Friday 13 May 2016

The Texan flower frock



So its been a while!

As part of my MeMadeMay pledge (to wear totally me made except underwear), I added that I wanted to make 4 new garments and write 4 blog posts. I always find that however much I enjoy doing something, sometimes I need a push to do it if I haven't done it in a while!

I have been getting into the whole decluttering/ minimalism thing recently (I have marshalled my thoughts into a separate post to come) but overall I want to use patterns and fabric I have already rather than buying more. So this uses a piece of fabric i bought from Joanns when I was in Dallas last year. I met up with Brooke from Custom Style and she kindly took me shopping (and burrito eating), armed with loads of coupons so I could take full advantage of the cheap prices vs the UK.

This is a quilting cotton in a gorgeous dark floral print.  The selvage says it is a Joanns exclusive. I don't have an issue with quilting cotton for dresses but I have generally used "designer" ones. This is definitely less good quality than those. It's much stiffer and I found a few flaws in it (after i had cut unfortunately!). So it needed a pattern that didn't need drape and I chose the Deer and Doe Belladone which i picked up in their Black Friday sale back in November. The a-line skirt works fine in the stiffer fabric.

I didn't realise the hands on waist was causing  back wrinkles and hubby obv didn't notice (grr bad bloggerhusband)

I may be the only blogger who has made this up with the plain back! I had intended to make the open back version but when I muslined I wasn't sure that it was very me. I might make another version for summer with the open back though.

I did my usual round of alternations - a small FBA, lengthening the bodice by 1.5", lowering the bust darts by 1" and lengthening  the skirt by 2". After muslining I lowered the bust darts another 1".  
In the final version, the bodice could probably be 1" longer and the skirt would hit slightly closer to the knee. However it is totally wearable as is and I'll make this change on future versions.

Ignore derpface please


Sorry for the phone pics in this post. On the day we took these we went to Windsor, hubby brought his Go Pro and assured me the pics would be brilliant. However if you have ever seen your backside in a fisheye lens, you'll realise why people normally use them for landscapes! So back up phone photos it is!

13 comments:

  1. I love that dress and really like it the length it is. I am joining MMM too with altering already made items that are a bit wrong somehow! Jo x

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    1. thanks jo - can't wait to see what you have done!

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  2. There's a plain back option for this dress? Not in the paper version I have, must be new. Your dress is lovely and great fabric!

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    1. haha - yes, there is! maybe that's why i haven't seen it before. thanks liz!

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  3. (Finally catching up a little with my blog reading so I'm a little late in commenting!) I love your dress! It's a great print and you made the not-perfect fabric work really well with the pattern you used.

    It was so fun to get a chance to meet up with you when you came to Texas - maybe someday we can do it again and have a little more time! =)

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    1. thanks brooke for the comment and for showing me around when i was over there! would love to do it again some time. you'll have to come to london!

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  4. Exellent dress!
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  8. That's a great frock, thanks for sharing! Also check this awesome collection of long sleeve jumpsuits for women, you'll love it!

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