Tuesday 14 May 2013

Kicking off summer with blue roses

With my usual uncanny sense of timing, I've decided to make a start on summer dresses just as temperatures plummet and the heating's switched back on! After last year's wash out summer, I've learnt to ignore the weather and just sew what makes me happy. The dresses I made last year were worn non stop during the few sunny days we had, so they're right at the top of my summer sewing list this year. 

First on the list is a second version of the Jubilee dress I made last year.

Jubilee Dress

It's McCall's 4769 and if you avert your eyes from the hideous cover artwork, it's actually a great pattern. And because I've tested the fit already, I can just steam straight in with some much loved and much pawed over Liberty fabric. 

Liberty Carline fabric

My inspiration was the shirt dress from Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing - ssoo beautiful. 

Gertie's shirt dress - gorgeous isn't it?

I chose blue roses rather than red as I've got a bit of a thing for blue roses - they're so unusual and old fashioned! And as we all know, Liberty lawn costs a fortune so I'm determined to take my time with this dress rather than risk any hideous and costly mistakes.

With this is mind, I've underlined the bodice and skirt sections with white silk cotton. 





I made sure I bought the real stuff from the Goldhawk Road and not the rubbish silk cotton imposter I ended up using on my Sew for Victory dress

It's difficult to photograph, but you can just see the sheen of the silk cotton in this photo

I did contemplate underlining by hand with silk thread for a more accurate finish but my dislike of hand sewing won through and I underlined by machine instead. I'm really pleased with the result - the white underlining really makes the fabric glow. I also used a decent interfacing from English Couture (sorry, I can't remember which one I bought) on my collar and facing pieces - something I think is definitely worth investing in.


I'm all set now, I just need to decide on buttons. I'm thinking plain cream - anything else might be a bit too much amongst all those roses. Any thoughts? x


43 comments:

  1. Oh this is going to be so pretty! Please, please, please can you show how you do the collar on this dress? It defeated me when I tried to make one myself.

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    1. OK, well reminded! I'll take some photos of the collar section and will hopefully be able to explain it so that it makes sense. Can't guarantee that it will, but I'll do my best! x

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    2. Yay! Thank you so much :-)

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  2. Thats looks like the sort of pattern I need, I like shirt dresses but they are often too full around the waist making me look frumpy!!

    I got my summer clothes out this weekend and now I'm frozen!

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    1. That's exactly the reason why I like this pattern - lack of fullness around the waist! The skirt is gored so you get a really nice shape without the gathers.
      We changed all the duvets to summer ones last week - big mistake! x

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  3. Beautiful fabric! A dress with blue roses is always at the back of my brain as a "someday" make, though I have yet to find a fabric at a price I like. I think I've been ruined by the place I buy most of my fabric for bargain prices. I hate paying full whack for it these days!

    I think you're right about the buttons. Anything fancy would likely get lost in the print, so I'd go for cream.

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  4. Oh this is going to be smashingly beautiful - can't wait to see!!!

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  5. Ooh, what beautiful fabric! And I agree about the buttons - go for something fairly neutral to let those roses take centre-stage!

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  6. This is going to be fabulous! I agree about the buttons. Cream will be simple but elegant and finish it off nicely.

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  7. Love it, my wedding dress fabric in red, made using
    http://www.google.co.uk/images?q=vintage+vogue+pattern&hl=en&tbm=isch&ei=VRuSUYShFIeU0AWGuYHoBQ&start=240&sa=N

    Loved it,
    Looking forward to seeing yours

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    1. Oh wow, your wedding dress sounds absolutely beautiful! x

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    2. Must try and find a pic - I had the wee jacket in red shot silk and wore 5 inch red high heels!

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  8. I love that fabric in red or blue. I cannot wait to see the finished make!

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  9. I love that fabric! And who cares what the weather is like, a pair of tights and a cardigan will keep the cold away. (Though hopefully that won't be needed, come on sunshine, we're waited long enough.)

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  10. gorgeous fabric! it's going to be lovely. gertie's dress is on my to-sew list at some point but i suspect i won't get to it by the end of summer. still i have blue tulips for simplicity 2444 which will have to do instead!

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    1. Oh I like the sound of that Joanne! Simplicity 2444 is on my to-sew list and tulips are my favourite flowers! x

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  11. Beautiful fabric Jane! I think this is going to be another stunner! I think the cream buttons will be perfect as they won't detract from the print. Looking forward to seeing the finished garment!

