Size: 6 bust, 8 waist
Fabric: 1.5m cotton sateen (Darn Cheap), 0.7m bemsilk lining (Spotlight)
Notions: Dress zipper 22", Gutermann thread, 0.8m grosgrain ribbon, 1 bikini hook
Time: 10-12 hours, over 4 days.
Cost: Fabric $20, Lining $7, Zipper $2, Grosgrain Ribbon $2, Bikini Hook 0.50c
Pattern Modification/Adjustments:
- Added self-drafted asymmetrical collars
- Replaced tulip skirt with full gathered skirt
Techniques Used:
- French seams (skirt side seams)
- Princess seam
- Lined bodice (bagging tutorial here)
- Gathering
- Handpicked zip
- Blind catch stitch on the hem
- Waist stay (tutorial here)
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| WIP |
Sometimes all you need to get you out of a sewing rut is some oh-hot-damn floral cotton sateen.
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| This is my jam. Definitely. |
I was in love with the it because it reminded me of the forest, foliage, butterflies? When I got home I washed and ironed and got to work cutting out the V8511.
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| Favourite part of sewing process - stepping back and admiring the perfectly cut pieces. |
Like my 'corsage floral dress' I didn't cut the bodice on the centre fold. I wanted the perfect butterfly to adorn the centre of my princess seamed bodice.
Same deal with the collars, I wanted a nice big flower so this meant that the collars used up a chunk of fabric I reserved for my skirt so the skirt ended up not as full.
The skirt length was 19" (SA and 3cm hem included).
The finished skirt hem measurement was 62".
I re-used the collar pattern I drafted when I made the red V8511 work dress.
The skirt length was 19" (SA and 3cm hem included).
The finished skirt hem measurement was 62".
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| Stay stitched around neckline and arm hole curves. |
By midnight Saturday I finished the shell and collars. Rewarded myself with back-to-back episodes of Californication and some wine :D
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| Hard at WIP on a Saturday night. |
Sunday afternoon, I cut out the lining, bagged the bodice, understitched and prepped the skirt pieces (side seams frenched, three rows of gathering stitches).
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| Bodice lined with cream bemsilk. |
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| Side seams matching perfectly. |
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| Parfait! |
Green grosgrain ribbon waist stay went on, and final fitting. Hurrah it fit.
I took a couple of days break to focus on work and gym (went twice this week, yay... dined out 7 times, lol) and Wednesday I handpicked the zipper and handsewed the hem.
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| I love handpicking - more control and it's therapeutic. |
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| Love those pricks! |
All the bread, pasta, potato, pannacotta and wine I consumed was nicely hidden under the full skirt. DRESSES FTW.
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| #OOTN ASOS Linen blazer, ASOS glitter skinny belt, ALL THAT JAZZ handmade vintage look clutch. |
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| Waist stay! |
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| #selfie :P |
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| Collars - Slit & Cummerbund - Scooped Back & Full Circle Skirt 1 & 2 - Gathered Skirt - Full Gathered Skirt & Collars. |
Once I find a pattern that works, I tend to get obsessed and addicted to hacking it... nothing wrong with that hey, and I'm not the only one, my interstate blogger mate Erin of I-Heart-Fabric is currently in love with beautiful BurdaStyle 120 and has made soooo many versions of the same pattern.
I didn't even realise they were all the same pattern cos the fabrics make each dress look completely different. Go check out Erin's dresses, they are to die for <3
I hope you all had a fun weekend. I definitely did. I ate way to much good food (blogged here), caught up with a few of my friends and to top it off the Melbourne weather was marvelous :)
I have a long weekend next week so I'm planning to make another dress... don't be surprised if it's another V8511 with self-drafted collars and a full skirt.
If it ain't broke....!!
