I’ve always had a bit off a weakness for rose prints: especially rose border prints. So, awhile back, when Gertie had a collaboration with Michael Miller and released her “boudoir fabric” – a double border in black Pink rose and feather design – I didn’t even hesitate and scooped up both colorways. The first, was a luscious red and pink version I whipped up into a dirndl skirt. And this black and pink, which I knew would one day be destined for the perfect dress.
I‘ve definitely had my circle skirt game face on lately. But, I wanted to deviate from my comfort zone a little bit. This double border print was calling for some creative placement. Plus, I had a vision to mimic the roses in the print with some pretty rose petal sleeves. What can I say? I’m just a petal pusher kind of gal….
The Design & Construction
The design of this dress was pretty simple; I was going to go off of my basic block for the bodice, with a dart at the waist and the side bust and a shallow scoop neck. Then, I would use petal sleeves from one of the first dress patterns I ever made many moons ago: a Very Easy Vogue V8554, which had these crossover sleeves that always reminded me of rose petals.
To recreate this dress, you will need:
I cut the pattern so that the lace print was placed along the top edge of the bodice, with the roses facing downward. I would flip the print for the skirt, where the roses would be growing up from the hem. I cut the lining out of some spare black fabric, and quickly zipped the bodice together at the shoulders and the side seams.
Then, I cut out the petal sleeves, using the print for the outside and a light pink cotton for the lining. I followed the steps in the pattern for this step, where you stitch the two pieces together, gather the outer edge, and then ease them into the sleeve hole.
I then worked to set the sleeve. Because there was a fair amount of gathering, this really just takes a bit of ease to get it in. The gathering also gives a bit of a jaunty puff to the sleeve, which is a detail that just makes me happy.
With the bodice set, I took nearly 4 yards of the remaining fabric for the fullest skirt I could manage. I ruffled one edge with my very favorite ruffler foot, and then attached it to the bodice at 5/8″ seam.
Last steps involved attaching the dress zipper, which went in without issue (anyone else just LOVE working with cotton? Stay away from me slippery and stretchy fabrics! I am a die hard woven kind of gal).
I finished the hem with a blind hem stitch – which took a few episodes of The Great British baking Show. Hemming 4 yards is no joke…
The Debut
I was pretty happy with this one and I loved the chance to practice my dressmaking skills. Given I made my sewing block nearly 10 years ago now, this project made me realize it might need a bit of updating, as bodies are known to change shape without out permission.
Because I had my block, I didn’t make a toile before jumping in. So, I will probably tweak the fit a little bit on this one at some stage. Ahhh the sewist’s work is never done!
It absolutely blows my mind that it’s already February. The start of the semester usually carries with it a high degree of madness. But, given this is no normal semester I feel as though I’m bracing myself for very little to proceed as expected.
Other than the new semester, writing lectures like a Powerpoint-enabled rabbit and trying to stay on top of grants, papers, and student progress, not much has changed around here. We feel lucky to still be healthy and have figured out a way to maintain some degree of forward momentum at work while still in isolation. It was like a chat I had with a friend the other day: I’m good. And for the times when I’m less than good – I sew.
Speaking of sewing – This was definitely one of those sewing projects I just zipped together and didn’t take as many photos as usual. If you have any questions about any part of the process, don’t hesitate to comment below or drop me a line!
On we sew….
xoxo
Construction Details:
Base dress: Self-drafted w/ sleeves from Vogue V8554
Gertie Boudoir Fabric in double border: found some here
Additional notions (zipper, thread): Fabric.com
Outfit Details:
Dress: Made by me!
Belt: from another dress (similar)
Handbag: Alannah Hill (similar)
Shoes: Manolo Blank, thrifted (similar here & here)
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