So of course, I'm compelled to make a dress.
I have a justification, if that helps. Mario's birthday is next weekend, so I need a dress to wear for dinner that night. And there was this piece of fabric on the shelf that's been calling to me since last summer, but until this week it never really announced what it wanted to be.
Burda to the rescue, yet again. The other night I pulled out several years worth of issues and went through them, line drawing by line drawing, looking for something to sew that wasn't what I said I was going sew. Dress #124 from the 2/2009 issue jumped out at me.
I'd put a sticky on it at the time as a possibility, and I'm not sure why I waited this long to try it. It's very close to perfect - neck not too low, interesting V in the back, fitting darts top and bottom in the front, darts in the skirt in the back, cut-on sleeves so you can tinker with the side seams without messing up the fit.
The pattern drawing - and Burda's photo - struck me as vintage-inspired without being the wrong kind of retro. (You know what I mean - there is a wrong kind of retro).
The almost-finished version of this dress is striking me the same way.
Which means I'm going to have to pull my dark raspberry pink strappy high-heeled Reaction sandals out of the closet to balance the potential tipping into uber-retro.
As for the dress, I haven't completely finished it, but I'm already thinking about other ways it can be made. I'd like to re-draft the bodice so that it has armholes and sleeves, because while the pattern is interesting as it is, I think I could get a lot more mileage from it if it had proper sleeves. Or, barring that, proper armholes, because this would make a smashing little black dress.
My favorite part is the back. The V is low, but not so low that my bra shows, and the way the facing is drafted allows for an almost perfect invisible zipper insertion. The zip went in first time, and the zipper tabs fold right into the facing so there's a nice clean finish.
Can I get an "amen" for a no-profanity zipper insertion?
I thought so.
I have some hand-sewing to finish this off, and then I promise pictures. Maybe before next weekend, but if not, then on the birthday, and in those shoes.
15 comments:
Very pretty dress.
Another very positive review for this Burda pattern which has many others on pattern review.
I plan to make it for my son in law's wedding. I think it is very versatile. Your version is great and the fabric does not lokk home deck at all
Love your dress in progress! Have a good weekend.
I really like this pattern but not sure of the sleeves. Can't wear a jacket or cardi with it. I like your version and look forward to seeing those shoes!
That dress is so pretty!
Love every bit of it from the pattern choice to the fabric!
Beautiful!! I just got this issue and that dress was on my list of must-makes from it. I'm glad to hear it goes together so well and that the back isn't too low, since naturally they never show the back in the mag. Why can't the fashion pics in burda ever show the details that I want to see??
OMGoodness - what a fabulous dress. Love the fabric and I can't wait to see the sandals. Now I have to go see if I have that issue. Love <3 g
I really like the V-shaped back neckline of that dress!
I really love your fabric and I like that you used this pattern to make it up.
Your dress looks very promising. And I can't wait to see it on you, with those sandals!
I'm loving the combo of this fabric and the neckline of this pattern. Lovely!
Jana
I love this dress! I was thinking how awesome this would be with sleeves too - great minds think alike :)
Love it! It really is a fabulous pattern.
Beautiful dress so far. Love the deep V-neckline!
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