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! :)
Beautiful dress! Nice work. The pics do look better when you have a head =)
ReplyDeleteYou're adorable in your pictures. Work it, girl! :)
ReplyDelete:) Thank you both very much! The positive comments are really helping!
ReplyDeleteGreat dress Valerie. That fabric is fab too. (I usually chop my head off in pics too)
ReplyDeleteThank you, tigergirl! :) I'm still not sure I like having my head in the pics, but people seem to prefer it to the headless version. I still have a little of the fabric left, I'm trying to think what to make with it. A matching bag might be a little over the top! heehee
DeleteYour dress is really gorgeous, it fits you so well and the fabric is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog while looking for some pictures of Simplicity 2588, because I didn't know which version to make, but now, thanks to you, I know what I gonna sew :) Thank you Valerie !
What a lovely note!! :D Thank you, bsewingc! Have you made the dress yet? I'd love to see it if you have. :)
DeleteI finished to sew the dress by the end of July and for some complicated/weird reasons, I wore it and wrote a note about it only last week. You can view it here ! http://belmontsewingclub.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/the-simplicity-2588-dress/
DeleteBut I definitely prefer your version !
Claire
I love love love your Dress! It's absolutely amazing! great job! Great FIT!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Sewing Galaxy! :)
DeleteAlways said you'd get ahead with your work! ;)
ReplyDelete:) It's always good to a-dress the issue..! *ba-dum - tish!
DeleteLove it!!!! You look so pretty in it!! I am glad you kept your head on :)!
ReplyDeleteWas it a complicated pattern? Would you recommend?
Thank you very much, Milenushka! :) The pattern was nice and simple to work with, and it didn't take long at all. I would certainly recommend it, it's really lovely and a little bit different. The instructions are very easy to follow and there are pictures to help you if you can't quite work out what's being asked of you. I had to do this frequently! :) If you do make it, I'd love to see your finished dress!
DeleteHi Valérie! I haven't been here in a while but I love your dress, very cute. I have this pattern, really need to make it. I'm going to like you on FB and see what you've been up to, sewing-wise. And you don't look weird at all though I know how it can be intimidating...
ReplyDeleteHi, Lakaribane! Thank you very much! It's lovely to hear from you again. I was delighted to see you and your work on the Pattern Review Facebook page! :) Thanks for taking a look at my page, you can find it here, https://www.facebook.com/ValerieMcHughDesign I'll look out for you and friend you when I find you. I'm in the middle of making another dress right now, and my machine broke, it just stopped working. I'm taking it in next week to get it looked at, so hopefully I'll be updating it with more sewing soon. I have a few sewing projects to work on after that too. It's been a very busy summer! I hope you're keeping well and happy! :)
DeleteOh it came out GORGEOUS!!! I agree, we need a head :) I'm shy too but its so hard to get a feel for how a dress looks just on a dummy or cut off. I really want to make this dress now!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you very much, Dorcas! You're right, it is easier to get a feel for how a dress looks. I was getting a little carried away with my cropping! heehee! I'd recommend it, it's a lovely pattern. :) Thanks for the lovely comment! :)
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