Merry Christmas, my friends!!
It’s been a busy several days and I apologize that I’ve been remiss in replying to comments on my last couple of posts, I promise I’ll get a chance to do that soon now that the holidays are cooling down! 🙂
I’m having a lovely Christmas day at home, following a Christmas Eve celebrated with good friends and lots of good cheer.
When we were in Portland in August, I fell in absolute love with a particular fabric at Bolt. It was a lovely flannel from Cotton + Steel, in an adorable print of snow globes designed by Alexia Abegg. I remember saying to Mel, “I should make myself some Christmas pajamas with this!”
Several months later, instead, I made a vintage dress. Even better!
I got possessed to do this project at the last minute even though I’d been thinking about it for a few weeks, and I’m so glad it came together this week. It being Christmas and us having White Christmas and the Doctor Who Christmas special to watch, you’re going to get kind of the skinny version of the story of this dress, sort of Tasha Lite, if you will. 😉
I knew I wanted a full circle skirt, and a fitted bodice, but what bodice? In the end, I merged three patterns together: the circle skirt from the repro Butterick B5748, with my (always changing slightly) bodice “block” from the Emery dress, and the cut-on sleeves from the vintage Butterick 6223 pattern. (I actually sewed that up as two blouses this fall which I haven’t blogged about yet!)
So I’m actually going to count this as another #vintagepledge “encore”!
I’m pretty thrilled with the result, I have to say! The flannel is excellent quality, much less fuzzy than most flannels… even the Robert Kaufman flannel I used in January for my Joan C skirt, which I liked a lot too, but this is even better. For some reason the bodice ended up a bit looser than I expected, which I’m mostly attributing to the flannel since I literally just sewed a dress recently with this bodice block, but minus the cut-on sleeves, which actually does make the side seams a little roomier. Regardless, it’s definitely not too too big, and I can fit in extra Christmas treats.
I’m quite happy with how the cut-on sleeves came out. They’re elbow length because the front and back pieces can fit only exactly that much sleeve on 45″ fabric, when cut on grain.
And if sewing up a dress for Christmas day this week wasn’t quite enough, I decided to adorn the bodice with some randomly placed silver sequins, just for fun. I love that extra little sparkly touch!
I’m in love with my cozy flannel Christmas dress and I kind of hope Cotton + Steel carry on the tradition of holiday themed prints in flannel, as I may have to make this a new tradition! It’s like secret PJs in dress form!
We’re having a wonderful day at our house. Wishing you a healthy, happy and joyful holiday season and if we don’t meet again beforehand, a fabulous New Year! Thank you for your love and support on my little blog. 🙂
Merry Christmas, my friends!
xx Tasha (and Mel & Pia!)
outfit details
dress – made by me
poinsettia hair flower – The Flower Tiki
white patent belt – from a Bernie Dexter dress
shoes – Remix
vintage confetti lucite earrings – Christmas gift! 🙂
Merry Christmas to you too!!! Love your family photo!
Thank you and hope you had a Merry Christmas, too!
Mmm, cozy flannelette and in such a cute print too! I think that it’s such a great idea to make a dress out of flannelette, and yours turned out so beautifully Tasha! I hope you and your family have a perfectly Merry Christmas! *✬ ❤ ✬* *✬ ❤ ✬*
xox,
bonita of Lavender & Twill
Thanks, Bonita! It was the perfect fabric to wear for a winter dress, I definitely can see myself sewing up others! Hope you had a Merry Christmas!
What a beautiful Christmas dress! I hope you had a lovely Christmas and have a lovely new year!
Thanks, Alecia! I hope you did too, and Happy New Year to you!
What a great dress! I just love flannel (and also felt) in wintertime. Great pics!
Thanks! It’s a great fabric in winter, I only wish more patterns were available in it! 😀
Oh, this dress is absolute stunning! Simply impeccable!
Thanks so much! I’m so happy with how it came out!
Thank you for your Christmas wishes, that is very thoughtful. I hope you have a truly great Christmas. Thank you for your continued inspiration.
Thank you, Marie! Happy New Year to you!
What a great idea to make a dress from flannel (especially when you live someplace cold like me – Scotland). I am learning to sew slowly and havent tackled a dress you. I am on the look out for an easy plus size 1950s pattern. I will be remembering this dress come Christmas 2016. Have a fab Christmas.
V
Ooh yes, Scotland sounds like a great place for a flannel dress! Good luck with your sewing plans and Happy New Year!
Could there be any more perfect or cozy outfit for winter than a flannel dress? I highly doubt it and just love how this 1950s style stunner came together for you. What a smile inducingly sweet print!
♥ Jessica
Thanks, Jessica! It was extremely cozy but chic too, an unexpected combo that I will have to repeat again! 😉
Great job! and I love all of your lucite accessories
Feliz Navidad from Madrid
Thanks, Betty! Happy New Year to you!
I’m so impressed with your hacking skills! Worked a treat… and how could it fail to, in that amazing fabric!! Wishing you a very happy new year 🙂
Thank you! I was slightly doubtful how the sleeves would work out, but in the end I absolutely love them so this Frankensteining job will definitely have to be repeated! 😉
I love your dress! So festive. And Pia looks like a little furry Christmas present 🙂
This print is darling and oh so perfect for the season!
xoxo
-Janey
Incredible Christmas dress! And your tree is fantastic!!!
I’m finally getting caught up on blog posts after the Christmas craziness and WOW is this a super amazingly fun dress to see pop up in my feed!! If there was ever a quintessential Tasha dress, I think this is it!!
Hope you guys had a super merry Christmas 🙂
Another festive outfit! You’re the Christmas queen!
I love the fit on your dress. Awesome job! I hope someday I can fit myself that well, but I know it just takes time and practice. Btw, I love your blog and your new hair is fabulous! Cheers
I love visiting your blog – always something new, interesting and fresh! BTW, love your doggie’s Christmas outfit 🙂
Oh this is lovely, it is such a great cut, and the fabric is really sweet. I’m not usually one for ‘Christmas’ themed fabrics, but this is really great, such a neat idea to use snow globes.
Happy New Year! Happy sewing!
Lovely fabric! And the sparkle and beads in it are so pretty! 🙂
You are so amazing! Such an adorable dress. Your little Christmas table reminds me of my childhood table; my mom and I always used to make those little orange/clove decorations! I wish I had a friend like you in real life! Take care!
This dress is lovely! I am contemplating a flannel Emery myself – did you use a facing or a lining in this particular dress?