Friday 8 August 2014

It's still summer: Time for a second Simplicity 1803!


I made this Simplicity 1803 dress as part of Heather B's Summer Sundress Sew-a-long. Which is a great encouragement to make more summer dresses, especially because we have lovely warm summer weather in the UK. It means I can actually wear my summer dresses, yeah. I also wanted to have a second version of this dress with a patterned fabric, because with my white version I'm constantly worried about stains and dirt.



You might notice that I added cap sleeves this time. I intended to make a muslin with sleeves first, but couldn't wait and decided: when they fit -> sleeves, when they don't fit -> sleeveless. However, when assembling the dress I realised that I liked the sleeved version more. For this particular fabric, the sleeve version looks cuter :) 


But there was a small problem, the sleeves didn't fit. Because of my sloping shoulders, the pleat was sitting towards the back and it looked awful. I then moved the pleat forward towards my shoulder point, which looked much better. It took me two hours (and loads of ripping) to get the fit right, but it was so worth it.


This time I didn't line the bodice and skirt, because I wanted to sew a thin summer dress. As the fabric is not see through, this is fine. But the problem I have now is that the skirt is clinging to my panties! In most of the photos I took for this dress, it was actually clinging to my front and back. Awful. And I wasn't wearing a cotton pantie. So this means a) I go nude (not going to happen, haha), b) buy an anti static pantie (does it even exist?) or c) wear a slip (which will be hoooot in summer).


I have worn the dress with a slip already and it was fine. No clinging. However, the slip was a really cheap one from ebay and thus I'm thinking of making my own from silk. Maybe in black with a little lace trim.


 I didn't insert a lapped zipper this time, but went for the invisible one. I think I did a good job as you can hardly see the zipper and it was the first time that I put one in without using any instructions, yeah. *Me so proud* I'm always stabilising the zipper seam with fusible interfacing, which works like magic - no puckering!


You might notice that I didn't match the pattern. I tried at first and would have loved to place the four roses on each front panel. But because of the directionality of the print it didn't work. And then I got frustrated and couldn't be bothered to match anything. But I don't think you really notice, because the pattern is so busy.


I had some fabric leftovers and cut two stripes from it to make a long belt. I can wrap the belt twice around my waist and depending on my mood either tie it to a bow in the front or in the back.


Now I bet you really want to know what fabric I used? It was a liberty copy print that I got for half the price (because end of roll = 4£/m) from Goldhawk Road. I fell in love with it when I saw it and had to have it. That was 1.5 years ago. I couldn't decide what to make from it, but think it is a lovely pattern for a summer dress. I'm not sure you can see it on the photographs, but the leaves and flowers are outlined in gold. Love it!



I finished the hem with the rolled hem function of my Bernina (did I say that I love this function?!) and used black thread because it matches the fabric. So overall I'm super happy with this dress and think it will be great for autumn as well, as I can wear it with black tights. 



So how about you? Are you still sewing summer clothes? Or are you already preparing for the colder seasons?

16 comments:

  1. That's such a pretty dress. I'm very impressed by your totally invisible zip too!

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    1. Thank you Sam. I'm super happy with how the zip turned out :)

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  2. Beautiful dress and you look great in it. I recently discovered your blog. Went through reading it from the beginning and really like your makes. I've been sewing about a year now and find it inspiring and helpful reading other people's progress.

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    1. Thanks Tzai. I'm glad you enjoy my posts and I'm also happy to hear that my blog inspires and helps you. I also love to read blogs, especially if people have started to sew around the same time as me. It is so interesting to see how they developed their skills and own style :)

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  3. I love this dress so much! The fabric is gorgeous and the fit/style really suits you. So lucky to find the fabric at such a good price! I wouldn't worry too much about the sticking, you can't tell in the photos, just enjoy wearing the dress while we still have some sunshine!

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    1. Thank you Sabs. You can't tell that the dress is sticking to my bum in these photos, because these were the only ones where it was not sticking, hihi ;) Otherwise, believe me it is not a great sight. But thank god for slips :)

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  4. This is gorgeous! I am swooning over the capped sleeves. They are so lovely, and where definately worth all the effort. The fabric is gorgeous, and what a bargain! It would have been rude not to buy it! And I can see the gold threads in the last photo. Re the clinging fabric, a silk slip sounds like it should help, and also sounds so luxurious! I would always wear a slip under a dress like this, even though they are warm on a hot day; but maybe a silk slip would be cooler.

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  5. It's a lovely summer dress! I love the fabric, the colours are gorgeous. You're right about the cap sleeves - they're really cute. I definitely don't blame you for not pattern matching here, I wouldn't have done either - I would for something with stripes or a very obvious pattern but not for something more random like this. I keep meaning to make my own slips too, but other more exciting projects always take priority!

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  6. Bravo, clapping wildly from the Rogue's Gallery here in the U.S.!

    I sew dropped the ball on the Summer Dress Sew-Along, but glad you didn't. It's all I can do to keep up with the "Make A Garment A Month" challenge and think it's cheating to use one garment for two challenges (what can I say?). Yet I digress.

    This dress is lovely and I'm just going to have to check it out for myself. Thank you for sharing this.

    Cheers,

    Lyric
    http://www.sewcroandquilt.wordpress.com

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  7. Very pretty dress! This style looks great on you, and I love the cap sleeve addition :)

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  8. I was just thinking today how we only have 1 more month of warmer weather hear :( So sad.
    your dress is beautiful and the style of it suits you really well. I always love a pretty print and this one is awesome. Your cap sleeves look great so all the time spent picking them and fixing them paid off. (oh and I vote for slip, lol) :) Great Job Daniela!

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  9. hi! i just found your blog ad have to say i really love all your makes :-) this recent one is especially awesome with the print of the fabric :-) Jen

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  10. Daniela, this dress is absolutely gorgeous! The fit looks spot on, and I LOVE the fabric! I have yet to solve the clingy dress issue either - even worse because, even in hot summer, I have to wear tights in the office because it's so cold, so they cling even more :( Simplicity 1803 was the first dress I ever made, and I have been meaning to make it again ever since, I must actually get round to it!

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  11. This is such a gorgeous dress! Yet again, you have mastered the fit perfectly and I love the addition of the sleeves. I don't think you have to worry about pattern matching on such a busy print. A black silk slip sounds perfect!

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  12. Just jacked off to these pics

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  13. OMG I want to fuck her in the ass

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