Sunday, September 29, 2013

Fall For Cotton : My Finished Project!

I know this is a really odd time for me to write a blog post, but I needed to get this project up to be eligible for the Fall For Cotton Sew-along.

Those of you that follow my Facebook page will have seen several sneak peaks over the last few days as I worked on, and finished the dress.  The last time I posted I had pinned the decorative pieces on the bodice and had started hand sewing them on.  At about that point I also decided that I would really rather pleat the skirt than gather it.

This is really for one reason only.  Basically I always get super stressed sewing a gathered skirt into anything because bits always get caught up in stitching and it takes me several goes to get it right.  And with the extra layers of fabric in the bodice and all the piping on the decorative pieces and at the waist line, I figured I had enough to worry about!  I thought that a pleated skirt would be easier to attach (and it was) and look better (which I think it does).

After I cut off the extra length from the skirt panels, I used one of them to make a pleat 'pattern' to use as a guide when I pleated the skirt panels.  After I worked out my pattern I attached the test peice to the bodice.


I was really happy with the way it looked, so went ahead and put the skirt pieces together and pleated them.  Oh, and I forgot to take any photos, but the skirt has POCKETS!!!!

But enough (boring) construction details - I know you want to see the end result!!!

Today I wore my gorgeous dress out to breakfast, and stopped at Bimbadgen Estate on the way home to take some photos.  I live just down the road from this lovely place and I can't believe this is the first time I have used it as a photo shoot location!

Just as a reminder, here is the vintage dress that inspired this project:


And here is my version, made out of vintage cotton dating from the 1950s:












What can I say - I love this dress!  Everything about it seems perfect for me!  And while it was a total labour of love, I think I could be persuaded to labour over another one!

Beccie
xxx
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34 comments:

  1. prttynpnkSeptember 29, 2013 at 10:03 PM

    This is gorgeous!!!

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  2. Konad-liciousSeptember 29, 2013 at 10:09 PM

    Argh, you are so ridiculously talented, it looks wonderful. *Wants to be Beccie when I grow up.*

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  3. NessaSeptember 29, 2013 at 11:37 PM

    Really beautiful! The pleating compliments the piping lines superbly. No wonder you are so pleased with this - it is stunning!

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  4. Craft SanctuarySeptember 29, 2013 at 11:59 PM

    Omg this is amazing! You and the dress both look awesome!

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  5. UnknownSeptember 30, 2013 at 12:09 AM

    Beautiful! You've done an amazing job. The fabric is gorgeous and the style is so flattering. Love, love, love.

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  6. tanyamaileSeptember 30, 2013 at 2:48 AM

    This is so pretty! I love it!

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  7. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2013 at 5:47 AM

    that fabric is awesome and you really made it shine with this dress. It's amazing. Love the waist details.

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  8. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2013 at 7:08 AM

    Amazing well done Vickie yass nsw

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  9. ErikawithaKSeptember 30, 2013 at 8:43 AM

    As usual, beautiful! I love seeing your dresses Beccie!

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  10. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2013 at 9:08 AM

    Just stunning!
    -Sandra

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  11. LizzardtearsSeptember 30, 2013 at 9:57 AM

    I love it. it turned out beautiful. and looks very much like your inspirational dress. nice job ☺

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  12. Beccie Leathley (Sew Retro Rose)September 30, 2013 at 10:39 AM

    Thank you everyone for so much positive feedback :)

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  13. UnknownSeptember 30, 2013 at 12:22 PM

    Omg sweetie-you did an incredible job! Its so beautiful! You are so incredibly talented!!!! Going to share this post on my pages too so everyone can see your talent!! xox

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    Replies
    1. Beccie Leathley (Sew Retro Rose)September 30, 2013 at 12:53 PM

      Oh Bunny that would be fabulous if you could share it! Isn't it just a beautiful dress!!! I'm so proud of it!!!

      Delete
    2. LyricSeptember 30, 2013 at 9:50 PM

      Splendid idea! I just shared on mine.

      Delete
  14. ShannonSeptember 30, 2013 at 3:16 PM

    Looks great, Beccie!

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  15. CharlotteSeptember 30, 2013 at 5:25 PM

    That is gorgeous! Love the piping detail and the fabric is great (obvs). I am also heartened to hear that you have trouble with gathered skirts too. Why is it considered so easy? I find it really hard to get the gathers even. If anyone has tips I would love to hear them!

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    Replies
    1. Beccie Leathley (Sew Retro Rose)October 1, 2013 at 1:35 PM

      My tip is to quit gathering and start pleating! I never want to do another gathered skirt again!

      Delete
  16. TippySeptember 30, 2013 at 5:44 PM

    This is your best yet! This is a stunning dress, I hope you make more in this style. The pleats look perfect with the bodice detail. Can not tell you how much I love this dress!!!

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    Replies
    1. Beccie Leathley (Sew Retro Rose)October 1, 2013 at 1:37 PM

      I already have another one I'm going to make! But its really the fabric that makes this one...

      Delete
  17. MelodySeptember 30, 2013 at 8:31 PM

    Absolutely beautiful!

    I much prefer it to the original!
    And I'm 10,000% certain that the pleats look better, but I'm pleat-biased!

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  18. LyricSeptember 30, 2013 at 9:46 PM

    Uww uww, glee, glee. Clapping vigorously from the rogue's gallery. The blue is quite lovely and girl you are voluptuous!!! I love it. Can I be your sewing sista from anotha motha?

    Now Beccie, let me ask . . . are you wearing vintage or vintage style underpinnings? The girls are on point. I seriously need some that truly support for it makes the outfit, IMHO.

    Thanks.

    Lyric

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    Replies
    1. Beccie Leathley (Sew Retro Rose)October 1, 2013 at 1:42 PM

      hahahaha of course you can :)

      As for the underpinnings, ummm no I'm not wearing any... and I'm wearing a modern bra. To be honest, I'm just shaped like that. My waist is always much smaller than my bust and hips - I'm just lucky I guess!

      But I agree that the right undergarments can make or break the look of a dress, and for the times when I do want to cinch in my waist I wear a boned What Katie Did waist cincher :)

      Delete
  19. Chuleenan of C SewsOctober 1, 2013 at 8:31 AM

    Wow. That fabric is fabulous and the dress is stunning. Congrats on finishing your project!

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    Replies
    1. Beccie Leathley (Sew Retro Rose)October 1, 2013 at 1:42 PM

      Thank you - for a while there I didn't think I was going to make it, but I did.

      Delete
  20. AuraOctober 1, 2013 at 10:51 AM

    You wear it well!! Lovely in every way.Really like the beautiful blue sky in the background.

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  21. Sarah October 1, 2013 at 1:36 PM

    It turned out so beautiful and totally suits you! Wonderful job recreating the original dress.

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  22. RebeccaOctober 1, 2013 at 5:40 PM

    you did it! you are amazing! and it looks absolutely phenomenal on you! YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!

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  23. Mrs. Doris ButtonOctober 1, 2013 at 7:30 PM

    What can I say? A wonderful dress, and you really succeeded to make it look like the vintage dress you took as inspiration for your project. It looks gorgeous on you!
    I envy you that you were able to finish it on time. My broken toe is still causing problems, so I put my project for the sew-along away. It showed me that I probably should enter such sew-alongs only when I have a half-finished project ready. :)

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    Replies
    1. Beccie Leathley (Sew Retro Rose)October 2, 2013 at 3:46 PM

      Well I hope you keep working on the dress Doris, because I would really like to see it finished - great fabric and a great pattern :)

      Delete

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