The Tulip Dress
Bodice: self-drafted, Skirt: Simplicity 4254, circa 1940s
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I started this dress last week and finished it before summer was over, thankfully. I only had 2 yards of this cotton tulip print and wanted to make the most out of it. I have a few more summer dresses to finish up and then I’ll be sewing a season ahead again soon for Fall 2011.
Vanilla Layer Cake dress, 1950s inspired. Self-drafted.
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I started this dress five months ago. It certainly didn’t take five months to make, but a lot happened in five months. I used a lightweight textured cotton and lined the bodice top. I trimmed the sleeves with yellow lace. I still have no idea if I can pull of circle skirts but I definitely feel like a princess in this dress.
I only had two yards of this fabric, so I managed to squeeze out a sleeveless dress out of it.
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Bodice view. I inserted an invisible back zipper. The armholes and neckline is finished with bias binding.
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I finished working on The Tulip Dress over the weekend. It was too cloudy to take proper photos of it though. Hopefully next week there will be more photos of it.
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I had this tulip print from my stash since last summer that I’ve been procrastinating on using since I only had 2 yards of it. The bodice is drafted from my bodice block and the skirt (soon to follow) is from a 1940s Simplicity pattern.
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Over the weekend I finished my self-drafted 1950s inspired dress. The bodice was based off of my bodice block and I drafted a circle skirt for the bottom part. The center back is has an invisible side zipper. It still needs a belt of some sort and to be properly photographed.
View of bodice. Parts of the fabric are plain cotton and not textured, and I used that as a design detail for the bodice. I still need to press the darts firmly with an iron and steam. I also need to trim the lining by the neckline and finish it off.
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Closeup of textured fabric. The fabric is thin and the textured part has little holes, so I lined it.
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Scalloped lace trim that I plan to use as contrast.
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Esteemed Sewing Assistant with Big Eyes. Sewing assistant is sitting on the skirt and lining.
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After months of sewing with patterns, sometimes it’s good to do your own thing and draft your patterns instead. I always feel an intense level of perfectionism when it comes to executing patterns. I don’t feel that same amount of pressure when I sew my self-drafted patterns, since I’m executing what’s already in my head.
This dress is a variation based on my basic bodice block. It has a simple round neck and short sleeves. The skirt is just a gathered rectangle and it has a center back invisible zipper. I originally wanted to make a white lace dress but couldn’t find any good white lace that looked good for everyday wear, so I found this cream-colored textured fabric instead. The fabric is thin so I lined it with flesh-colored polyester lining. There’s nothing about this dress that has layers, tiers or anything cake-like but somehow the title Vanilla Layer Cake Dress fits.
Blouse: Old Navy, many years ago
Wool skirt: homemade
Sweater with fur: thrifted
Shoes: Bass
Tights: H+M
Pin: belonged to my mother
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Alternate front view.
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Side view.
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I know I’m sporting old lady hair, but my hair isn’t set so it’s pinned up and hidden underneath a hat.
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View of sweater front buckle.
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I finished my boring yet practical wool skirt last week. The project was a little dull since sewing plain black wool isn’t very exciting, but I’ll get a lot of wear of this skirt. The pattern is self-drafted with very simple seams, no darts, and nothing bulky. The wool is thick but has good drape. I’ve already worn it once and it proved to be very warm during my walk to work. This project is also part of my Fall/Winter Capsule.
My latest sewing progress has been less of a progression and more of a deterioration, involving my pattern blunder on Simplicity 4628. I didn’t buy the correct weight of flannel for my cotton flannel slip, and so after cutting and assembling the pattern with too-thin flannel, I decided to scrap Simplicity 4628 for now.
My latest project is a basic four-gored skirt in black wool, self-drafted. It is part of my Winter Work Capsule, mentioned here.
Here is my progress on it so far:
I finally finished the Red Lace Dress for Christmas. I used a late 1950s style for the top, using the pattern as a guide and drafting it with my bodice block. I used a 1940s style pleated skirt for the bottom part. I think the style looks very 1940s, especially when paired with set hair.
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Front view.
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Alternate Front View.
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Side view.
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Dramatically posing view.
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Back view.
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Detail of the sleeve scallop view.
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Posing with Santa Esteemed Sewing Assistant. (Bean hates wearing hats btw. It was a great struggle to fit this hat on his head, which was one-size-fits-all and fit well enough 2 years ago, but for some reason only barely fits him now.)
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Patterns used:
I used Simplicity 4254 for the skirt:
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I used Simplicity 4432 as a guide, but drafted it based on my bodice block:
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Pattern notes:
I used Simplicity 4254 for the skirt, and I used Simplicity 4432 as a basis for the bodice. I based the top part on my bodice block, making a jewel neck adjustment like Simplicity 4432 and traced only the sleeve from Simplicity 4432. I cut the scallops on the lace so they were facing the sleeve edge and the hem, and adjusted the skirt length so it would be knee-length for someone of my height. The top back area gapes a little, but not to the extent that the collar falls off. I need to put a hook and eye on the top most part of the zipper closure so it doesn’t gape as much.
Merry Xmas to everyone who is reading this. I hope your holidays are safe, productive, and full of vintage sewing.
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I know this looks like another work in progress shot, but the dress is actually finished at this point. There’s a slit down the back in the skirt for easy walking, and an invisible back zipper was attached on center back. I also finished the facings on the neckline. I’ll have more updates with me actually wearing the dress soon. I’m glad I finished in time for the holidays.
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