Summer of Dresses - Simplicity 1803

7.20.2013

Hello all, it's hotter than Hades along the parade route so I've called in some favors and gotten you all handsome gentlemen to fan you while you lounge.  Best dress parade ever, am I right? I've told the boys to keep your drinks filled and to get you popsicles if you need them.  Now that you're all liquored up let's see the next dress in the parade.

It's fun, it's girly...
And the back makes me swoon.
Pattern
Simplicity 1803 View C.  In contrast to 2444 envelope, I LOVE both of these sample garments.  In fact I might barter my first born for some of that lemon/strawberry/flower print. If you love the hot pink eyelet I happen to know that B&J fabrics carries it. (Oh and they have more of the cobalt blue eyelet that my Colette Peony was made out of, so pop on that.)

Fabrics used
Silk/Cotton Voile from Gertie's etsy shop lined with light weight Siri lining also from Gertie. Turns out silk/cotton voile is as soft as kittens! Seriously I wanted to just rub it all over my face as soon as I got my hands on it.  Due to it's semi-sheerness it needed an underlining, so I got some of the siri lining in both white and black.  A  few samples showed that the white color made the pink and yellow roses pop more so the black got put away for another day. 
Pattern changes/alterations
1. Shortened the bodice by 3/8".
2. Increased intake of back bodice dart to 2 1/4".
3. Added 1/4" extra width to the back armhole.
4. These sleeves had the same problem as New Look 6097 where they seemed to have too much excess fabric under the arm.  I made a similar last minute fix by taking a 1/2" wedge out of the sleeve seam. You can see from this side view that they still puff out in the back a tad.
 5. I originally put the pockets in this dress, but there were made out of only the white lining and were highly visible when they gaped open.  Decided to just take them out and sew up the seams.

Confessions/Advice
1. The voile did shift some when I cut it on a self healing mat. Lucky I could true it up on the underlining and it didn't cause me any sewing problems.  However I would cut silk/cotton voile in a tissue paper sandwich next time.
2. After sewing on the facing on the bodice the edges on V notch flopped forward.  This might have happened because the voile does not have much body or because you need to clip the seam allowances at the base of the V notch.  Anyway it seemed that interfacing on the facing piece was not enough to hold the edges upright. To fix the problem I cut two rectangles out of some medium weight interfacing, then fused them to inside of the bodice right where the top of the V was folding forward.  This gave the voile some extra support helping the V notice to stand up crisply.  As an added bonus all of this is hidden by the bodice facing.
3. Underlining this whole dress was a pain in the ass, but it did let me secure the facings and hems invisibly. Because I could the whole front facing was tacked to the underlining. No facings flipping out this time!
4. This was my first time using siri lining and I was quite pleased with it. After washing the hand is very soft and it does breath beautfully in the garment.  I've been wearing this dress during the heat wave and the polyester content didn't give me any trouble.

Husband Comment
"I like your skirt, it's fluffy." (Frankly this surprised me. I guess Mr. B is still a man of mystery.)

My Final Thoughts
I've enjoyed wearing this dress so much that I'm considering making another with the view B bodice. It's easy, breezy, beautiful....um Project Runway Girl?  Yes that's it. 
P.S. They'd totally kick me off the runway with this last pose.

19 comments:

  1. This is very, very cute on you Mrs B. I really like the square neckline with the little V. Is Siri lining what we call Bremsilk over here? Will the boys be handing out alcoholic popsicles? I do want the hot pink fabric. Please ask froggie to deliver this in person, or should that be in amphibian?

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    1. Thank you Clare Bear. I'm not sure what Bremsilk is but can tell you that Siri is a cotton/poly blend that isn't slippery. Wouldn't make a good jacket lining but is nice for dresses. Froggie says he will make you some special alcoholic popsicles and help you eat them.

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  2. You are the best hostess ever!! Sven, pass me another popsicle, would you luv? You don't even need a popsicle boy seeing how you have your own man of mystery. The dress is gorgeous (love the front and back necklines). Gertie's fabric is the best - I keep having to think of more inventive ways to explain to my husband that I NEED more!

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    1. Thanks Shar, can I have my own popsicle boy just for fun? :) If you have any good fabric excuses let me know cause my husband is giving me the stink eye about the fabric purchases.

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    2. You get all the popsicle boys when we leave! My latest fabric buying strategy is ‘you’re buying that aerator roller thingy for the lawn and a couple of yards of fabric is WAAAY cheaper than that’. I’ll let you know how it goes.

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  3. i really love the neck line on this one. (i also really love the cut out version too - make one in the lemon/strawberry/flower print!)

    i have tried to do a similar neckline and the points of the v just dropped forward - i used a linen fabric. i will definitely try doing what you have done here with the extra interfacing next time. (i would try to fix the one i have already done, but there's no point b/c it's a dress and i never fecking wear it anyway!)

    lovely fabric, as ever. :)

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    1. Thank you Sweary I wasn't sure the interfacing trick would work but hooray it did. Hope it works for you if you need it in the future.

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  4. Another pretty dress! And yes, that neckline (front and back) is so pretty! Good choice with the white underlining - the colors of the flowers look great!

    I want to go to a runway fashion show where all the models are like you and don't take everything so seriously. lol - love the last photo!

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    1. Thanks Brooke, I wasn't sure about the square neckline at first but it grew on me. We need to have our own goofy model fashion show. ;)

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  5. Your version of this dress is very pretty! I would not have given this pattern a chance if I hadn't seen yours. Adding it to my list now...

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    1. Thanks Laura, I think you would like it cause it was pretty easy to fit as well.

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  6. I have this pattern laying on the table and ready to marry with some fab fabric- you have sold me on floral fancies! Confession: my v's do flop and now I will by fusing some reinforcement- great tip!

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    1. Thanks P! I can't wait to see what fabric baby you'll chose from the closet of stash enchantment.

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  7. So pretty! Thanks for the cutting tips; I have some Gertie cotton/silk voile (that I think you inspired or enabled me into buying) and I'll remember to tissue cut when the time comes.

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    1. Thanks Andrea, did you get this fabric too? Fabric enabling does sound like something I'd do. ;)

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  8. Very lovely dress! I have heard about the tissue paper sandwich trick and think I am going to use it on very silky fabric that I have to cut on the bias (!!) for a skirt and top I am planning.

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    1. Thanks Catja, The tissue paper sandwich would work great for a bias cut! It's amazing how a little friction from the paper keeps everything from moving around.

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  9. Love it! This pattern is on my cutting table waiting to be cut out. Yours looks great. but...You removed the pockets??? GASP!! I love my pockets!

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    1. Thank you Margo. Yes, I was too damn lazy to pick out all the sergering and overlay the flowers on all the pocket pieces. I'll don the ribbons of shame now. ;) Can't wait to see yours cause I'm gonna love the fabric.

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