This is the photo I chose:
I wanted to capture the dressed-up Easter feeling of the photo above. I particularly wanted something that had an interesting sleeve detail (check out those puffed sleeves in my childhood photo!), something light pink and something I could wear with lovely white gloves.
McCall 5676 from 1944 fit the bill perfectly:
I used version A as my guide and did it up without the lace trim and without pockets. I was originally going to do version B's sleeves but ended up going with A (to use some of the fabric details).
I've been eyeing the broderie anglaise at the local fabric shop for awhile. It's so beautiful and I love fabric with a border. I was, however, concerned that it was so sheer. I also don't tend to wear pastels, so I wasn't sure how it would work but when Mena announced the theme for this week, I decided to go for it!
It was really fun trying to piece it all together and to use bits of the broderie anglaise for different elements of the dress.
I used the scallop of the broderie anglaise for the hem and the sleeves of the dress. This was very nice as it meant I didn't have to hem either of them!! Of course the downside was matching up the pattern and also figuring out how much length I needed for the dress and translating that into how I made up the skirt (i.e. taking up more into the waist in front than in the back for my bum which affects the length of the dress!)
I also made self-covered buttons with the three-leaf clover design that was in the border of the fabric. I really like how they came out!
Happy almost Easter everyone!
Oh my, that is adorable. I love it. Thanks for being such a great inspiration. I wanna go home and sew!
ReplyDeleteHehe, that’s such a great idea and you haven’t changed a bit! I live the way you have done the sleeves and buttons. Tups x
ReplyDeleteVery, very lovely!
ReplyDeleteAww, so cute!! And those gloves finish off the look beautifully :)
ReplyDeleteAshley x
Very sweet. I love easter dresses, so spring like. Love the covered buttons, nice detail. I just finished my Easter dress too, in pink. You look beautiful as always!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! i almost piked a shot of me in white gloves & pink dress as inspiration.... i'm glad i didn't as yours is most definitely the tops. (i am very competitive, especially in self-imposed competitions that no one else know about.)
ReplyDeleteI love this so much! And how very clever of you to center the design on your covered buttons!
ReplyDeleteSuper clever use of buttons! Also - I'm curious for more info on how you matched up the scallops on the hem - I've done border prints (same concept, really) with a gored skirt (actually, colette parfait) and really struggled with that!!
ReplyDeleteI think you really caught the spirit of the inspiration photo, although you would have gotten FULL POINTS for including a small black handback with a SUPER LONG strap :-) (tee hee)
And I don't know if you go back in comments, but you were totally right on with my kid-picture - I'm making a grown up version for the sew weekly challenge... I'm taking a break from working out what length of shorts I want right now!
So lovely! The covered buttons are particularly cute.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty. I love broderie anglaise. All the little details like using the scallop hem and the self-cover buttons really make it special.
ReplyDeleteWhat great challenge - and you delivered! This dress is perfect because it incorporates the childhood elements while also looking appropriately "grown-up" enough for a woman to wear. Sweet and sophisticated.
ReplyDeleteWow, I love that dress pattern and your take on it! This has been such a fun challenge, sadly I didn't have time to participate this week. I love your Easter colors and your love of white gloves! Oh, the days of yesteryear when we could do that more often!!
ReplyDeleteHow perfectly Easter! I love all of the small but important details that really make it something special. Wow!! (I love the inspirational photo, too. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt really does hold the promise of easter and spring. It's a lovely dress Debi.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Just beautiful! Sam xox
ReplyDeleteBeautiful detail on the buttons!
ReplyDeleteI think you've really caught the essence - it feels like you could also be going to a birthday tea party - cute! Love the way you've kept the edges & covering the buttons - sweet!!
ReplyDeleteoooo, perfection. I love the use of the embroidery for the buttons - very clever indeed. Your picture, however, made be shiver -- today here in Upstate NY, it is very windy and cold. If it were Easter, no one would be wearing a dress like that unless they had a matching coat to go along (and I have to admit that my memory of Easters from when I was, ahem, young, was that everyone had to wear their winter coats and boots to go to church at Easter as we always had snow still on the ground).
ReplyDeleteWow, it is so cute! The detail with the covered buttons is just great! And no hemming, yay! :)
ReplyDeleteYou look adorable! This is so pretty. I really love the scalloped edges, and the buttons - such a nice touch!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute dress! I just love it :-D
ReplyDeleteProof that it is all in the detail! Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the most adorable thing I have seen you in yet!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun challenge to do! :) I love how your grown-up version came out; all the details are stellar (especially those covered buttons). What a beautiful spring look! :)
ReplyDelete♥ Casey
Total sweetness! Both the adult you and the child you, that is. I have a feeling you probably thought getting your picture taken back then was pretty silly. You look ready to crack up.
ReplyDeleteI love how you adapted a long-ago style to something more modern and grownup.
I think this outfit is so pretty, especially paired with the gloves!
ReplyDeleteDebi you are so talented love the outfit.
ReplyDeleteSo cute and sweet. I love those clover buttons. The scalloped and embroidered hem and sleeves are perfect for the dress style. Lovely!
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