Tuesday 19 March 2013

Finished: Sew for Victory dress


Ta-da. Here's my Sew for Victory dress (Du Barry 5384), all finished and looking rather spiffing. 

Apologies for the foliage, by the time I realised it was in all the photos the sunlight had disappeared...


The process of sewing this dress was pretty uneventful (in a good way) and it all came together easily enough. My only whinge was with the silk cotton I used to underline it. One of the reasons I always veer towards silk cotton for lining or underlining is because it's so easy to work with - I knew this fabric was an impostor straight away as it didn't behave itself at all when I was cutting it out. In its favour though, it's silky to the touch and slinky against the skin and it looks fine on the finished dress. The underlining, plus the addition of a ginormous central back zip means the dress slips on and off wonderfully easily.  


Talking of zips, I tried my very first hand-picked zip on this dress and am delighted with the result. I really didn't trust the badly behaved silk cotton to play fair with a zipper foot - I just knew there would be bunching and unpicking and swearing and screaming to contend with further down the line. So I hand-picked the zip, using Tasia's excellent tutorial and it worked like a dream. It did take a good hour to sew it in by hand, but it was 22 inches long, so that's not surprising. The accuracy and neatness on the other hand, are way better than my usual efforts so it's definitely an hour well spent.


For fabric, I used a charcoal grey lawn-like cotton from Walthamstow market, which, considering the quality, was an absolute bargain at £2 a metre. Yes, I know I wear a lot of grey but I do love it as a colour and I have grey eyes so I'm allowed to! I had to include a pop of colour somewhere though, so I finished the sleeve hem and neck with red polka dot bias binding. I'd have liked to have added it to the hem as well but ended up simply machining a narrow, overlooked hem instead. The pattern allows for a two inch hem, but with the gored skirt, this just looked ridiculously bunched up.  


The fit is lovely, comfortable yet flattering - I think it's all in the panels which cleverly define the waist. I'm in love with this dress, I think it gives me a sexy shape, yet is elegant at the same time, which is what drew me to 1940's styles in the first place. My husband even made a rare, unsolicited comment, saying it was his favourite of all the dresses I'd made. It may not sound like much, but believe me, coming from him, that's praise of the highest calibre.

Thank you Rochelle of Lucky Lucille, for organising such a fun and interesting sew along. Rochelle's knowledge of the 1940's is astounding - I learnt so much during this challenge and loved every minute of it. It hasn't finished yet though, don't forget to check out Lucky Lucille on March 31st for a victory parade of awesome 1940's lovelies. I, for one, cannot WAIT!



It's a shame really, I'm all dolled up with nowhere to go. I'd give anything to roll up to a swing dance right this minute. I'd be wearing the perfect dress anyway. x


54 comments:

  1. i love this dress! totally gorgeous. you do like you need a swing dance! and you really suit grey. i like it a lot too.

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  2. This looks really good on you! I hope my comes out as successful :)

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  3. Great dress! Grey looks good on you!

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  4. You look gorgeous, the style of the dress really suits you! and I love that red polka dot trim on the inside, too. Red and grey work so well together. Hurray! Tabatha x

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  5. What a gorgeous dress, it really suits you. I love the grey polka dots!

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  6. That came out great!! I love that you put in a little pop of color with the bias binding, such a cute touch. The dress looks wonderful on you, and your hand picked zipper is beautiful. I like doing those now and again but more power to you on a 22" zip, phew!

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  7. Jane, it's gorgeous! I love it! I really like the grey, and I wear a lot of grey - don't let anyone tell you to stop wearing it ;) I love the flash of red too. I'm a bit jealous...I wonder if I have time to complete the challenge too...

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  8. It's gorgeous, Jane! Really well done. :)

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  9. Just lovely! I adore the red & white polka dot trim at the edge of the sleeve! Wear it in good health.

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  10. Lovely! You look amazing! Great fit and style on you! The zipper is superb. What a great pay off for the work!

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  11. Oh, Jane! It's just beautiful! Exquisite fabric (and color) and lovely details (that little red polka dot hem)! I really adore it on you.

    I like the fronds. They look like they're waving...

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  12. I like the way the polkadots arc across your chest in a rainbow shape.

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  13. Grey is a wonderful colour. And grey polka dots, well can it get any better!

    The pattern of the dots is so beautifully matched up, so as not to interrupt the flow. It really is a beautifully made dress and looks lovely on you.

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  14. Oh Jane, wow! You look very sexy indeed, in a very expensive way! I adore the shape of the dress on you(the panels and ruched detail are divine) and that fabric is amazing...I really want some badly. What a gorgeous colour and the polka dots...yum!

    I have a question about your lining if you don't mind! I make no secret of the fact that I'm terrified of lining stuff (and have never done it properly before), but I like the sound of the silk cotton as I hate polyester linings so much! Do you know roughly what percentage of silk is in the cotton, does it cost a lot and also...when you line dresses/skirts with it, does it cling to tights or glide nicely? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just a novice liner and always on the lookout for something slinkier than lawn, but not polyester-ish.

