Ooooooh!!! This dress is just so snuggly, I don't think I'm ever going to take it off!
It's made in a cosy double knit scored for £2 from Simply Fabrics in Brixton. The pattern is based on a combination of two dresses in Sew U Home Stretch, with a few changes. For example I added (high) waistline darts in the front bodice to give it a bit more shape as the fabric has relatively little stretch for a knit, and raised the back bodice waistline to balance out front and back. I also experimented with the sleeve caps to create a natty pleat instead of gathering, an effect I've been thinking of trying for a while. The little triangle shoulders look pretty sharp in stripes, non?
I find it so tempting as a stitcher to attach colourful details, and originally I intended to add red or mustard yellow buttons at the shoulders (a bit like on my hand-painted Breton top). However I resisted temptation and left the dress as more of a blank slate to be teamed with different coloured necklaces and tights (it looks awesome with red, navy, teal, dusty pink, yellow, grey... should I stop now?).
Would you judge me if I wore this every day?!
[Soundtrack:'Didn't It Rain' by Sister Rosetta Tharpe]
This is such a great dress! I have some red knit languishing in my stash and I think this is just the dress I need to make. Sew U Home Stretch is awaiting..... :)
ReplyDeleteOoh yes, it'd be great in red too. I must make another!
DeleteI love your work do you have video tutorial and if not I'm sure you'd be an instant hit
DeleteTilly your new dress is great! And I love the pop of red colour you're teaming it with. I particularly like the neckline binding and sleeve effect you've done - an all round winner!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm really pleased with how it turned out.
DeleteThat's a cute dress, love the pleats on the shoulder!
ReplyDeleteSo lovely! I would love to make something similar one day
ReplyDeleteLove this! Made even greater by the fact you bagged a huge bargain! I'm also loving those red shoes.
ReplyDeleteThe shoes were a bargain too! £20 from M&S - these ones.
DeleteCuuuuuute, Tilly! Love the edging crosswise and the gathered skirt. And a bargain, too. Yay!
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely! I'd want to wear it every day, too.
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ReplyDelete^ Sorry for the above! My hubby was still logged in.
ReplyDeleteYour stripe matching is PRO! I love this dress with the ruching at the waist and pleated shoulders! I definitely need to tackle more knits myself. They're so comfy and perfect for Fall!
adorable!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great dress! It is so "you". I love the pleated sleeve caps, they create a lovely shape, and it looks fab with the red tights and shoes (which are fab!)
ReplyDeleteI feel like this is the most "me" thing I've made :)
DeleteI love this dress! Good effort:-) I can imagine it paired with so many beautiful colours.
ReplyDeleteFreya May
thedressmakingdiaries.blogspot.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dress! Kudos for taking the time and effort to line up the stripes. Your work is inspiring!
ReplyDeleteyou are such a doll. I'm so happy I've found your website, you inspire me to sew more often! I've told my friends about you too and we're all going to try to make a fun summer dress :) I finally sewed a skirt myself and I must say it's partly because of you! I'd be honored if you came to check it out :) it's not even close to any of your masterpieces but it was fun to make anyway! love this dress you made here!
ReplyDeleteThe House of Shoes
Oh that's great - I'm so happy the blog inspired you :) I'll hop on over and see what you made...
DeleteYour dress looks great! So stylish. Congratulations. I've ordered Sew U Home Stretch finally. I love sewing with knits.
ReplyDeleteSusan
susangwerner@yahoo.com.au
love the shoulder details - it looks awesome just left simple like you mentioned!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely perfect! I don't think I would ever take this off!
ReplyDeleteSO CUTE! I love the little sleeve detail at the top :)
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteThis is so pretty! I recently made a Renfrew top with a nautical stripe. I love it!
ReplyDeleteMore stripes for all! :)
It's got a great shape too :)
More stripes for all indeed!
DeleteOh god, I think I'm in love!!! This is so lovely and looks fantastic with the red tights. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteThanks Len. But you can't have it, it's mine, all mine!!!
