Originally I bought this lovely magnolia print fabric to make something else… but ended up making this random frock instead. Spring was coming…and I really wanted something romantic and floral. I sorta couldn’t picture anything properly, there were false starts… then Mum, Cassie and I had planned another trip to Melbourne this year, to go to the Dior exhibition at the NGV and I became enamoured of something old-fashioned, feminine, of an easy-wearing, pfouffy skirt. So this is me, realising that. I feel a bit like an old-fashioned housemaid, like Cinders before the pumpkin, or an Arthur Rackham-illustrated Alice.
This is all good 🙂
I thought I would get a nice picture of my dress at the Dior exhibition… but do you think I did?! nope! I wore it, but well, Mum, Cassie and I were so busy looking at all the delightful Dior, listening to our audio and ooh-ing and aah-ing so I didn’t even think about it!! however I did notice a few days later that my dress was serendipitously a lovely colour/design complement to the floor in the NGV.
You just have to picture it on there!
Fabric; a stretch cotton sateen from Spotlight. I went to considerable trouble to make sure the magnolias are scattered randomly and unevenly across the dress with no discernible pattern repeats … even laying the pattern pieces down upside down sometimes so as to avoid too much same-ness.
Pattern; Vogue 1317, a Chado Ralph Rucci design. I have made this pattern exactly once before, here. I loved that dress and wore it a lot; but the tight underarm issue due to the unusual seaming with gusset and the cut-on, close-fitting sleeve arrangement, that I discussed in that post, turned out to be quite annoying after all. You might love the style of a thing, but if it’s uncomfortable then there comes a time where you’re like; why am I wearing this?? … and at one point I had one of those kon-mari urges to do a whirlwind clean out. I read a good tip somewhere… can’t remember where… that a good way to do a quick clean out of a closet or wardrobe that was stressing you out due to vague feelings of having Too Much Stuff was to walk up to it and just immediately and spontaneously pick out ten things to throw away,right then and there. You’re not supposed to spend more than, say five or ten seconds thinking about each thing… but just a gut reaction; do I love this? or not really? Because honestly, you know in your heart the answer to that question already and not allowing yourself time to talk yourself out of it does make the process of jettisoning rubbish a lot easier. Trust me, it does.
So, out it went. In my opinion the importance of using a stretchy fabric for this pattern should be printed in large bold letters across the front of the envelope. It’s absolutely fine in a stretch fabric. Well, of course it is! Everything’s fine in a stretch fabric!!
the ability to lift your arms up comfortably is always a plus
Mods:
1) I left off all the double topstitching for a clean stitch-less look, finishing off the hemline with bias-cut white voile… I also left off the giant birthday-present bow that ties in the middle of your tummy. I thought about cutting it longer and wrapping and tying it at the back like I did with my first version, but really the print makes this dress pretty busy enough already, without a belt-y thing as another visual distraction.
2) I shifted the pockets out towards the side seams by about 4cm, just like I did with my first version… you can just tell the pockets are situated way too close to the centre front, just by looking at that cover shot.
3) and most obviously; I wasn’t happy with the dress how it is here in its intended short version; in fact at this point I took a violent dislike to it and almost abandoned it completely. A few weeks of despondency passed by, and I was thinking about the Dior exhibition coming up, which let me to think of the Dior shape, which in turn inspired me to add the long ruffle/frill around the bottom…. I used leftover fabric from which I cut random “doughnut segments” and “pieces of pie” shapes, joined them together to make a giant, sorta fluted doughnut… and attached this to a white cotton voile skirt lining
I felt a lot better about the dress after this.
So I’ve worn it several times now… hmmm there I go, wearing things before blogging them, again!! Oh, I also decided to permanently stitch the collar flaps down inside to make it a V-neck. I just like this look better than the high slit front, in this particular fabric. Not quite so prim and proper.
The good thing about wearing something before blogging it is that I can, at least report on how it feels out in the wild, so to speak. I’ve worn it on the beach, to walk my dog, to do housework and the shopping… as well as in amongst the divine Dior. And I’m happy to say that the delightfully feminine swishiness afforded to me by this dress indeed sparked much joy in my heart, rendering it safe from kon-mari-ing, at least for a while!
