Towards the end of last year, I was very lucky to have won a beautiful dress pattern from a competition run by
Professor Pincushion, (a fantastic place for researching sewing techniques and viewing tutorials online),over on Facebook. I've just got around to taking it out and making it, I've had quite a lot of projects on the go in the mean time. Simplicity 2588, by Project Runway. A beautiful dress with lots of different design options.
And here it is! I should probably explain something here. Usually when I take pictures of clothes I make, I crop them to just show the dress. For several reasons. To just show the dress, and I guess I'm a bit shy too. But I've had comments about it looking weird with the head cut off, so I thought I'd leave my head in these, perhaps it looks just as weird! Anyways! I'm really delighted with the results of the dress.
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| Front View |
I chose a really lovely fabric I saw in Hickey's Fabric shop, in Dublin. It was quite thick cotton, I'm not entirely sure of the exact name for it, but it is white cotton mixed with some kind of denim, I think. It's reversible, so the back of it is blue with white patterning. Which is great because it means that it is not see-trough like a lot of summer dress fabrics. It holds it's shape nicely and drapes well too.
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| Back View |
I really enjoyed making this, it all went together smoothly and the pattern was simple to follow. I love the neck detailing, it's sweet and a little bit different, and it fits just right, which I'm pleased about. There are lots of details that come together and make it a really interesting dress. I chose to make it with the side tabs and I left out the pockets. With the tabs, I used the reverse side of the fabric, which is simply a negative of the front side.
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| Close Up View of fabric and tabs |
I think I'd definitely make this again, although I'd be slightely more adventurous next time. I'd add pockets and I'd change some of the design features, just to make a different dress. I like how the skirt is pleated. There is an option for sleeves, a full belt and a slim skirt so with a few different pattern pieces, I could have a completely new dress.
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| Side View |
I want to make a little shawl to go with it next. To wear it in the summer, even when the weather turns a little chilly. I'm so pleased with the results and will definitely wear it out. To see more pictures of the dress, and some other things I make, please take a look at my
Facebook page and "like" it to keep an eye on what I'm making! And if you have any comments, I'd love to hear from you! :)
