Dresses

Maybe Lil Sebastian got upset because he tried to share his true feelings with someone and they didn’t reciprocate!

Happy Spring everyone! Wait, did no one tell the weather?

The daffodils are out and the sun is shining but it’s still very cold. How unfair.

Almond Rock Butterick 5351

I decided to make a sundress for my May MBN make even if the weather isn’t quite up to it yet and picked this fun striped poly-cotton from Minerva.

This post could also be called “The Hazel dress that wasn’t”. Let’s just say I’m not sure I’ll try a Colette pattern again as I can’t take the emotional roller coaster of trying to fit them.

Almond Rock Butterick 5351

This dress pattern is instead Butterick 5351. It really is an easy dress pattern to make up; I’d definitely recommend this for a beginner looking to try something a little more involved – lots of darts and a zipper basically.

This is actually the first dress pattern I EVER TRIED!

“Hey, Amy from 2010, good choice.”

Almond Rock Butterick 5351

I used vertical stripes on the bodice and skirt, and horizontal stripes for the straps. I really like how the darts make arrows pointing to my waist. I added a row of topstitched bias-binding around the bottom of the skirt to bring in another horizontal line (as with the straps) to balance the dress out.

If you compare to the line art you’ll see I removed the top band and added a gathered skirt.

Almond Rock Butterick 5351

The dress doesn’t have a drafted lining but we know that’s simply a matter of making a duplicate of the dress in lining fabric and sewing the two together along the neckline. The cotton is stiff enough to not need interfacing along the top edge.

I’m on a real invisible/concealed zipper kick right now. I love fully enclosing an invisible zip in the lining as it gives a professional finish inside. This anti-static lining gives a nice crisp finish inside that won’t get caught in the zipper teeth either. My invisible zipper foot has definitely paid for itself ten times over and it was only a £1.50 plastic one from eBay.

Almond Rock Butterick 5351

All this stripe fun and my original plan for a Hazel was to make a candy cane interpretation of Roisin’s green striped Hazel. But after three practice bodices to correct the fit I realised I didn’t even like how the v shaped seams looked on me! Sorry Roisin this is as close as I get.

I have one more Sew Dolly Clackett dress to share that I’ve entered. I’m excited to see who wins as there were some seriously great entries! Very inspiring!

I get a bit teary thinking about how amazing this contest is. Roisin is wonderful. I adore how she embraces colour and joy in her sewing. She really makes you feel welcome and interesting when you meet or talk to her. She’s so unaffected and honest too. I think she knows how much I love hanging out with her so I won’t make a fuss. I’ll just raise a fancy gin cocktail to her. Cheers!

(27) Comments

  1. It’s awesome balls! I just love it. You have a great eye for choosing the right fabric & the trim at the bottom just makes it better. Wow. Lil Sebastian would certainly give you a ride (sidesaddle, of course).

    1. almondrock says:

      Heehee thank you very much and glad you think lil Seb would approve.

  2. Super Cute!!!

    1. almondrock says:

      Why thank you!

  3. LIL SEBASTIAN! When I walked in this morning and saw another flag was at half mast, I thought, “All right. Another bureaucrat ate it. But then I saw it was Lil Sebastian. Half mast is too high. Show some damn respect.

    Aww, my lovely little gin-fiend friend. This dress is tops, and probably better-fitting and cuter than many Hazel dresses out there. I’m sorry the weather isn’t playing ball, but you look like spring in this! I’m really touched you wanted to take part in this sewalong, and needless to say I am so thrilled to have had the chance to get to know you both online and offline. I think you’re absolutely fab xxx

    1. almondrock says:

      Hah I nearly used that quote but it was pretty long. I’m eternally looking for a lil Sebastian tshirt.
      Of course I wanted to take part in this epic virtual-bridesmaid sewing club. Holy crap you’ve inspired a lot of awesome dresses!
      So glad you’re in my life and wishing you endless amounts of squeeeee for your wedding xx

  4. Lovely. It’s a great shape, clealy fate wanted it to be a butterwick instead. The candy stripe rocks.

    1. almondrock says:

      Totally, fate decided and I just followed 🙂

  5. Gorgeous! I LOVE those stripes and the way the front darts look with the stripes. A beautiful dress!!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! It’s only a little thing but the stripes and arrows really make me smile!

  6. Beautiful dress, Amy. I love the way the stripes fall in the bodice. Great choice in a first dress pattern too!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thanks! I clearly managed to find a winner when I didn’t even know what I was looking for! :-p

  7. misscrayolacreepy says:

    I really love the stripes in this dress! Like, really really like! Super cute 🙂

    1. almondrock says:

      Heehee thanks! Playing with stripes is lots of fun!

  8. Ahh I love this dress! The fabric is just perfect for this pattern and it looks so fabulous. The straps and biastape at the hem is such a nice detail. Dress envy!!!

    1. almondrock says:

      Awww thank you! I’m so glad I added the bias. It just looked slightly unfinished without it 🙂

  9. LOVE this dress and the fit is perfect. I also love the touch of trim at the hem, just magic! Perfect springy dress!!

    1. almondrock says:

      Well thank you! I can’t wait to frolic around in it some more 🙂 wooo spring time!!

  10. This, my dear, is just lovely! Everything about it = super cute!!! Adore the candy cane look ;o)

  11. Gorgeous! I love the stripes, they’re so bright and summery. I so hear you re fitting issues on Colette Patterns. An emotional rollercoaster is the right description! It’s such shame because their patterns are so lovely.

  12. I love that you put the stripes the other way on the straps! So cute 🙂

  13. This is so cute! I love this dress on you! I fought with the darts on the Hazel dress for some time and never got them quite right. This looks great!

  14. Super cute dress, you are working the stripes 🙂 At least you got there in the end with the fitting!

  15. It’s so gorgeous! And sunny, and spring-y and red and happy. You make it look in the photos like it’s warm out… which I’m sure it’s not (quite yet). And yes, Colette patterns are a royal B to fit. I’ve pretty much shoved all the ones I own to the back of my pattern stash. And there they’ll stay. But this? It’s gorgeous, and reminiscent of the lovely Hazel lines. Like you said, excellent choice, Amy of 2010!

  16. This is gorgeous and a perfect fit! I had real trouble with the Hazel bodice too … an emotional roller coaster indeed! Who needs it when you can make a dress as lovely as this?!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! Glad to know I wasn’t alone in my torture

  17. […] I’ll be the one loud and proud in my red stripey sundress! […]

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