Current project: the daisy novelty print dress
The project that I started before heading to Canada and am continuing to work on now is a retro novelty print dress. I was inspired by this 1940s dress that I saw on Etsy, with an apple print fabric :
My version is made out of this cute daisy print fabric that I had in my stash and actually used a few years ago to make curtains for a high school project. I cut the curtains down to make the skirt panels, though, and used the extra fabric I had for the bodice. And I found this cute daisy buttons at Joanns that just look darling on the top.
Please note that this version is of the bodice before I took it in a bit in the sides. The pattern for the bodice is the same pattern that I used for the yellow Betty Draper top (which I discovered makes a perfect bodice top if you take in the sides and cut about 5 inches off the bottom), and I'm using the grey and pink polka dot dress I have as a guide on how to pleat the skirt, since a 50s pleated skirt is more flattering (on me) than some of the slimmer 40s skirts . I still need to take the top in a bit (it's still a little more loose than I want it) and re-do the sleeves that turned out to be way too big, but other than that, I'm almost done with this dress.
I also really love the idea of a novelty print dress. It's something that is borderline tacky, but can also be so cute and unexpected if done right. Although right now my dress is starting to look like grandma attire. Hopefully, taking in the sleeves and sides will remedy this, but I guess that's the risk that you take with reproducing clothes from an era that your grandma actually lived in . . .
My version is made out of this cute daisy print fabric that I had in my stash and actually used a few years ago to make curtains for a high school project. I cut the curtains down to make the skirt panels, though, and used the extra fabric I had for the bodice. And I found this cute daisy buttons at Joanns that just look darling on the top.
Please note that this version is of the bodice before I took it in a bit in the sides. The pattern for the bodice is the same pattern that I used for the yellow Betty Draper top (which I discovered makes a perfect bodice top if you take in the sides and cut about 5 inches off the bottom), and I'm using the grey and pink polka dot dress I have as a guide on how to pleat the skirt, since a 50s pleated skirt is more flattering (on me) than some of the slimmer 40s skirts . I still need to take the top in a bit (it's still a little more loose than I want it) and re-do the sleeves that turned out to be way too big, but other than that, I'm almost done with this dress.
I also really love the idea of a novelty print dress. It's something that is borderline tacky, but can also be so cute and unexpected if done right. Although right now my dress is starting to look like grandma attire. Hopefully, taking in the sleeves and sides will remedy this, but I guess that's the risk that you take with reproducing clothes from an era that your grandma actually lived in . . .