I honestly thought I wouldn't like this dress once it was complete. I liked the fabric, but it had a kind of cliché 60s feel to it with the daisies and bright green and so on, but now that it’s sewn up, I’m pretty darn happy that it is so typically 60s
The fabric is a soft weave that may have been a curtain or table cloth. I picked it up for $4 at the opp shop down the street. I didn't notice at the time, but the print drops out on one side, so the back of the dress has a colour error. But I’m not fussed!
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| Can you see my cat sneaking around the corner? |
The pattern I used was Butterick 4774 – the same at The Party dress
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| The colour has dropped on the left side of the dress |
Because of my lack of faith in the fabric print, I thought why not try a different technique for the facings. It would be a good time to try it out considering the fabric was cheap.
I tried to do an all in one facing where the neck and arm holes are one piece. It’s pretty easy to draft up and sew on in a normal situation, but because I wanted to add a Peter Pan collar I left the shoulder and neck open until they were ready to be sewn together. Which is why you can see the seam at the top of the shoulders and that the zipper hasn't been closed off neatly.
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| Oops! |
From the outside it looks OK though and I trimmed the facings in lace just to be a fancy pants sewer and to make up for my boo-boo
Another silly mistake I make was sewing the shoulder dart on the outside of the dress. A rookie mistake, but I’m not really fussed to fix it. Only because you can’t really tell it there and cause meh…
The print colours reminds me of an ice-cream on a stick we have here called a Splice. Its vanilla ice-cream in the middle, and pine-lime flavoured ice lolly on the outside. (There is even a cocktail version of this that you can make with Midori, Malibu, pineapple juice and cream)
Hopefully I’ll get a chance to eat both of those things while wearing this dress this summer
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| Mandatory silly pose |
Have you ever had a project that turned out well despite your assumptions? Have you ever had a Splice ice-cream? They're yummy!
Cat xo
I love your dress, dear Catherine, as well as your cute and imaginative poses! The print is bright, colorful and cheery - so very Sixties - and in our circle the Sixties are always in style.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young I remember eating combo Popsicles with vanilla ice cream wrapped in fruit flavors.
Good night to you, dear friend Cat. I hope you awaken to a marvy Friday and have a wonderful weekend, too!
Thanks Shady! I'm glad i can have some confirmation of the print as being 60s-type!
DeleteHave a happy Friday and enjoy your weekend!
This is brilliant! I'm loving your blog! And no I've never had a Splice ice cream, I think it's about time I find one.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you dear! Im glad you came over for a visit. Im not sure if Splices are available outside of Aus, but they might be around but with a different name?
DeleteYou look like a go-go dancer: it's so awesome! The print is amazing... and for 4 $? I'm jealous! Wish I could rock that silhouette like you do!
ReplyDeleteOh thanks! I just need some white boots and a big hair do and im ready for Saturday night!
DeleteI adore that dress, the print and the fabric are so 1960s and you look gorgeous in it! x
ReplyDeleteThanks Vix! xo
DeleteI love your dress , very springtime ... meanwhile it's raining in France !
ReplyDeleteThanks! Oh dear the rain is so boring! We will be getting our spring rain anytime now...
DeleteI'm a big fan of Splices!
ReplyDeleteLove the frock, the fabric was a great bargain, and I'm never fussed if there's a flaw either! It certainly makes a perfect 60's frock! The facing is a winner, must try that myself. Ha, if I had a dollar for everytime I've sewn the dart on the wrong side, or sewn the inside to the outside-any kind of boo boo-I'd be a millioniare!!!
The handbag is rather dreamy and I am sooo crushing on your gorgeous smile! XXX
Oooh they have them in NZ dont they! Yummo! I love that our countries are close enough to have the same things!
DeleteI can never make things without some kind of boo boo, but its for me so i dont mind.
The hand bag is Olga Berg - got it a the mid year sales for about $25. another awesome score!
Oh I love a pine lime splice! The taste of summer (my other fave is a Calippo!). Very impressed with the all in one facing! Very cute dress indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yum Calippo is another fav. I couldn't find any splice's at the corner store to take a photo! can you believe it?
DeleteWhat a cute dress! I would have fallen head over heels in love with that fabric too and the pattern really is a perfect match for it! It reminds me of a paper dress that's in the V&A in London - I used to spend quite a lot of my lunch break gazing at it and dreaming of the perfect fabric and now you've beaten me to it! Great fancy lacy facings!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Thats a compliment! Id love to have a source like the V&A around anytime id like to see some 60s history. But thankfully the museums here borrow things from them often so I can see them every now and again
DeleteGreat dress! I love finding cheap fabric in charity shops and online, you can get great printed fabric that way. I bought a great piece of crimplene on ebay which I'm planning to turn into a dress soon.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend!
Thanks! I agree! And no one ever looks in the fabric bins at the opp shops because they all just think its smelly curtains.
DeleteCan't wait to see what you make with the crimplene fabric! Have a good weekend too xo
The colours are so delightful (as is the print- I can see why you might've been worried it'd look cliché, but it really doesn't) You look perfectly ready for spring! Also is that bag an Olga Berg? Because I have one that looks identical, only it's black. (And great, now i'm itching to go down to the shops and buy a splice!)
ReplyDeleteThank you dear! Yes it is! It got it from Myer on sale! I couldn't find any splices at the shop to show everyone, stupid Woolworths!
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