Maybe Matilda: Summer of the Handmade Dress

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Summer of the Handmade Dress

Have I mentioned that I love dresses? I mean really, really love them, maybe to an unhealthy extreme. If dresses and I could run away together and get married in a 200-year old chapel in a field and move into a bungalow cottage with window boxes filled with pansies and have sweet little ruffly dress babies, I would have done it by now.

But it's a bit of a complicated love, because I find dresses difficult to shop for. I'm tall-ish, so they're always too short on me, and I would prefer if everyone didn't see my hiney with every passing breeze (note: although I'm getting a red squiggle misspelling alert under the word "hiney", google tells me I spelled it right; so confused!), and I think everyone else would prefer that as well. And I need sleeves, which apparently dress designers take issue with. And why are all the cute ones so dang expensive?!

So I've decided: this will be The Summer of the Handmade Dress. And I'm capitalizing it, because it's going to be A Thing (for me, at least). I've done poorly with sewing clothing in the past, but the fact that I pick it up every few months only to get frustrated and tear it all to pieces again makes me think I really should just learn how to do it already so I can stop whining about not having any dresses to wear.

So! Read more to see what's on the docket for this spring and summer . . .




I love the McIntosh Dress from Spool No. 72, and it seems like dress-making really couldn't get much simpler than this . . . fitted tee, a-line skirt, thick sash, BLAM. Done. And I already have the little striped tee, so I just need to get my hands on some pink cotton and it's a go. I'm planning to add pockets, and my version will have, you guessed it, sleeves.



I picked up this Simplicity pattern last time Joann's had their $1 pattern sale (I love that!), and I think this dress looks so light and breezy for summer. I think I want to make it short-sleeved, and lengthen it a bit (am I really that prudish? I promise I don't walk around in ankle-length denim skirts and gigantic shapeless button downs), but I'm already picturing myself wearing this while I walk barefoot on a beach (which are plentiful in Iowa, in case you were wondering).



Speaking of light and breezy, I am loving this Lace Shirtdress from Delia's, which I think would be pretty simple to duplicate as well, especially since I just got my hands on some adorable white eyelet trim . . . for free! Score!
Another cute $1 Simplicity pick . . . I love how effortless this dress looks (and I mean how it looks, not how it looks to sew, although it would be great if that were effortless, too . . . time will tell). I'd prefer if it had sleeves, but maybe I can add some? I don't know, we'll see how it goes.

So there you have it, my starting lineup for The Summer of the Handmade Dress. Of course, the in-my-head version of this list is about 5 times longer, but I didn't want to scare you all away, or dig myself an even bigger pit to have to crawl and hide in if my dress-making efforts flop because I'll be chronicling my dress-making progress right here for everyone to enjoy/laugh at, and I'd love for you to join me :-)

Who's with me? Anyone else planning on doing any spring and summer sewing?

17 comments :

  1. Oooh! I've got the itch now, too! :)

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  2. Your writing makes me laugh. : )
    I love it. And I really like the summer dress goals you have...perhaps I will make some too....we'll see.

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  3. I'm liking that lace shirtdress. I'm a lazy woman - rarely wear skirts or dresses, even in summer! Maybe you can convince me otherwise!

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  4. Gosh, everything on your blog is jus so bright and pretty! I love it! It makes me feel like spring has arrived. :) Found you via the EBT, by the way!

    Sarah
    http://sadiedesigns.blogspot.com

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  5. Oh geez, it's as if I wrote this myself! I've always had a love/hate relationship with sewing, and I NEED someone to teach me how to just follow a flippin pattern, that's all I need! Basics I've got down, just need some pattern 101! Seriously. I'm on board with the frilly dress making with sleeves of course(I've got fat arms). Let's do it!!!!!!!!!

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  6. OH, and had to post this just to show you what's been sitting in my cart for a few months....waiting to be purchased...or sewn :)
    http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-695-glacier.aspx

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  7. Wow, awesome! Post pics when you finish your dresses. Can't wait to see!

    I won't be doing any sewing of clothing this summer, because then I wouldn't have time for painting! I'll definitely be doing a little needlework though!

    Heather

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  8. @the girl

    That dress is ADORABLE! I wish Shabby Apple wasn't so expensive--I LOVE their dresses! How great would it be to not have to add 2 or 3 layers to a dress to feel confident in it?!

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  9. I miss wearing dresses! I love a nice simple summer dress :) And you've picked out some great ones to sew! Can't wait to see them done!

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  10. Sounds great! I looove summer dresses, wish I could wear them all year round! But alas... Oregon is cold right now.
    I have that Cynthia Rowley pattern--be careful what you make with it; the slit will show your bra if you don't wear anything under!

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  11. Cute dresses!
    I really like the lace shirtdress!

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  12. In my mind I am a clothing designer, although I can barely sew a hem! Good luck on your hand made dress summer mission, maybe you will inspire me to learn to sew as well!

    p.s. excited to be a new follower, found you on EBT! :)

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  13. I bought some patterns to start making some summer dresses too. I'm not big on dresses but I'm trying to get into them.

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  14. I think many people get that way about sewing, especially if you really love it. And yay for dresses! :)Found you on EBT.

    Dana

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  15. I have always been jelous of dresses for a couple reasons.
    1. it is a complete outfit... yes I realize that you need to accessorize, but still it is top to bottom, there is no male garment equivalent
    2 light and flowy, I have often seen in the summer girls in dresses not looking hot (the heat kind) at all while in my shorts and a tshirt I am sweating unbearably
    3 They just look bad on me.

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  16. You are SO ambitious! I want to figure out how to get dress #1 in maternity. Because this is my summer of the miserable pregnant lady who is also too tall for most standard sizes...

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  17. I love the a-line skirt with the cute t-shirt!!! What a great idea!

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