Thursday, April 1, 2010

A little birdie told me...

that I finished another dress!


I finished this little birdie summer dress today! I think it is my favorite so far, and it fits me to a tee! It's made from Simplicity 2588 with the flared skirt, designer tabs, and neckband options. On the skirt there is a center front pleat, two more on each side of this pleat, two back pleats, 22" zipper, princess bodice seams, and back bodice darts. It went together rather quickly and nicely, until I accidentally cut a big hole in the skirt with my pinking shears. I had to patch it up, but it hides in a fold in the back of the skirt.


Here's a little close up of the green buttons on the tabs:


It was one of the first beautiful days of Spring here in Michigan, so my housemate suggested that we head over to Grand Haven and have a walk on the boardwalk. What a perfect opportunity to break in my new dress!

We took a stroll to the lighthouse:


And then we decided to climb some big rocks down to the beach... which I was not properly dressed for, but conquered anyway:


Unfortunately for the pedestrians around, it was windy and I was bent over maneuvering throughout the rocks. I had to try and tuck my skirt between my legs, but to no avail:


So my new dress went out on an adventure not even an hour after it was completed. I really recommend this pattern to anyone looking for something cute and simple for summer. Its a project runway inspiration pattern so there are a ton of options including a slim skirt, a few different types of sleeves, and a yoke that will suit anyone!

12 comments:

  1. It looks FABULOUS! I love the dress! It really looks like it was made from a vintage pattern...and I love the fabric too! Great job!

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  2. Very cute. I can't decide between this one and your tiki dress as my favourites of yours.

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  3. What a great dress. I like that the buttons look like cats eyes!

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  4. It's absolutely adorable! And the fabric!!! Ooooooh!

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  5. sew you on sew retro... SO CUTE! i'm totally gonna get this pattern tomorrow!

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  6. This looks lovely and i love your decor too. Those little cards up there look interesting. great dress!

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  7. That is one hell of a lovely dress! The fabric is adorable and the fit is perfect! Great inspiration, I can feel a new dress obsession coming for me^^

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  8. Beautiful dress - curious where you got the fabric... (I live up in Muskegon county, and would LOVE a vintage skirt out of this.)

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  9. So So Cute!! And I'm glad to know I'm not the only person who does the accidental cut through with the pinking shears :)

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  10. bakinglass - the fabric is michael miller "bird swing" and can be found here:

    http://www.fabricworm.com/michaelmiller1.html

    Kelsey - I have done it before and I will do it again, hehe :)

    Lisette - I never realized the cat eye thing, but you are so right!

    Vintage Fabric Addict - the little cards on my wall are from a "pin-up a day" Gil Elvgren calendar I have. Everyday I put one up, it's amazing to see how many creative ways he can create a pin-up!

    Everyone else - THANK YOU!!

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  11. Looking at the pattern package, I would not have thought that it could look so retro with just a few key elements, like the vintage buttons and such. Well done! (and the shoes are cute, too...!)

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  12. That dress is so cute and I love the green buttons! I have that same fabric waiting to be used and you have really inspired me to make it with the white neck detail. Must be serendipity but I even came across the perfect pattern this afternoon looking through my stash - a 60s Butterick 9796!

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