• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Tutorials
    • Vintage Hairstyles
    • Knitting
    • Sewing
  • Patterns
  • Sewing
  • Home
  • Knitting
    • Patterns
    • Free Vintage Patterns
    • Knit-alongs
  • Wardrobe
  • Travels
  • Contact
Tasha Could Make That

Tasha Could Make That

Vintage knitting, sewing, and a lifetime of craftiness

Red and cream gingham sundress

July 11, 2018 by Tasha 29 Comments

I’ve been really busy this spring and early summer, and blogging just hasn’t been on the forefront of my mind lately. I go through periods when I just find the entire process of taking and collating photos complete and utter drudgery. Sure, taking half a dozen photos doesn’t seem that annoying, but it usually takes 50 or more to even find just a few I’m happy enough with to post. Thankfully for you, I finally got everything together to write up a blog post about a dress I sewed over a month ago!

This is actually the second version of a dress I first sewed for the Mood Sewing Network, in a gorgeous plaid silk dupioni. I made that fancy version first (although with pre-washing the silk, it downgrades it to fancy-or-casual as it can now be machine washed!) and then I went for a sweet little casual gingham cotton version. The pattern is Advance 7131, a 1950s pattern that I picked up at an antique mall last summer in northern Wisconsin.

Here’s my plaid silk version first…

And here’s my gingham cotton version!

I love how they’re similar, but really entirely different dresses. In fact, the gingham version used half the yardage that the plaid version did, so the skirt is much less full as a result. It was a lovely cream and red vintage fabric that I got from Mena of Shop Make This Look, and I only had juuust enough to squeeze out this dress. In fact I had to face the neck bands with red cotton since I didn’t have enough.

Speaking of, the neckline was a new one for me to try, and I like it a lot. (I mean obviously, I sewed two in a row.)

It’s overall an interesting shape with the gathered bodice and dart tucks that shape it. And kind of neat that the neckline forms the straps too. Which is a nice touch sewing-wise, as it means you can apply bias tape to the armhole with them open at the top which just makes the whole thing a bit easier in my opinion!

The back is a bit blousy by nature of the gathers, as you can see. You can also see that I matched up both the gingham across the back bodices at the center back zipper as well as the center back of the neckband. That was no small feat!

I also made a matching belt, something I nearly never used to do and suddenly started doing again last fall. I used a vintage lucite buckle. I’ve made so many dresses with buckles in the last year, I’m running out of stashed belt buckles!

The fit isn’t 100% the way I’d like it (and nothing you can really see, but I can feel it when I’m wearing it and moving around). Sometimes that’s the beauty of repeating something soon after making it the first time: when I did the plaid one, I had to take the side seams quite a bit, so I transferred those changes to the pattern and was able to incorporate that into this gingham version. However, the plaid bodice was a bit short (I’d initially shortened it more than I needed to apparently), so I lengthened it and now it’s a bit long. I need to still find the middle ground next time.

I’ve wanted a red gingham dress for a long time, and I’m so glad I finally made one!

outfit details

dress – made by me
vintage enamel earrings – misc.
vintage plastic bracelet – misc.
shoes – Starstruck Clothing repro Flexiclogs

  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: Sewing, Vintage Wardrobe Tagged With: advance, dresses, finished projects, outfits, vintage sewing, vintage sewing patterns

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fiona Culshaw says

    July 11, 2018 at 10:46 am

    I really love this style of dress!

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 12, 2018 at 9:45 am

      Thanks! It’s kind of a new bodice type for me to try, I like it!

      Reply
  2. Donnalee says

    July 11, 2018 at 11:14 am

    That looks like a fun wearable dress for summer. Enjoy!

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 12, 2018 at 9:44 am

      Definitely great for summer! Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Freddy says

    July 11, 2018 at 12:35 pm

    I love this dress! Beautiful! You’re so talented! 🙂

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 12, 2018 at 9:44 am

      Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Vicki says

    July 11, 2018 at 12:44 pm

    I love this type of dress on you! It looks like the silk one has a fuller skirt. Did you make the gingham gathers less full?

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 12, 2018 at 9:44 am

      Thanks! I mentioned that in the blog post, the skirt is half as full on the red one since I had less yardage.

      Reply
      • Vicki says

        July 13, 2018 at 1:39 am

        Oops! Sorry I missed that. Both are lovely!

        Reply
  5. Melissa Williams says

    July 11, 2018 at 1:43 pm

    So charming, both the blue one, and the red gingham dress. I like taking an older pattern and reworking some of the details…what fun !

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 12, 2018 at 9:43 am

      Thanks!

      Reply
  6. Gay Housden says

    July 11, 2018 at 2:57 pm

    you look absolutely gorgeous in both dresses and the results have made you look ver happy. I must admit I missed your blogs and thought you had stopped. So pleased you are back on track.

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 12, 2018 at 9:43 am

      I wouldn’t say “back on track” as I don’t have any plans for new posts anytime soon. 🙂 Blogging takes a ton of work and I don’t have a lot of time or energy for it these days.