Details:
Dress; modified Vogue 1371, in stretch sateen
Shoes (above); made by me and my own design, details here
It is beautiful.
thank you, Kay
It really is beautiful! I agree with the thing about wearing before blogging although I too usually blog first. But the wearing tells you something more; and often something important
thank you. although with self-fitting I’ve usually “worn” a thing a zillion times during the making of it, so it’s hardly ever got anything left to tell me, poor thing 🙂
Hi Carolyn. Long time no comment, but I have been reading. Sad that a designer pattern is not well designed, huh? I love the print and the dress looks great on you. I’ve actually started doing some dressmaking after “wanting/procrastinating” for ages. I’m not likely to model my makes, but it is fun to show folks what I’ve been up to (instead of blogging/commenting). It’s very satisfying to finally be learning this skill I’ve wanted for so long.
making my own clothing has been one of the most satisfying hobbies I’ve ever undertaken. I hope it gives you as much enjoyment as it has for me
That is so pretty, and you don’t wear prints all that often but this one really suits you. And the dress. What a great change to add the flounce. Your trip to Melbourne sounds fantastic, how fun to see that exhibit.
thanks Beth. I’m really into things at midi length at the moment
I like the collars in, it gives it a better shape. It is a beautiful print. I usually wear prints in Spring and Summer and solids in Autumn and Winter – don’t know why?? Jo x
I don’t have a hard and fast rule about prints in either winter or summer, but I do tend to gravitate to a good floral at the beginning of spring 🙂
Its beautifully feminine, yet the clean lines of the original shorter dress look very modern to me, what a gorgeous dress.
thank you so much kbenco 🙂
Love it! I turned this fabric into a Seamwork Veronica dress and i think it was a bit like your shorter version – just too meh. Your extra flouncey piece is just right for the fabric. I find it so helpful to see what other people do with the fabric i have sewn with!
thanks Li Ann! it’s funny how a print can be absolutely gorgeous on the roll, and then be so difficult to get a satisfactory result when sewn up?! I am enjoying the shape of this one though 🙂
It´s a beautiful dress with all the changes you made. I love the swishy flounce…such a great idea. I agree that it is good to wear something a few times, before passing judgement. You can´t know how you feel about something before wearing it. Suzy
thanks Suzy
Some people’s dog walking clothes are in a whole different league from other people’s. With admiration, from the other end.
thanks Sankati! I just wear whatever I’ve decided to wear for that day to walk the dog. No special outfit. I know that’s pretty unusual though, even around here people reserve particular outfits for walking the dog and get changed when they get home.
The fabric is very pretty indeed and the result looks lovely! 🙂
thank you so much 🙂 xx
What a beautiful print! (I like the short version better, though … can you wear it both ways?)
And on a side note: curious me followed your link to that first dress, and I found out that when you scroll the picture up and down on the screen, that skirt begins to flutter like there’s a little breeze. Do others see taht too?
thanks Ulla; I can’t switch between long and short versions of the dress, although if I get tired of it long I can take off the flounce. I didn;t notice that about the first dress “fluttering”! very funny. It must be a pixel thing 🙂
How fun to have a Dior inspiration. I am glad you had enough fabric to cut out “doughnut segments” and “pieces of pie” shapes (love the description). It hardly looks like the same dress before and after!
thank you Pencil Girl! It’s amazing how the addition of a bit of length can have such a dramatic effect to the look of a thing!!
Your dress is glorious and you would indeed have blended beautifully with the Dior floor. Your changes to the dress really lift it into something unique.
thank you Sue! 🙂 xx
It looks amazing! I love your modifications they make it more you and of course that is the point of handmade. A great make. x
thank you Dianne 🙂
This dress is in my queue! Did you wind up doing the sleeve modification that you mentioned from the first dress, or did the stretch take care of the problem?
No, I didn’t end up altering the pattern, just counted on the stretch to make a difference. Luckily it did!
Such a pretty feminine dress. The print is beautiful. Yes, agreed it is important to be able to lift one’s arms – the garment must be comfortable.
thanks Tomasa
I love the addition of the ruffles/flounces – it is such a Carolyn dress now 😀
And check you out wiht your fancy ability to life your arms! teehee!
thank you Amanda! I aspire always to make very Carolyn dresses 😉
That does look a completely different dress with the flounce. What clever eyes you have to have seen that as a save.
thank you Lightning! 🙂
How could I miss this post? I love your ability to make any pattern work for you. This flowery dress is absolutely lovely!