>Horray! I finished! I posted a while back about wanting to make a Christmas dress, and although I didn’t use the pattern I originally wanted to, I’m super happy with the results.
I used Simplicity 3363, which is actually up on my Etsy store right now.
I chose this pattern because I liked the sleek line, but I also liked how easy it looked to match the plaid- a few center seams isn’t too hard to do- a lot easier than a shirtwaist style- and I liked the longer sleeves for winter wear. I didn’t realize how many fiddly little details it had, though, and of course I made it even more complicated by wanting covered buttons and a belt! My husband was a sweetheart- he likes doing fiddly little crafting things like that- so one night he sat with me and covered the buttons and belt buckle while I hand sewed the belt.
This fastens not on the side seam of the skirt since those are placed more towards the back, but through a dart that you face that matches with the side seam on the bodice- something I personally had never done before, but it came out really pretty! Of course, after doing all that I wasn’t going to slap a zipper in by machine so both the side and back zipper I sewed in by hand and I got to raid the old metal zipper stash where I luckily had two around the right length. I had fun putting in a buttonhole bound with piping. I love the way bound buttonholes look and this was my first attempt at a piped one. Fun!
So here she is! All finished and ready for tomorrow. I kind of made up a combination of the two views on the pattern, but I thought the buttons were just so much fun on a tailored dress that I didn’t want to tie myself down to “view a” or “view b”. I love this picture because it shows our California citrus in the winter!
I’m not sure if I’m going to be posting tomorrow, so have a very Merry Christmas and God bless you and your family!
Charlotte
December 24, 2009 at 8:52 pm (14 years ago)>Oh my, that is so adorable! How fabulous! =)
Kate
December 24, 2009 at 8:55 pm (14 years ago)>Oh, I adore this. So perfect! I love the buttons, especially.
Adalee
December 24, 2009 at 10:14 pm (14 years ago)>You are going to look fantastic tomorrow! Merry Christmas! :)
BaronessVonVintage
December 24, 2009 at 11:12 pm (14 years ago)>Just gorgeous…I'm sure you'll look stunning in it!
Sarah
December 25, 2009 at 5:40 am (14 years ago)>That turned out absolutely gorgeous! Oh how I wish I could sew like that!
AlohaAroha
December 25, 2009 at 7:14 am (14 years ago)>That is seriously adorable! I love all the details – good choice of A+B!
newvintage
December 25, 2009 at 2:39 pm (14 years ago)>OMG! That is fabulous!!
Ceece
December 25, 2009 at 5:55 pm (14 years ago)>wow, I gasped out loud when I saw this dress. just freaking beautiful.
"The Golden Girl of the West"
December 26, 2009 at 7:24 pm (14 years ago)>So-so-so cute!XO,Syd
stephanie
December 27, 2009 at 3:19 pm (14 years ago)>Very sweet! And you got finished in time! Congratulations
Lauren
December 27, 2009 at 3:43 pm (14 years ago)>Adorable!!! I love the fabric. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
casey
December 28, 2009 at 12:00 pm (14 years ago)>I adore how this dress turned out, Lauren! The plaid is so fun. Bravo for finishing a snazzy frock just in time for Christmas too… ;) ♥ Caseyblog | elegantmusings.com
Mary-Laure
December 28, 2009 at 5:47 pm (14 years ago)>WOW, I am quite impressed by your craftsmanship and those details – love the buttons!
Sirens Sexy
December 29, 2009 at 4:44 am (14 years ago)>The dress is stunning!
Miss Jess
January 2, 2010 at 6:03 am (14 years ago)>Beautiful! I love the plaid, and the covered buttons are perfect. Great colors, and a great pattern choice :)