Border Print Little Black Dress

3:12 PM 7 Comments A+ a-

 So for the first time in bloging "career" I actually have a back log of finished projects that I haven't posted about yet. That's bonkers. Normally I'm desperately trying to finish projects so I have something to blog about, but I currently have 5 projects sitting in queqe, waiting to show you!

So here's the first one...

I made this dress sometime in February and have worn it a million times since but only recently got around to photographing it. It's made from a polyester charmuese from JoAnns that I fell in love with at first sight. I wanted to make a dress that had really clean, uninterrupted lines that would showcase the print, and, lets be honest, minimize the pattern matching required.

I'm standing awkwardly in the picture, but don't worry, the dress does fit in real life and doesn't make me look like a hunchback. I seriously have to get better at posing.

I thought I took a picture of the sides but I can't find it. They're matched up pretty well but the back is a little bit of a mess.

I used this great 60's teenage pattern I got off of Etsy a while back. It's such a fun shape and I thought it would highlight the border print well. I did omit the front seam though because it seemed like a nightmare with this fabric. The measurements listed on the pattern weren't super close to mine, but I flat measured it and it seemed like it would work. Luckily it fits pretty perfectly.

This was my only issue (aside from the fact that my rolled hem foot hates me so the sleeves are hanging kind of funny): The facing piece was drafted about 5/8 inch shorter than the front dress piece! I kept thinking I had made some mistake but no, apparently the pattern is just crazy!


Anyway, this was a nice "end of winter" dress and I've gotten a ton of wear out of it, but now that spring is in full force it's going in the closet for the next 6 months or so.

PS Here I am wearing it at the Modern in the MOMA in NYC!!!!

7 comments

Write comments
April 3, 2012 at 4:57 PM delete

It's so cute... You look great

Reply
avatar
Rebecca
AUTHOR
April 3, 2012 at 8:28 PM delete

Love the dress! I have had vintage patterns like that. I think they must have enjoyed easing things much more than I do. I always cut my facings just a smidge bigger than the piece itself. I will go to great lengths to avoid easing something, lol.

Reply
avatar
jill
AUTHOR
April 4, 2012 at 7:57 AM delete

I recently attempted a very similar dress in the same fabric. I'm so happy to see yours as mine is unfinished and stuffed in a bag in my sewing room thanks to a big hole I accidentally ripped in it. Great job!

Reply
avatar
Meg the Grand
AUTHOR
April 4, 2012 at 3:19 PM delete

I LOVE the fabric of this dress, and the cut is super flattering on you! The action shot is fabulous - your NYC trip looks like it was a blast!

Reply
avatar
April 4, 2012 at 4:53 PM delete

It has a nice vintage feel and you look great in it.

Reply
avatar
April 9, 2012 at 12:48 AM delete

Oh that is awesome. Great fabric+pattern combo.

Reply
avatar
Anonymous
AUTHOR
April 11, 2012 at 4:28 PM delete

When I was in junior high school, our school chorus director chose this pattern for all the girls to wear in the annual Spring Festival (1967). We were allowed to make it in any pastel cotton we chose. Mine was apricot.

Reply
avatar