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Saturday, August 4, 2012

Dress - Butterick B5752

I've been doing a little more sewing lately, more than just make-up bags and baby bibs :) And I would like to start sharing it here, as I see myself making a lot more in the future, so hopefully it can become something I post about more regularly. It's a little scary posting photos of yourself online like this, but what the heck. This is something I enjoy doing. My favorite sewing blog is Gertie's New Blog For Better Sewing. She is who inspired me to get back into sewing for myself. She has tons of great tutorials.


This isn't my first dress. I sewed one a few years ago for a theme party, and since I've sewed another 3, which I will share here too. This is just the only one I have photos of.

I love vintage patterns & style, and try to buy it whenever possible. Most of my patterns are vintage or reprints. This is not vintage by any stretch, but most dresses are influenced from bygone eras, with nothing much being all that original these days. At least not in basic styles. I figured with the right material, and accessories (I have a gorgeous embroidered floral cardigan from the 60's to go with this) you could get a retro look with a modern pattern. This dress was made from Butterick, pattern B5752.

I lengthened the skirt by 2". I also had to add darts at the side of the bust area, as my bust is a little larger than allowed for in patterns. I first cut out my lining material and used that as a sort of muslin to work out where I needed to make adjustments. I really don't know that much about changing patterns, but I've picked up a bit from trial and error. The first dress I made to fit me, took a lot of sewing and re-sewing, but it was well worth it. I now take good measurements of myself, and of the pattern, and I usually only need to adjust the pattern once to make a good fit. It helps if you understand how your pattern will be constructed. Then you will know where the best place to make adjustments is.

My Favorite part of the dress is the small pleats in the neckline. Such a nice detail, I thought.



The back was supposed to use a hidden zipper. Well, I realized a little too late I don't have the right foot. So, not so much a hidden zipper. I think I will stick to my trusty way of doing zippers from here on out, called the Centered Zipper here. They always work nicely.

The material is 100% cotton, nothing special. It's a reprint of a vintage design. I thought it would make an excellent apron... but a dress? I did it anyways, and love it.

4 comments:

JMD August 11, 2012 at 5:55 AM  

I really like your dress and the color looks very pretty on you. Love the necklace. You did good Missy!

Unknown August 12, 2012 at 8:11 PM  

Thank-you JMD. I have never owned anything yellow before, but I am beginning to really love it.

Anonymous,  August 15, 2012 at 11:14 PM  

This is so pretty!! Great job.