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The Swansea Dress! Blogtoberfest (5)

I have previously made up several patterns from scratch or significantly modifying patterns; such as this skirt for me and this dress for Issy (as well as a version for Gemma, most quilts, costumes etc.).  I think this is the most complicated so far, with a centre front pleat on the bodice, a two tier bias cut skirt and bound armholes.  As I am making it for our "holiday" away in Swansea, I decided to call this the Swansea dress:


I based the dress on a bodice pattern for another dress which I had to substantially alter.  I added a pleat down centre front (a little over 1") which annoyingly isn't very visible in this fabric.  I made a two tier bias cut skirt and a waistband in contrasting fabric which I wanted to lie flat at the front.


 I shirred the back bodice to ensure she can get this on and off without any closures and was happy for the back to be all gather-y while the front lay flat.

This version of the dress is essentially the muslin.  I have some lovely Japanese lawn I want to make the real version out of but didn't want to just make things up on the nice fabric.  The fabric I used is pretty - just a cotton something or other with blue flowers on it.

I have no idea what she is doing with her hand here...
As you can see best from the above picture, I have some minor fitting issues.  The armholes are too big and the neckline also gapes a bit.  I will rectify these in the next version.  I also want to make the waistband sit at the waist rather than being more of a dropped waist like here, though I think this looks nice too.  I also kind of liked how the back tiers out from the shirring and elastic in the waist band, but I will make the two tier skirts more a-line in the next version too.


Details to follow of how I made this pattern as I make the next version.

And as you can see, she liked it - enough to do her posing for it :)


See you tomorrow...

Comments

  1. Oh I adore the detail at the back! Gorgeous.
    Lovely sweet print too... goes so well with her strawberry hair. Beautiful in every way... even the imperfect arm holes - which really are just perfect for dancing and waving one's arms about!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, I am pretty pleased with it! You may be right about the armholes, there is probably a limit to how fitted this can be while getting her easily in and out based on the back shirring alone too..

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