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  12. I was clapping my hands in glee whilst reading this Jane! I love blue roses too and I thin it's the perfect choice for your shirt dress. I cannot wait to see this beauty finished!

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    1. I love the image of you clapping your hands in glee Marie! x

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  13. I made myself a lovely 60s fitted top a few months ago in purple Carline poplin, thus avoiding the need to line it. I also have it in red twill and a couple of small pieces of the blue lawn waiting... Yes, I do love Liberty Carline! Your dress is going to look fabulous, and I'd probably go for plain buttons (either cream or blue) that don't detract. I used purple with my top and they just disappear into the roses, which is perfect.

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    1. Ooh I like the sound of red twill Carline! I can just imagine an A line skirt in that fabric! x

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  14. Oops, logged in as my daughter 'eleanor', but that's actually me! And if anyone is looking for purple Carline poplin, Fabrics Galore (in Lavender Hill, but they do online sales) still have it in the small and big flowers at £12/m!

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  15. I'm in love with your choice of fabric! Can't wait to see the finished article.

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  16. Oh, this is going to be a beautiful dress! Have fun taking your time and making it perfect.

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  17. I love your fabric choice. Beautiful. Where did you source your silk cotton? I've been looking for some.
    Personally I like the idea of blue buttons, or possibly fabric covered using pieces with the roses on. Just a thought. Can't wait to see the finished result!

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    1. Hi, I've previously bought my white silk cotton from Classic Textiles on the Goldhawk Rd. Their current roll of white is rubbish though so I wouldn't advise it (their other colours seem fine) I managed to find the most recent batch from a shop directly opposite them on Goldhawk Rd, sorry can't remember the name but the roll is in the doorway as you go in. x

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  18. I think green buttons would look rather stunning personally. I am usually a matchy match kind of sewer, but think the green on this occassion would really work.

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  19. I'd chose mother-of-pearl buttons :) Your dress is going to be just lovely!

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  20. Jane, I would be forever indebted to you if you could take pics of how the collar goes together. I loved the jubilee dress when you made it so I bought the pattern to make one too. I underlined a beautiful fabric and all came to a screeching halt with that collar.

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  21. Gorgeous, gorgeous fabric. I love blue roses, I have a dress with them on and some pretty china plates. Looking forward to seeing the finished dress.

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  22. That fabric is making me swoon! The underlining has made those blue roses POP!

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  23. I love love love that fabric (having made a dress from it myself). can't wait to see how this turns out.

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  24. Your dress is going to look gorgeous come sun or rain. Cream buttons work well with the red roses so will be sure to complement your blue ones too.

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  25. "I've learnt to ignore the weather and just sew what makes me happy": this is my motto from now on as well! Good luck with the remainder and take lots of pics!

    www.craftseverywhere.blogspot.com

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  26. Swoon. I adore the fabric. Jane you will have a beauty there....

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  27. You're just right to make summer dresses, I'm doing the same! I love Gertie's shirt dress too, and also your (and Gertie's) fabric. I'm sure your fabric colour is the same that Gertie used for her Colette Crepe dress, I had been reading her Crepe sewalong when I made mine. Good luck with your dress!

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  28. Yes to this a million times, it's going to be wonderful! I agree with everyone who has said cream buttons - you can always inject some extra colour with accessories like your yellow shoes or your red shoes. I love this fabric, I was stroking it lovingly when I was in Reine a few weeks ago - I must take the plunge one of these days and buy some Liberty fabric.

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  29. Love the dress and the fabric. I love liberty fabric and the roses lokk lovely.

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  30. Gorgeous fabric! Your 1st version turned out lovely so I'm sure this one will too. Great job seeing past the pattern cover art - sometimes I feel they do that to test our imaginations on how it'll look in nice fabric.

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  31. Ooo! I can't wait to see the finished dress! That fabric is really pretty.

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  32. It's going to look great. I too love Gertie's red rose number (it's on my make list for this summer), and thanks for listing your supply places for underlining, I know my usual on-line shops for other fabrics but linings etc I have no idea. Can't wait to see the finished dress, you never know, we might get some sunshine yet so you can wear it! Beth/thelinencat xx

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  33. Love love love those blue roses - what a gorgeous dress that will be!

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