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
I really love this style of dress!
Thanks! It’s kind of a new bodice type for me to try, I like it!
That looks like a fun wearable dress for summer. Enjoy!
Definitely great for summer! Thanks!
I love this dress! Beautiful! You’re so talented! 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
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?
Thanks! I mentioned that in the blog post, the skirt is half as full on the red one since I had less yardage.
Oops! Sorry I missed that. Both are lovely!
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 !
Thanks!
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.
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.
Love the dresses! I’ve fought shy of necklines like this but perhaps not now! Great to see your back you were missed!
Thanks! No promises for more posts anytime soon though, we’ll see. 🙂
Great dresses. How do you get these on? Side zippers?
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.
So cute! I love this dress on you! You can never have too many gorgeous gingham dresses! 😉
And honestly I *think* it’s my only one so I’m way behind! 😉
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
Thank you! 🙂
Boobs! Oh to have a dress that made mine look so magnificent! 😀
Ha ha thank you!
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!
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.
Wow. That is such a unique pattern. I love both dresses but especially the red gingham.
I love it SO much!
Love this! Just found a somewhat similar pattern, Simplicity 8051. Looking forward to sewing it up!
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. 🙂