Its a super sweet dress in the most amazing floral fruity fabric! Here is the back:
Actually no, I can't show you the back... because Renee is a teenie lady, and this dress is too small to fit on my small dress form... Take it from me that the straps cross over in the back, and it buttons from bodice to hem.
I've never worn anything that buttons up the back. I keep meaning to ask Renee if its hard to do up, but I keep forgetting... does anyone know?
Anyway! Renee had also found me a vintage pattern that she thought might work. But when I looked at it, there were just too many things I had to change, I thought I'd just make my own pattern directly from Renee's original dress, without doing it any damage of course! With that done I needed to check the pattern so I pulled a length of 1960s (or there abouts) poly-cotton that someone had given me. A lovely fabric, just not for me.
Anyway, the bodice was the bit I was worried about (a gathered skirt is a gathered skirt) but it went together with only one issue:
See that seam down the middle of the bodice... it shouldn't be there. I somehow had an extra inch in the middle. But it was an easy fix, and I'd rather have seen the issue with test fabric than with the real fabric!
I put the skirt on and added some pockets, and voila!
It happened to be Renee's birthday when I finished the dress, so I wrote out a birthday card and popped it into an express post bag to get it to her the next day. And here she is!
SHE LOVED IT!!!! And it fitted her perfectly, which means I get to cut into the most adorable amazing fabric of all time...
LLAMA FABRIC!!!!!
I am so looking forward to making this adorable dress up for Renee. Its going to be a bit more detailed than the test dress, but basically the same, just a whole lot cuter!
And Renee is already looking for more fabric. We are thinking it could be super cute in a light wool with a shirt under it. What do you think?
Beccie
xxx
Completely cool :)
ReplyDeleteWow. Thats awesome! Cant wait to see it
ReplyDeleteLoooove the llamas! Do you have a tutorial or a link for how to create a pattern from an existing garment that you could share?
ReplyDeleteNo I don't sorry... I kinda made it up as I was going, and it worked for this dress but might not work for others. Craftsy (who I am not affiliated with in any way) have a class on how to make a pattern from an existing item of clothing... why don't you have a look at it! Here is the link : http://www.craftsy.com/class/pattern-drafting-from-ready-to-wear/191?_ct=sbqii-jxucu-byij-ycw&_ctp=4&_egg=sekhiu_wqbbuho_20131031&_ege=191
DeleteIt looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the llama dress. It's going to be phenomenal I can tell.
Where did you get that llama fabric? I'm so jealous of Renee to have a friend like you! :)
ReplyDeleteI/We purchased it on ebay. From what Renee found out, this fabric has been discontinued sadly...
DeleteAww the llama fabric! I love it so much I had to share it on my FB page. :) Where on Earth did you find it and is there more?!?!
ReplyDelete-Emily
Emily's Vintage Visions
Hi Emily :) Its been discontinued apparently. It was found on ebay... and for some reason ebay doesn't let you look back very far through your purchases... so I have no idea who the seller was... I'm sorry :(
DeleteWonderful!
ReplyDeleteI have actually a blouse I made ages ago, one of my first "real" sewing projects, a 30s style blouse that buttons up in the back. The pattern was designed like this and looks great, but it's not comfortable to put on. I pull the blouse on with most buttons closed, and I somehow have to manage to close the last 4 top buttons. Getting older, it's getting more and more difficult. But I have a helpful husband. :)
I figure it would require help... which reminds me... I haven't asked Renee how she manages to do it up!
DeleteCan you tell me where I can buy the Llama fabric? I have been looking online but to no success.
ReplyDelete