Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Simplicity 2724 - Black & white ruffled front two-in-one dress

Whew! FINALLY done with this dress!!! I've been working on it for at least 2 weeks, which is a long time for me for something relatively simple. I had zero fit issues, just have been super busy this month. This dress looks a little different from the envelope picture, as I made several design changes. More on that later. The black and white pinstripe is some kind of linen blend, purchased at Hancock's last year for a bias skirt that I never got around to making. The black bottom is a stretch cotton twill, purchased online for a simple skirt. I saw the two together and thought they would pair nicely with this design.

As you can see I changed the sleeves. I really wanted a winter dress, and saw this in my mind's eye with long sleeves and french cuffs. The only pattern I could find with french cuffs was Butterick 4609, which has really blousy upper arms. I laid the Butterick sleeve on top of the Simplicity sleeve and traced the more tapered upper arm onto it. So this is yet another frankenpattern. I sure am found of them lately.

I did have to adjust the pattern a bit to accommodate my square shape. That is a typical change for me.

Here at the side you can see the invisible zipper concealed under the sleeve.

When I started this dress I assumed the collar and collar stand went together. However, this design is for one or the other, not both. I do not like making collared garments without collar stands. I have done so in the past and have never been pleased with how the collar flops over. In order to incorporate the two together, I had to trim 1.5 inches off both ends. I also cut 5/8" off the width of the collar after comparing the pattern piece to other shirts in my wardrobe. It went together nicely and I'm very pleased with the outcome.

As previously blogged about in this post, I borrowed the functioning front opening idea from Trena's review on patternreview.com. This was very simple to do by extending the front facings down to the bottom of the dress top, creating loop closures, and including a modesty underlap so my skin wouldn't show through. I also copied the way she sewed her ruffles down, as I didn't think the puffy ruffle the instructions have you sew would look very good in this fabric.

French cuffs at sleeve bottoms:

Here you can see where I used bias tape to cover the armhole/sleeve seam and front facing edges. It was also used at the side seams because the shirt was fitting a little too tightly and I had to take a smaller seam allowance there. The shoulders and sleeves were sewn with french seams. I decided to line the skirt with black Ambiance for two reasons. One was because as this is a winter dress, I wanted to be able to wear tights/hose and not worry about slips or fabric riding up. The other was that I wanted a nice finish for the inside skirt seams, and sewing bias tape down 6 panels didn't sound like fun.

This is another month with only 3 garments completed. I am just not having the same productivity as last year. When baby girl is born it is sure to drop some more. I always wish I could clone myself and have one of me sitting at the sewing machine to sew up all the backlog I've got. :)

Next up, a lined jacket. I just may do two in a row!

32 comments:

  1. Your dress is so beautiful, wonderful work as always. I think it is this summer, I can't find time to sew either, too much going on.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely work! This is a great idea - it looks like a skirt and shirt, but doesn't have the tucking in problem!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is just gorgeous. I am getting no sewing done so you are doing really well.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love what you have done with this pattern. I bought it a few months back and will make it up soon. I may copy your treatment of ruffle which I also was not keen on.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gorgeous.

    Trudy
    www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. You did a beautiful job on this dress. I'm sure you'll look lovely in it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Another gorgeous creation. I have to say you did an amazing job with the white invisible zipper, you can't see it in the skirt part at all.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful dress. Very sophisticated!

    ReplyDelete
  9. That's a very pretty dress, and definitely your style. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You did it again! Such a great seamstress, the dress is beautiful! Give us a post on the various lining materials you have used and the results if you get a chance (pretty please).

    ReplyDelete
  11. I absolutely love the way that you have taken this pattern and adapted it to get exactly the look that you want. The result is so fabulous and, as always, skillfully constructed. This dress looks so elegant and very, very chic!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautifully made. I'd rather see a beautiful made garment even if it takes 2-months or more to complete.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gorgeous. I love this kind of look! I have got to get on the stick with sewing more work clothes. Really great combo.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful dress! I'm sure it will look amazing on you.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love this dress. It turned out perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a great dress! I love the fabric combo, and the sleeve worked out very well. Have fun wearing it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Congratulations on a very chic dress! I have this pattern in my stash and am looking forward to making one of these dresses. I can only hope mine turns out this fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love this! And the workmanship is outstanding. I would love to have this hanging in my closet!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh wow! Your sewing is just beautiful. I hope to be as good of a seamstress as you. I would buy that dress, it would be perfect for work.
    Ditto on the cloning yourself. . .

    ReplyDelete
  20. great done!
    Did you make the buttonplacket openable for any practical reason? Maybe nursing is possible in this dress when the buttons are opened?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks, Katharina. No, I didn't have a specific reason, I just like the look of it better like this. Actually, while nursing, it probably won't fit as the "girls" will be bigger then. This dress is for when I shrink back to my typical B self.

    ReplyDelete
  22. A beautiful dress, very elegant!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Love the changes you made to the original design of the dress! It's so perfect for the fall!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh wow, what a sophisticated dress! It's beautifully made in such classic fabrics. Lovely work!

    ReplyDelete
  25. This dress is really beautiful Amanda. I just love the changes you made. It's going to look wonderful on you. Congratulations on a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I really enjoy seeing your work (and I am awed at how much you accomplish). That is one inspiring dress!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am in love with the front closure of this dress. I went and explored the pattern online and yours looks the best.
    Inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Outstanding. The dress is simply outstanding.

    ReplyDelete
  29. That dress is so elegant and chic. I do hope that when you're finally able to wear all of these pretties, you'll post pictures of yourself in them. How fun to have a whole new wardrobe to look forward to after the pregnancy! :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Lol! Believe it or not, the first dress I ever made was from this pattern. It did not look as beautiful as yours does and I made a lot of mistakes along the way. I looove this pattern.

    http://www.chillien.etsy.com

    ReplyDelete