Tuesday, February 10, 2015

The SEWsterhood of the Travelling Pattern : My Dress


There has been an amazing response to this idea of a travelling pattern - I think the list is in the mid 70s now!  I've made my version, so soon the journey will begin.

But first - I better fill you in on my dress.

I have made this pattern (and blogged about it) once before.  You can read the final post for that dress here  but even then I didn't make it as per the instructions.  That time I made it a false button front.  This time I decided to have it button all the way from top to bottom, with the buttons exposed - so different to both versions of the pattern.

Here is the fabric I chose:


A fabulous vintage cotton with asian inspired  pictures and lanterns.  The colour struck me as perfect for a warm summers day - blue can be so cooling!

The other thing I wanted to add was some decorative piping.  I picked the (surprise surprise) violet colour from the fabric and made up my own piping.  Its so easy, and such a great way to decorate your clothes.


I added piping along the edges of the shoulder/sleeve piece first, and put the bodice together.  (By the way, I made new bodice front and back pieces with a 40" bust which will travel with the pattern).




I REALLY LOVE the way that the bias looks on this bodice!  It really highlights the design element of the shoulder/sleeve piece!

After adding the facing to the bodice, I moved on to putting the skirt together - and don't you love it when this happens without any planning!?!


By some amazing coincidence my skirt fronts lined up perfectly!!!  Same can't be said for the skirt sides or back, but I almost didn't have enough fabric to make the dress at all, so I wasn't going to worry about matching the pattern at the seams.  Got to love a happy coincidence though!

Anyway, I added more piping to the waist and sewed the skirt to the bodice.


All that was left was to do the machine button holes and sew on the buttons.  I used the spacing of the button markings on the bodice pattern pieces to mark where to put the button holes on the skirt.  And instead of putting a button on the waist, I put a trouser hook and eye.

And then for extra credit, I made a matching head scarf!  Cause why not!!




So there you go!  That is my version of the Travelling Pattern!  So I bet you all want to know who's up next... that person is:

Naomi Chambers
Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA

Naomi, I will be in contact shortly.  Remember that the Sewsterhood needs you to down tools on your other projects and make this one up as soon as you can.  Take lots of photos, write me a story for a blog post, and add your hints, tips, and whatever else you'd like to the notebook.  Only when you've finished are you to send the pattern on.

The journey begins!

Beccie
xxx

26 comments:

  1. Excellent... that dressmaking has set the bar high.

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  2. Dear Beccie,
    Love your sewing. How do you do the gathers on the dress, by using a ruffle foot or by threading it and bringing the the fabric together?

    xx,
    Jacqueline

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    1. I don't have a ruffle foot, I use a long stitch length and pull the bobbin thread (? I can never remember which one ?) to gather the fabric.

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  3. This is great! I love the idea of a traveling pattern so much and I'm really excited to take part! I think a neat thing to do would be for everyone to add a little scrap of fabric from their dress to the notebook.
    -Emily

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    1. Great idea! I'd like people to add whatever they want to the notebook - as much of whatever they want! I want that notebook to come back brimming with stories and memories and experiences!

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  4. That came out beautiful! Looks amazing on you with the hair color and piping on the shoulders and all. Love it!

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  5. You look so pretty in this dress. It's crazy great how it matches your hair.

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  6. Oh my goodness! I am so excited I am getting it first!! WOW! Just to note I am in Arkansas though not Arizona. :)

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    1. I need to do more study on the short-hand forms of the states! hahahaha will change that :)

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  7. Can you show us how you made the head wrap?

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  8. Lovely ! Absolutely adore that fabric ! The piping really brings it out too ! Am I on the list at some point ? (Not that it's urgent, my favourite sewing machine is out of order and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to find the replacement parts soon...)

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  9. Adorable ~ love the piping accent and the colors of the fabric are really, really nice! I'm wondering how long it's going to take the pattern to find it's way down under to Australia... I'm itching for a crack at it! Oh well, patience is a virtue I guess. :D ❤

    xox,
    bonita of Lavender & Twill

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    1. Darling Bonita, its starting here! I'm in Australia too!! Its going to be criss-crossing the globe many times, making many visits to our lovely shores, and when its all over, it will finish here too :)

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  10. Love it! As always.You are the best.XO

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  11. Amazing fabric, piping, and styling! I can't wait to see what everyone else does.

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  12. Lovely! Piping at the waist is such a great touch.

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  13. Love the fabric and love the dress. Both so cute!

    And also love the idea of travelling pattern, it has to be fun!

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  14. Where do you manage to find these fabrics!? Those colors look amazing on you! I am very excited to see the journey this dress takes . . .

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