I’ve finally got round to doing some dressmaking! I’ve made myself a summer dress…
In my stash I had this length of teal blue fine cotton lawn with a little feather design on it. It feels like Liberty Tana lawn, so I think I bought it at Steadfast and Barracks in Lancaster. They used to make fabric for Liberty so when Liberty decided to transfer all their manufacturing abroad (don’t get me started on that one!!!) they brought out their own range of cotton lawn, at a third of the price!
I originally planned to make a simple cotton dress, sort of princess lines, slightly flared midi skirt. I then realised just how much fabric I had bought, especially as it was 60″ wide! I had a change of plan and reached for a pattern I bought a few years ago called the Cinema Dress by Liesl & Co. I’d been put off making it before because it takes such a lot of fabric – even with wide fabric it takes 3.5m. I must have bought 4m as I had plenty.
The dress is very loose fitting, with about 3-4″ ease around the bodice. The pattern sizing is completely different to other patterns, my size came between an 8 and a 10, in view of the generous ease I made a size 8. It buttons down the back to the waist.
Seam allowances are 1/2″, so I tended to move my machine needle across so I could follow the standard 5/8ths line instead. I overlocked to finish the seams (my overlocker actually decided to work!!) The pattern did go together pretty easily but I think the order Liesl & Co make it in is bizarre, it didn’t flow and at times it made it harder than it should have been in my opinion. As an example, there are pockets in the centre front side seams. It would have been simple to attach the welts and the pocket pieces to the front and the side front before they were attached to anything else, so it was a nice flat manageable piece. The instructions had you joining the bodices to the skirt front and backs, then the bodices at the shoulders and the sides at the shoulders first. You were then attaching the pockets onto a piece that was about 10′ long!
Moan over! It’s a comfortable, everyday sort of cotton summer dress. It’s plenty big enough, though if I reach up for anything the whole dress rides up – I’ll have to be ladylike in this one! I love the pockets on the front and I also like the length of the sleeves with their little cuff turn-up.
The final comment in the pattern is ‘Don’t you feel like a glamorous old-style cinema star in your new dress’…well no, but it’s a nice summer dress!
thecraftycreek 
Very Pretty blue dress -you did an excellent job – wish I still liked making clothes – I started when I was in the 6th grade making most of my clothes and by the time I was 30 I was done! After retirement I wanted to quilt! 20 years of retirement and about 17 years of quilting! YEA!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I make most of my clothes, but I don’t have a huge wardrobe 🙂 Now I’ve finished my Spring Wreath quilt, I want to get a few clothes made 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pretty, comfy-looking dress, and I love how you selected your background for maximum contrast 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kate, it is pretty comfy, I was trying to find a bit of the garden where I wouldn’t squint too much with the low evening sun 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This one is definitely a keeper. I like the neckline, sleeves and pockets. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lisa, it’s a nice, easy to wear style, I can see myself going round Otley market in it 🙂
LikeLike
Very glam, and I love 3/4 sleeves, its nice that you not only had the lovely fabric handy but that there was plenty of it to accommodate the pattern.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I’ve been putting off using the pattern because of the amount it took 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely dress, Margaret, and great job with those “instructions.” 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Del, the instructions worked, the order just didn’t make sense!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then let’t hope they change the order in the next edition!
LikeLike
Looks comfortable, Margaret! I like the 3/4 sleeves and pockets! It is a pretty color, too! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Laura, I think I’ll get a lot of wear out of this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a lovely dress! Blue, my favourite. Nice work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Linda, there’s a fair bit of teal blue sneaking into my wardrobe 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful new dress for a beautiful lady! The style is quite summery and the pockets do look comfortable. 👍🏻❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
I think it is gorgeous. What film will you go and see now?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I still haven’t seen Bohemian Rhapsody 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely, comfy dress. I didn’t know that about Liberty – shocking!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Tialys, I think what makes me cross with Liberty is that they make themselves out to be such a traditional English company.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s very nice! I love the color and the lines, and it does look easy to wear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kerry, it’s an easy dress to wear.
LikeLike
lovely style, lovely colour and looks great on you ^^
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Gorgeous – far too nice to be hidden in a cinema – afternoon tea would be far better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, afternoon tea sounds a much better idea – you know me too well 🙂
LikeLike
Loved that last bit…do you feel like a cinema star….no, but it is a comfortable summer dress. LOL! That does look comfy, especially if the weather is warm, lots of room for air movement! That blue is a great color for you too, Margaret!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I’ll get a lot of wear out of this one, there’s a lot of teal blue sneaking into my wardrobe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely dress and I love the pockets! Nice sandals which compliment the dress nicely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Tierney, I love the pockets too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person