Dresses

What A Gem

Today I’m here to share a Minerva Blogger Network make!

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I had a short break from the Network while I worked on some other projects and will probably keep the collaborating a bit more sporadic this year so I can keep sewing from my stash!

For the dress I chose a gorgeous quilting cotton in mid-blue with coloured gems. I can’t help by smile at all the pretty colours in this dress; those gems are my idea of the perfect colour palette.

The dress is the brain child of pinterest. I wanted a button up back dress with cool triangle closures. Basically it’s business in the front, party in the back!

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I was really tempted to show a little skin between each button but it would have immediately lowered wearability for me as I couldn’t go bra less and would have hated straps peeking through.

I used the Simplicity 2444 bodice as a start and altered the back piece to create the overlapping triangles. I added the lovely gathered A line skirt of the Deer and Doe Sureau dress.

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Sorting out the number and size of triangles I wanted took a few drafts. It also gave me some ideas for other variations, for example this could easily be recreated with a scalloped closure.

I transferred my seam markings using a tracing wheel and carbon, and reduced my stitch length to land neatly on the end of each outward point. In the valley between each triangle I made sure to sew one horizontal stitch to round off the inward point, this helps when turning out, as then the angle isn’t too harsh.

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Clipping and notching is also really important for getting the triangle points neat. My trusty prym point turner helped make easy work of this. Once you’ve used a proper point turner it’s hard to go back to a pencil or a chopstick!

It might not be obvious but things were a little different construction wise!
I sewed the bodice with bodice lining in its entirety. I then sewed the skirt and installed my invisible zipper. I then attached my skirt with the bodice lining folded open, aligning the edge of each side of the skirt back with the bodice back seams. I then attached the skirt lining, handsewing along the zipper tape. And finally then folded down my bodice lining and hand stitched it in place.

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The dress used almost all of the 2 metres I had (but since I self lined the bodice that’s not too surprising). I used navy antistatic lining on the skirt, five 2cm wide orange buttons and a 9inch blue zip to coordinate. Finally I used 1 inch stiff navy polycotton bias binding on the skirt; this helpa hold the bell shape and gives the illusion of a good size hem which I like.

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I’m really pleased that my coral ballet flats go with the dress as sometimes they’re a little too electric to wear. I need a coral cardigan now, don’t I!

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(28) Comments

  1. Amy, this is sooooo cute. Love those triangular back button closures (I might call them button flaps, but maybe there’s a “real” word for them). Fabric is great, and different colored buttons, too? Really cute.

    1. almondrock says:

      Button flaps!!! That’s totally the word. Why couldn’t my brain think of that at the time haha. Thanks for helping a girl out!

  2. Beautiful dress – very clever button detail too!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thanks Rach! Turns out my math skills aren’t too terrible after all

  3. Lovely detail at the back, a really nice style feature!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! It’s just a shame I don’t get to see it while I’m wearing it!

  4. This is lovely! Great fabric and I love the button detail x

    1. almondrock says:

      Thanks so much! I can’t believe how cute this fabric is. I love looking at it… but must remember not to walk into walls

  5. What a fun dress! The back detail is so fun, and the print is awesome! Really love it!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! I can’t get over this print, it’s like all the perfect colours in one fabric! And I’m so relieved that the buttons worked out

  6. Tania says:

    Ah, this dress is too perfect! I sense a copy coming on… :o)

    1. almondrock says:

      Heehee thank you! Copy away!

  7. This looks great. Love the triangular button back. How much extra width did you add for the button band?

    1. almondrock says:

      It was only about 3 cm. The valleys of each triangle are 5 mm from the centre back to ensure no peeking

  8. really love this dress. the print is awesome and the extra effort you went to with the button back totally makes it! I’ve been dreaming of making a button back dress for months but it might have to wait for next summer now.

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! Surely you’ve not missed your window? Is it getting really nippy where you are?

  9. Love, love, love! You are making some of the coolest dresses around Amy! The fabric is gorgeous. Now you just need to knit yourself that coral cardi….!

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you lovely lady! I’m trying to up my game to clothes I truly love. I reeeally wish I could make a coral cardi a reality. Are you offering knitting lessons by any chance?

  10. clever, clever! I love the shape of the skirt too. Go on treat yourself to coral cardi you know you want to!

    1. almondrock says:

      Heehee thank you! I’ve got my eyes peeled for a rainbow collection of cardis!

  11. Katie says:

    What a dream fabric you found, and I love the back detail and overall shape! Clever girl.

  12. Love love love that fabric! It’s super cute! And I really like the button detailing, I totally get your showing skin vs wearability thing, many times I’ve been put off a pattern because it means to much of a re-jig to make it wearable!

  13. This is awesome!! I love the back!

  14. What a clever idea, and it works so well with the fabric! This is very inspiring indeed! <3

  15. So cute! I love the triangles at the back!

  16. Very creative! I like it!

  17. What a gorgeous dress. I absolutely love the button down detail you’ve made down the back. It compliments the diamond pattern perfectly.

  18. Ooo! This is gorgeous. A funky print and a button back – what’s not to love? And the triangles are a brilliant idea. So much inspiration going on here!

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