creativity always inspires me!
The lace detail makes it not at all drab! With a cardigan it will make a great transitional season dress.
The lace is such a great effect. But what I love the most is that your dress can be dressed up or down. Add pearls and heels for a night out, and equally at home with your dog at the beach. Cést parfait!
This dress looks gorgeous! I love the combination of olive coloured fabric and creamy lace and the way it 'sprouts' around the hem.