Hello! It’s blog post time!
I picked up the Bronte Top as part of the Perfect Pattern Parcel #6. I hope they’re bringing back the parcels soon because it’s such a good idea!
That shoulder detail got me excited as soon as I saw it. It’s comfy and satisfying to wear like a baby’s onesie but full of possibility for playing with the design.
I’d been wondering if I turned it into a dress whether I should use an A line or gathered skirt and seeing Sally’s gorgeous version clinched it!
This fun fabric is more of my cheap and dirty £1 cotton jersey from Birmingham rag market and the black contrast jersey is from Leeds market. I bought 1.5 metres of the palm trees and that was plenty. The trees sprawl in both directions. It’s like Miami Barbie meets Valley of The Dolls. And I love it.
Do you remember when you first saw a palm tree up close? I can. It was the first time I visited California as a teenager and they lined the streets. It was wonderful! So now palm trees make me think of America, rather than tropical islands. But as I’ve never been to a tropical island I think I need to go study some to make a considered comparison heehee.
I sewed this up on a miserable Sunday night when it was bitter outside. I made a quick muslin and then cracked on. It only took a few hours!
I mostly used my overlocker and then used a twin needle for topstitching. I only had one catastrophe where the overlocker ate my waist seam (there were tears) but I raised the waistline a little to cover this up.
As you can see I left off the buttons. I actually left of the topstitching around the bands too! I did a sample and it just looked rubbish, and the bands don’t flip out anyway.
So I’m sat here watching it snow again and praying it isn’t going to settle. Me and snow are not BFFs. We’re not even friends. Sunshine stole my heart a long time ago.
Oh and if you can’t tell, I’ve dyed my hair two shades darker and I’m waiting for my mum to comment on this post about it. She won’t be happy!!
This is so cute! I love it! I lived in southern California for five years and adored it, so palm trees always make me happy. I’m constantly begging my husband to move there, especially this time of year! 🙂
Thank you! Ooh five years sounds ace. If you ever go back please take me with you!! 😀
jolie robe!
Thank you! It makes me smile 🙂
Love the palm trees and love the hair!
Thank you so much!
agh love it! i know the pain of the overlocker eating waistband seams, but you can’t even tell you had to make any adjustments it looks ace! x
Thank you! I lived to tell the tale and fingers crossed it’ll be a very long time before I have to deal with that trauma again.
Gorgeous dress, but your tale of an overlocker attack terrifies me as i get to grips with mine!
Thank you! It was a little scary but I emerged victorious. I’ll happily go another year without any more trauma.
So tropical and pink! Double win, lovely 😀
Foxy pink palm trees FTW!
This is gorgeous Amy!
Thanks so much!!
I love this fabric, pattern tweak, Valley of the Dolls, and palm trees!! Ok, so basically I like everything about this post 🙂
Palm trees remind me of home. They’re everywhere around here, there’s even one in my front yard!
Hahah thanks so much! Your palm trees are dreamy. If I ever get to visit your home town I’ll totally be wearing this dress
Come visit me, please!!!!
God I would love to! Fingers crossed
Dreaming of sandy beaches surrounded by Palm trees now… Haven’t seen a dress version of this top before, looks great! 🙂
Oh how I’d love to be at the beach right now. Thanks for the lovely comments
Love this- the colors are wonderful too! I have a palm tree in my back yard… and baby palm trees are always trying to take over my yard. Grrrr! They are pretty cool but the can be a pain too! Especially when one of those big palm branches fall during a high wind into a window! On a positive note I love them too- way more than snow! Stay warm! Great dress!
Thanks so much. Ooh yeah I once saw a fallen palm tree after a hurricane and it was huge and a little scary! Into a window sounds nasty!
Love the hair colour. And your new dress is a beauty, I love the shape of the Bronte top. You have scared me about using an overlocker though!
Thanks for the lovely comments Ooh don’t worry about the overlocker. I’ve had mine a year and this is the first trauma I’ve had. I totally recommend with bronte top!
Aw how sweet! I love the dress, and I would never have guessed that the fabric was £1!
Having only just started using my overlocker on jersey and attempting to construct a dress, I can totally understand the tears!
Thank you! The fabric was a great find. I hope you never experience the trauma I had with your overlocker. By the way your new site is super cute! Great pun.
I think this dress is quite lovely. The pink looks great on you. The palm trees also look great. I live in Florida, USA and have two in my back yard as well as all over my neighborhood. Keep up the great job.
Wow thanks for the lovely comments and you’ve just made me super jealous about the palm trees in the garden!! 😀
Ooo! This is lovely. I bought this pattern before christmas when Jennifer Lauren had it on sale, but I haven’t made it yet. I also saw Sally’s dress version, and loved it too, so shall be adding your’s to the inspiration list. Your palm tree fabric is brilliant, and I love your hair!
Thanks so much Lynne! I didn’t realise she had a sale. I could have picked up the dalloway dress which I also have my eyes on.
Your new hair colour against your fair complexion somewhat evokes Snow White (without the 7 dwarfs). And your palm tree dress beats off the winter weather. Great new hair, great pattern hack!
Thanks for the lovely comments! I love dark hair for that reason; pale skin and dark hair just go together!
Nice! Love the bronte as a dress and those palm trees also kind of look like giant tarantulas from a distance… Glad they’re not tho, I’m scared of spiders!! Really like the darker hair; what did your mum say??!
EEK! Yes they sort of do don’t they! Sorry for almost scaring you. Glad you like it. Mum was disappointed in the hair but not surprising. She’s still hoping I’ll get rid of it.
Love it! Not seen the Bronte pattern before – I must have been hibernating or something I guess! Looks great as a dress though.
Thanks! I’m sure this weather is making everyone hibernate. I’d happily doze off wrapped up in this dress.
Love the bronte as a dress – your’s is the first one I’ve seen and it works brilliantly. Palm trees and brighter colours are the perfect antidote to this cold snap. Love the hair colour too!
Thanks! The dress makes me so happy. I can see you in the bronte top too. Glad my hair is going down well too 🙂
The palm trees are fun! It’s a great dress – I’ve made a few Bronte tops and have been thinking about trying it as a dress so this has made me want to try it even more!
I really liked your bronte tops! I really recommend a dress version. I’m tempted to make another with a straight or circle skirt.
The hair is great – so shiny too!!
Your palm tree dress is lovely! Palm trees are everywhere in Australia, they just make it feel warm even if it isn’t!
Thank you! Shiny hair makes me happy.
Palm trees should be in every country.
PALM TREES FTW.
My mum never comments on the colour of my hair, but I frequently hear her sighing, “More new shoes? You must have enough now. You’re not allowed to buy ANY MORE.” Ha ha, RIGHT.
😀
Haha our Mums don’t understand how it works.