      Reply
  7. Johanne Kemp says

    July 12, 2018 at 3:47 am

    Love the dresses! I’ve fought shy of necklines like this but perhaps not now! Great to see your back you were missed!

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 12, 2018 at 9:42 am

      Thanks! No promises for more posts anytime soon though, we’ll see. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Nina says

    July 12, 2018 at 8:39 am

    Great dresses. How do you get these on? Side zippers?

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 12, 2018 at 9:42 am

      Thanks! I mentioned in the blog post, it’s a center back zipper. I avoid side zippers if I can as I hate pulling dresses over my head if I don’t have to.

      Reply
  9. Emily Kitsch says

    July 12, 2018 at 10:07 am

    So cute! I love this dress on you! You can never have too many gorgeous gingham dresses! 😉

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 20, 2018 at 12:21 pm

      And honestly I *think* it’s my only one so I’m way behind! 😉

      Reply
  10. Lis says

    July 13, 2018 at 12:30 am

    Its so cute and you looks amazing. I love following you and your spouse.
    I havent yet made a gingham for me, need to do it.

    Regards Lis

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 20, 2018 at 12:21 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Maxine says

    July 13, 2018 at 12:45 pm

    Boobs! Oh to have a dress that made mine look so magnificent! 😀

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      July 20, 2018 at 12:21 pm

      Ha ha thank you!

      Reply
  12. Kayla Pins says

    July 14, 2018 at 1:57 pm

    Gingham dresses are so cheerful! I appreciate the work you put into blogging because I have referred back to your posts as I get the gumption to jump into garment sewing. Your Instagram stories are super helpful too. Thank you for taking the time to share!

    Reply
  13. Gay |Housden says

    July 14, 2018 at 6:27 pm

    I agree with Kayla Pins in the effort you put in. Yes we do need you and your sharing but also you need to take a well earned break to come back refreshed and inspired. Many thanks and appreciation.

    Reply
  14. Lynn says

    July 17, 2018 at 9:22 am

    Wow. That is such a unique pattern. I love both dresses but especially the red gingham.

    Reply
  15. Melody Mae says

    July 18, 2018 at 11:17 am

    I love it SO much!

    Reply
  16. Betsy says

    July 20, 2018 at 7:50 pm

    Love this! Just found a somewhat similar pattern, Simplicity 8051. Looking forward to sewing it up!

    Reply
  17. Sanne says

    July 30, 2018 at 7:27 am

    You always mention something about your dresses you aren’t happy about, and I can never see it. 🙂 It think you sew such beautiful dresses. 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About Tasha

Welcome! If you’re into vintage style, knitting, sewing, and general craftiness, well then grab your favorite drink because you’re in the right place! I’m Tasha. Read more...

  • P

Tasha Could Be In Your Inbox

Yes, add me, please!

My Knitting Patterns

Vintage-inspired Royale pullover knitting pattern release

Vintage-inspired Royale pullover knitting pattern release

Wondrella cardigan - new knitting pattern!

Wondrella cardigan – new knitting pattern!

Fortesse beret - new knitting pattern

Fortesse beret – new knitting pattern

Fortesse pullover - new knitting pattern

Fortesse pullover – new knitting pattern

Confidette bolero - new knitting pattern!

Confidette bolero – new knitting pattern!

Legendaire pullover hands behind head

Legendaire pullover – new knitting pattern release

Fayne beret: new knitting pattern release

Fayne beret: new knitting pattern release

Knitting pattern release: Sprigs and Berries

Knitting pattern release: Sprigs and Berries

Nisse: knitting pattern release

Nisse: knitting pattern release

Debut knitting pattern release: Victory

Debut knitting pattern release: Victory

Categories

Some Favorites

Getting a cardigan right

Getting a cardigan right

Our great 1950s kitchen renovation reveal

Our great 1950s kitchen renovation reveal

50s topper coat for spring

50s topper coat for spring

Nancy Drew and the Clue in the Epic Sweater

Nancy Drew and the Clue in the Epic Sweater

A plaid bolero, a dress, and a belt buckle walk into a bar

A plaid bolero, a dress, and a belt buckle walk into a bar

Spring green batwing sleeve bolero

Spring green batwing sleeve bolero

Topics

1940s sewing birthdays blouses briar rose knitalong butterick butterick B5895 buttons cardigans christmas clogs craftsy dresses fair isle knitting fall for cotton finished projects fitting a 1940s pullover project giveaways haircuts Hollywood 1678 jacket hollywood patterns knit for victory knitting patterns knitwear design mccall's outfits pants resizing knitting patterns reviews sew for victory sewing with knits simplicity skirts stranded knitting susan crawford tailoring vintage vintage clothing vintage hair vintage knitting vintage knitting college vintage knitting patterns vintage pledge vintage sewing vintage sewing patterns wisconsin

Posts

Footer

Tasha Could Be in Your Inbox

Yes, add me, please!

  • P
  • © Copyright 2023 Tasha Could Make That. All Rights Reserved.
  • • Privacy Policy
  • Created with ✨ by Moxie Design Studios
Scroll Up