DeleteAdorable Tilly! How brilliant to combine Breton with dress....looks so cute. I am indebted to sew u home stretch, it's my most used sewing book...
ReplyDeleteI really have to use it more...
Deleteoh I love it!! and what a great idea with red tights!!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I will have to figure out how to do that cute sleeve pleat!
ReplyDeleteIt's more than easy. I could do a quick how to if you like?
DeletePlease do! Those sleeves are absolutely adorable, and your tutorials always give me the "I can actually do this" nudge that gets me over to the machine.
DeleteYes please!
DeleteReally Really cute Tilly! I love stripes! Pati x
ReplyDeleteThis is so perfect! I want one for myself!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteEeeep, how cute!!! Love the sleeve detail and leaving it as simple as possible was a great idea - you'll be able to wear it in so many different ways!
ReplyDeleteIf only I had seven of them so I could wear it every day... sigh...
DeleteWell, you best get busy then lady ;o)
DeleteSU-PER-BE!!!
ReplyDeleteYes please to a pleated sleeve how-to!! Your dress is lovely and the detail on the sleeves makes it that extra bit special. Although I'm with you on the never-enough-bretontops but this dress is just as effortlessly stylish!
ReplyDeleteOo your dress looks lovely especially the sleeve detail.
ReplyDeleteI'm itching to get going with the sew u book just need to find the time!
Oh my goodness, I love those sleeve cap pleats. They give such a nice balance to the shape of the dress. This is such a great piece! If I were you, I'd be making another...
ReplyDeleteI love love love the way you've done the sleeves. Perfect.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely adorable! It suits you perfectly. I love it with the red tights and shoes too :)
ReplyDeletegorgeous! i love the shoulder detail and it looks fab with the red tights and shoes!
ReplyDeleteMama mia this is adorable!
ReplyDeleteThis is all shades of amazing!!! LOVE what you did to the sleeve heads in particular xxx
ReplyDeleteFab dress. £2...fabric!!!!! bargain.
ReplyDeleteTilly, can you please recommend a simple sewing book for skirts and dresses that come with pattens. I've not sewn for a few years now - with having two babies, time is limited. But I would like to get back into it. I've been on Amazon but there seems to be so many books to choose from. Help!! Many thanks.
If you can sew already (and don't need help with threading the machine etc), the Colette Sewing Handbook is a lovely one, which comes with five patterns. Sew U Home Stretch is great for knits if you're keen to work with them. It shows you how to mix and match the pattern pieces so you can make what you like. Enjoy!
DeleteI love this dress! I'm making the Darling Ranges dress at the moment and the high waist reminds me of that! I love stripes too - can't get enough of them. I like the styling with the red tights as well.
ReplyDeleteSo perfect! Great shape with those darts addeded in and the stripes are so you.
ReplyDeleteI love the Sew U book, it's the sewing book I turn back to most often and makes knits feel straight-forward. But your version looks even better than the illustrations in the book, so inspiring.
Also super-tempted to pick up some of that bargainous double-knit, excellent for Autumn.
It's cute! The waist seam doesn't seem level though, which would bother me among the stripes. You may need to lower the bust darts to level it up.
ReplyDeleteSo so cute, love it with the red tights! Great shoulder pleat!
ReplyDeleteLove the shape, love the stripes, love the sleeves.... Looks super comfy, yet elegant! And isn't that the best combination?
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ReplyDeleteThis dress is beyond adorable on you! I absolutely LOVE the matchy tights and shoes combo too - a look I often go for! I've been thinking about doing some snuggly (but still pretty) knit dresses... I just never find nice enough double knit fabrics - any suggestions? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJust browsing again on your site having seen you last week on T.V. and just love what you make - you're absolutely delightful and so are your creations. I can't imagine how it must feel to be on the programme and to now be known to millions - Good luck, we're all rooting for you!
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