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    1. Ha! 'sexy in an expensive way' - love it! I'd really recommend silk cotton (if you buy the proper stuff, not a nasty imposter which is what happened here). It's easy to cut out (unlike polyester lining) and feels slinky against the skin. It also works well with tights and glides nicely without clinging. I pay £4 a metre from Classic Textiles on Goldhawk Road but I've no idea what % of silk it contains, I'll ask them next time I'm there. I'll send you a remnant if you like so you can feel how nice it is, let me know. x

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    2. A remnant would be amazing Jane, thanks so very much! I think you have my address, but I'll send it to you again just in case ;o)

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  15. I can see why this is your husband’s favorite make! It’s lovely and it suits you very nicely. I really like your fabric choice. I say, wear as much grey as you like.

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  16. I LOOOOVE it! What a perfect dress, and the accessories are cute to boot!

    Victorious, indeed!

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  17. This pattern really suits your figure and shape. As does the colour and fabric! Great choice Jane and congratulations on finishing the challenge with style!

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  18. Jane your new dress is lovey. I really like the red polka dot bias accent. It looks great on you so I'm not surprised by your husband commenting on it... maybe you can convince him to take you dancing?

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  19. It's really fabulous, both in shape, fit and fabric. Love the sneak bit of red polka dot! Bethx/thelinencat

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  20. It's truly fabulous Jane, a beautiful shape and such pretty fabric. No wonder the mister likes it so. Xx

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  21. It's beautiful, Jane! I knew from just looking at the envelope art that the finished dress would be super flattering, but I actually think it looks better in real life than in the drawing (and you know, it usually tends to be the other way around!). This needs to be a TNT for you - make it over and over! Or you can gift it to meeeeee haha :)

    Seriously, though, I love!!

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  22. What a lovely dress! The colour is so nice and the fit is great.Very flattering! Are you planning on making any other dresses with this pattern?

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  23. The colour is stunning on you. I love a handpicked zip. It's worth the extra bit of time to get such a great finish.

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  24. This is beautiful! I love the polka dots and you are right, the panels do make it very flattering.

    You definitely need to dance in that skirt at some point, it's the perfect skirt for dancing in. Nice and swingy!

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  25. Jane, we need to find a swing dance to go to. We live in London, for heaven's sake! I'd go with you in a heartbeat, we'd have such a laugh. I also am interested to read about silk/cotton lining. All looks fabulous and effortless!

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  26. This is gorgeous! I love me some polka dots. I would love to learn to swing dance but I don't know anyone that would come with me.

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  27. Looks gorgeous, really suits the red lips too, which is the great thing about grey :)

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  28. Jane you look so fabulous! And I love (love!) the colours! And the plant sneaking its way into your photograph teehee.

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  29. Looks great - well done!
    Love the colours too.

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  30. Grey and red looks brilliant with your colouring my dearest Jane, another triumph! Big squashy hugs and kisses to you xxx

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  31. Gorgeous dress! Looks so good! The pattern suits you to a T. It would look good in so many other colours/fabrics too.

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  32. Stunning dress and I bought this fabric when I was in Walthamstow recently for a 40s dress too!! I am working on another one right now, so not sure I will finish both for the challenge, but we'll see!
    Your hand picked zipper is the best I have seen - really neat and a great finish, you have almost convinced me to give it a go!

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  33. Epic! And you look stunning in grey so I say keep owning it! That is possibly the best handpicked zip I have ever seen- I am in awe!

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  34. This is gorgeous Jane, I love the glimpse of red on the sleeves too. A colour that suits you AND polka dots, what's not to like?!

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  35. Love it! Love it! You look wonderful!

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  36. Great dress! It looks perfect on you!

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  37. Fab dress, the only way you could improve it is with the addition of red polka dot bias tape - and you did! :)

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  38. Your dress is gorgeous. I love the colour and how it's shaped at the waist, it's so flattering. Also I think the folage looks pretty groovy in your photos!

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  39. Jane, this is fabulous!! I just love the the dress and the fabulous polka dots!!

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  40. Love it :) Especially the secret pop of colour :) And Hooray for the unsolicited approval from your husband - THAT is always a good sign ;)

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  41. Wow, stunning! from the handpicked zip to the secret pop of sleeve facing/hemming, this dress is awesome.

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  42. Beautiful dress, and you look amazing.
    I wish i can sew like that

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  43. So beautiful!! The panels and the skirt really come together to accentuate your curves; I love it! And of course the bias binding was inspired--always fabulous to have a secret pop of color. I love handpicked zippers, they're the only way I can even get a zip to look normal. Kudos on 22 inches of handpicking, though!! Haha

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  44. I love the pattern and fabric you used on the dress. you look great!

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  45. So lovely! It is indeed very flattering, and polka dots suit you. The red polka dot bias sleeve hem is such a nice hidden detail.

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  46. What a lovely creation. It's the perfect look for you. Yes, I agree, you do look sexy in it as well. The style is wonderful and I love the red polka which compliments each different coloured polka dot.

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  47. Oh WOW! I adore this dress on you Jane, just fabulous and the fabric sounds like a complete and utter score (even if the lining was a pig!). The style is just wonderful on you and I adore the pop of red polkadots. Absolute win!

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  48. Looks great in the photos, and even better in real life yesterday! So nice to chat at the meetup x

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