At the weekend I finally got round to having a photo taken in a dress I made a couple of weeks ago. It’s sort of a practise run for sewing with sheers as one of my challenges this year (2020 Vision) is to sew a sheer shirt. On one of my trips to Dewsbury to fabric shop I fell for a raspberry pink cotton lawn. It’s very fine, I think it’s called acid-etched cotton as the design is the sheer bit. I’ve fallen for this type of fabric three times now, all from Lucky Fashions in Dewsbury, probaby for around £5 a metre. I made a dress from a length in teal in 2018, I’ve worn it quite a few times…
This time I made the pink up, as you can see it’s very pink, what I would call raspberry pink and the pattern etched out is a multitude of dragonflies. These fabrics are not as sheer to wear as you would think, you can see the top area with my arm behind really isn’t that see through, though with a bit of light behind it’s a different matter! Having said that, I do need to make an underskirt of some kind to wear for a bit of modesty!
I decided to make a shirt waiter dress, a nice cool looking one for summer. I rifled through my patterns and decided on Vogue 9371, it’s part of the Vogue Easy Options and as shirt-waister dresses go, it is pretty simple.
It’s very loose fitting, there’s no darts to shape the back or front, and only side seams to stitch for the main body. I didn’t want to use a white interfacing, however thin, so instead I used some pink batik fabric I had in my stash which was the perfect colour, I just hand stitched it round the collar pieces and stitched as one, it worked really well.
I lengthened the skirt a bit, I do like my summer dresses pretty long. The cap sleeves were edged with bias binding and as it happened I had a perfect match of bias in my stash, I think it was some that someone passed on to me when clearing a house, it was meant to be!
I didn’t have any buttons to match but I did find just enough self cover buttons, not all exactly the same, but near enough. I made them with the batik behind again both to give a little strength and to stop the white plastic from showing through.
It’s a pretty dress, I’m just not 100% sure about the pattern, I don’t feel it’s the most flattering, with all the gathering being created by the sash it’s not easy to get it to look neat. Maybe a proper belt would be better, or maybe I just need to wear it a bit, get used to it!
thecraftycreek 
Gorgeous fabric and I think you look great in the dress, but you have to feel comfortable.
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It turned out fantastic. You look wonderful in it as is. As Wild Daffodil says you must feel comfortable in it.
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I think style AND colour both suit you beautifully!
Plus it’s summer, so if we can’t float around wearing something pretty, then life wouldn’t be living! You did a great job and I hope you feel more comfortable in pink the more you wear it.
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It looks fabulous and perfect for warm summer days
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Lovely fabric and colour and £5 a metre!!! 🤑
I know what you mean about tie belts – I can never get one that looks right to me no matter whether it’s a skinny tie or wide sash.
Not long until the hairdressers open again for you. They’ve been open a few weeks here now so I did go and have mine cut – shorter so it will last longer – but I’ve found an idiot proof colour that I can use myself at home now. I didn’t want to sit in the chair wearing a mask and having every surface I’ve touched disinfected with a spray each time I move from sink to mirror any more often than I have to. 😏
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I’ve got a hair appointment 😀 I’m just having a cut, still tempted to grow out the colour and see if I’m brave enough to go natural!
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Hello Margaret, this dress is really lovely and looks great on you. Well done. Regards Mandy xx
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I think both the colour and style look lovely. Thanks for sharing your batik solution for interfacing.
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Margaret, this turned out beautifully. Thanks so much for “showing” me the fabric during the Weekender. It looks even better in your photos!
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Hi Del, it’s a similar pink, but I will be showing that one shortly 🙂
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Oops! 🙊 Sorry, Margaret!
Looking forward to your post!
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I love that color for summer, so bright and cheery! I think that style looks really nice on you. Not too many gathers, but quite casual and easy going. It still makes a nice silhouette.
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Very pretty! 😍
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