I did start a formal party dress, but I've got fit issues with the bodice that I have to fix, so instead I made a completely new dress, one that I could wear on Christmas Day ... because I always, always wear a new outfit on Christmas Day. This was most definitely one of those sew like crazy projects that I started just two days before needing to travel.
Earlier in the year I purchased two yards of this beautiful circle eyelet fabric from Gertie's Etsy Shop. The original plan was to line a dress with black siri purchased at the same time. I love the fabric so much that I've been too scared to commit it to an actual pattern - believe me I've had many dresses made from this fabric in my head! Eventually I settled on the Kay Unger Vogue 1353 pattern that I'd made before here.
Up until the point that I had constructed the eyelet layer of the dress did I change my mind on the lining. I had laid a pattern piece on top of my muslin role, in one of those "I'll just put you over there for a moment" thoughts, and the contrast was like a sparkle in my eye. At that moment I knew I just couldn't line this dress with black! From my stash appeared this plaid ....
I know, crazy right! And believe me I did put it away a few times and tried other options, but I just kept coming back to this one. I picked this up for $3 a metre at the summer Fabric Warehouse sale - and I have like six metres of it, so why not use it as lining?!
I do love the way that you can't tell it is a plaid, it's just like the party of colour playing peek-a-boo through the holes.
The construction was exactly the same as my previous Retro Geektastic make, but I ran out of time and had to leave home with one whole seam un-sewn! Well, I did intend to sew it before I left but I got side tracked and then forgot. So the seam of the lining from the bottom of the zipper to the hem has been hand-sewn using a back-stitch. Then the raw-edges have been holded back and stitched down with a running stitch, the seam pressed open and catch stitched in place - there is no chance of fraying now!
The hem of the lining I would have usually turned up and machine stitched, but no sewing machine meant that it was turned up and secured with a catch-stitch. I wasn't sure what to do with the hem of the eyelet, so on Christmas Day I just wore it un-hemmed. After wearing it for a day I decided that I did need to hem it and purchased some bias binding tape, turned the bottom of the dress up about 15cm and sewed the bias tape on the inside to hide the draw edge of the fabric.
The pattern provides for a really deep hem facing, which I understand gives the hem of the dress some body which helps accentuate the design of the dress. Without the hem facing I thought I might loose that design feature, but now that I look at the photos, I think not!
Perhaps this dress should be the Crazy Party dress!
More photos on my Flickr -->
I love the eyelet over the plaid! It is beautiful on you and so much fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melody. It is one of those dresses that is fun to wear as well.
DeleteWow! The plaid underneath is inspired! It really gives a confetti feel to it, I love it. I like how you can see thru right to the bottom, think the facing would interfere with that. You could just put bias tape around the bottom if the dress. Either way, it is really a jazzy dress!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great word 'confetti', that is exactly what it is. Thanks Catja :-)
DeleteThe eyelet over the plaid while a risk has really paid off, your dress is lovely. I didn't use the hem facing on my version either. It just didn't seem necessary.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea. I put the hem facing in my first dress and thought it was a great idea but I seem to get the same effect without it, which is good to know because I really want to try the skirt on a different bodice :-)
DeleteI love this! The lace over plaid is such a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI only wish I had that much insight to think up such a combination before I start a project rather than just stumble across it as I go!
DeleteLove the whole dress and I'm so glad you went with the plaid lining, it's perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks Heather. I like how it's not just another black dress now :-)
DeleteOh my, what a save, it would have been such a waste lining this with black, as the lovely detail would have got lost. It's a LBD but also colourful and fun at the same time! And amazing how impossible it is to see the plaidness of the plaid even in a long shot. Intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI loves it!
Thanks Maryanne. I still can't believe I stumbled over such an ingenious idea! I love the vibrancy of the pink but so glad it's not a solid colour.
DeleteAnd this is why we sew our own. I love everything about this dress.
ReplyDeleteI know right :-)
Deletethat is fantastic!!! it looks like stripey ombre underneath, it's just surprise after surprise!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It has solicited loads of comments about how the colours are all just a mystery - until I lift my skirt!
DeleteI love the eyelet fabric and the plaid underneath is just really working with this dress! It's absolutely amazing how it looks, all flowy colours!
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy :-)
DeleteClever use of fabrics.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gail. Complete by chance rather than good planning though!
DeleteWhat a fabulous dress. Love the peek-a-boo aspect of it. Great way to showcase the eyelet fabric.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mela, it is such a fun dress to wear as well.
DeleteThis is amazing! I love the muted view you get through the lace. Again you are such an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra. Sometime I think my sewing is too serious, but this is definitely a bit of fun :-)
DeleteWOW. Just amazing. It is amazing that the plaid isn't obviously a plaid. I would never have predicted that! I love the colour under the eyelet and I'm so glad you went down that path. This dress is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I love that you can't tell it's a plaid but I think the brightness of the plaid is just right :-)
DeleteI love the plaid lining, and agree with other comments that a hem facing would have interfered with the peek-a-boo effect of the coloured lining. Just wait, by next season the cat walks will br full of this amazing idea,
ReplyDeleteHahaha, the thought of my idea ending up on a catwalk - I can't even begin to image :-0
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