Wednesday 28 January 2009

Dressed for Success

Being a bit strapped for cash this month, it being January and following the expense of all the festivities in the house of Marmalade, when I came to revisit my working wardrobe which has been stuffed in a suitcase under the bed for 18 months, I discovered that, as much as I missed the clothes therein, they were a bit out of date, and not really appropriate for the more 'casual' work attire in my new work place. Everybody wears jeans, but call me old fashioned, I really don't like to wear jeans for working in an office. It doesn't put me in the right frame of mind, even if it is only 15 hours a week. It's a bit like a preist in a grey suit - it just isn't right. So I had to act fast, and make myself a smartish dress which goes with long flat boots.


I dug out this pattern which is quite old now, and adapted it to suit me and the cold weather. Luckily, all the pattern making books that i've been poring over, have done their work and i'm now able to measure and adjust with ease - though this is a very easy pattern with which to practice.

I made a toile from an old sheet, which went through several fittings - it was mainly the darts I had to adjust because I have a small back, but am big (for my size) out front.

A while ago, I bought some polyviscose dogtooth print fabric, which seemed just right for the job. Easy to sew with, doesn't shrink or crease, and is quite sturdy and warm.


Et Voila! It's not perfect, but it was easy and I'm very pleased with it! And I have an accurate pattern for me, which I can use for the same style in other fabrics!

18 comments:

Daisie said...

Yummy dress, you'll put a shadow on all those jeans wearers!
xxx

Fancy Elastic said...

oh, well done, very clever, and I love dogtooth... you've brought out the little bit of mod in me!

Indigo Blue said...

This looks really good on you!! Would make a lovely dress for the summer too. How long did it take to adjust the pattern?

Twiggy said...

Clever lady, what a lovely dress.
Twiggy x

Anonymous said...

Wow thats lovely! xx

Kitty said...

Well done you - it looks gorgeous on you. Can't wait to see more! x

PS Should clarify - can't wait to see more dresses, not you. Although seeing you is also very lovely! x

Anonymous said...

Looks practically perfect to me! Very swish.

Gone to Earth said...

That is a very stylish dress. It looks really good on you.

Pink Feather Paradise said...

Fantastic, I admire anyone that can sew a dress, I have no patience for it! or talent for that matter!

X Alex

Gina said...

Great dress and I love the fabric. I'm with you all the way on dressing for work - jeans would not feel right.

Anonymous said...

cor you're a very clever lady.

The Coffee Lady said...

it looks great! I don't like jeans for work either.

angharad handmade said...

Great dress! I am very impressed by your making a toile in properly dressmaking fashion too!

dottycookie said...

Looking good, Julia!

I agree with the jeans feeling - I never used to wear them for work either, unless everything else was in the wash!

Jo Power said...

What a great dress well done you are really clever.

CurlyPops said...

Oh wow, what an amazing dress.
I wish I could make something like that!

Anonymous said...

looks fab and u r so good to make the toile...I have a jersey dress to make as my next project and am trying to size the pattern for me

Fabric and Bags said...

Lovely dress and well done. I've been catching up with watching Project Catwalk and along with that and yourself it is inspiring me to do some dressmaking, so thank you.
Anne