Dress: DIY
Shoes: Wittner
Well folks, here it is! I took your suggestions on what I should do with my new Spoonflower fabric, and came to the decision that a dress was the way to go.
I used my well-worn Colette “Macaron” pattern a third time, and I think this has been the most successful of the three dresses I’ve made. It’s a bit shorter than I’d normally wear (due to limited fabric) and I haven’t QUITE nailed the bodice (blame the boobs) but overall I’m pretty happy with the fit.
After quite a bit of deliberation I finally decided to make the contrast shell in a pale blush pink – it’s my new colour crush, and it worked much better than stark white.
The Spoonflower fabric that I used was called “Star Forming Region“, and I bought it in the cotton-silk blend. It’s got a lovely drape to it, and a bit of a sheen too. At $27 a yard it wasn’t cheap, but two yards was plenty to make this dress.
My poor Macaron pattern has been cut and pinned so many times that it’s starting to look a bit limp and well-worn. I’m actually thinking of buying myself the Peony pattern next, and then I can head back to Spoonflower and spend hours – no, probably days perusing the many options: A Pantone colour chart dress? Indulge my obsession for The Wizard of Oz with a sunny Yellow Brick Road dress (With a red sequin sash, OMG)? Bookshelves? Bunting? A gorgeous abstract print?
Decisions, decisions!
Love it of course – as it is ridiculously loveable. That Colette Macaron is perfect for you I think too.
Hmm, I may be about to buy a whole lot of fabric I have no idea how to sew..
I’m thinking of taking a class, so I can learn to sew properly, lol! Spoonflower’s a killer though, isn’t it? I wants to buy SO MANY fabrics!
Oh it looks perfect! And I think the length is excellent – you’ve got great legs, & this shows them off just right. I can see you wearing this as often as possible. And did you end up with any fabric leftovers? If so, I think a Peter pan collar is definitely in order. 🙂
Hey Molly. I would have had a little bit extra, but I messed up the cutting, and cut some of the contrast pieces out of the space fabric instead. Idiot! >:(
I was actually thinking a space SASH would be cool to wear with other outfits 🙂
Space Sash would be so cool!!
SPACE SASH is THE BEST IDEA EVER!! 😀
I almost forgot – the abstract print is my favorite! You could wear it with the ruby slippers for extra pizazz! I’m seeing either an A line skirt or a sheath dress out of that print – you would look amazing!
It’s an amazing print, isn’t it Molly? I like all of hers: very classic, but geometric, too
Just lovely 🙂
Thanks Clare , I like it 🙂
I really love that dress from the waist down; the length looks great on you, and I love the shape of the skirt. I agree that you haven’t quite nailed the bust yet, but overall I think it’s super cute!
Thanks Veronica. Too boofy around the shoulders, I thought. Mary Nanna suggested I make the bodice in a smaller size, and make a full bust adjustment next time, so I’m going to try that.
OMG! It looks awesome! I’m in love with that Collette pattern, too bad I can’t sew! lol The fabric is amazing also, and love the pinkish shoulder. 🙂
Have you got a machine, Mari? I’m self-taught, more or less, but I’ve been thinking of taking a proper class to learn. There’s so many learn-to-sew classes available these days 🙂
it looks fantastic!
Thanks, Franca 🙂
When I know I use a pattern several times, I draw it on a piece of pvc flooring and use this as a pattern. It’s much firmer than the tissue paper you usually get your patterns on.
Good idea, Anita! I also like the suggestion of using iron on interfacing 🙂
So excited to finally see this! Well done.
And I think this is a great length on you!
Thank you! I get so shy about my knees, but now I see the photos I think longer would have been Too Much
Oh! Wonderful dress! I wish I could DIY some outfits as well!
Hi Vanoue, My first ttempts were pretty dodgy, but practise makes perfect, hopefully!
Love the dress! A tip from an obsessive sewist – preserve your often used patterns by ironing on cheap interfacing to the pattern pieces as a backing – this gives them more ‘substance’ and helps stop the tissue paper tearing.Alternatively, trace the pattern Onto butchers paper or similar.
SecOnd tip – to get the perfect fit, practice by makIng a toile using cheap cotton fabric until you get the fit right. Google ‘full bust adjustment’ to fInd out hOw to upsize the bodice (std patterns fit a B cup!)
(ApolOgies for the random capital letters – my phone is being glitchy)
Thanks for the tip about the pattern! I always have trouble preserving them.
I LOVE that advice, Tracey – thank you so much!
I’m going to try with the next sewing project – the Peony 🙂
Gorgeous!! You’ve done an amazing job 🙂 I need that pattern!!
Thanks Alana. I’m a big fan of the Colette patterns. Well, this one, anyway. Really easy to sew and good basic instructions!
I love what you have done with the fabric – it is such a cool idea and easily the most funky Macaroon I have seen!
Collette patterns are designed for a c cup which should help – in terms of fit I have a couple of suggestions to make. I imagine you made the dress top based on your full bust rather than high bust? You would be better to make a smaller size that fits better across your shoulders and is shorter in length and do a full bust alteration rather than make a larger size to fit your bust. The top is just too big for your petite frame.
Debbie cook does some fantastic FBA (full bust alteration) tutorials on her website.
You current dress is lovely and with a few tweaks it’l be just superb.
AMAZINGLY helpful, Mary Nanna, thank you!
I’ll give that a try with the Peony – I’m going to buy the pattern tomorrow!
I wish I could buy that dress! It’s fantastic!! Girlie heaven! I also wish I could sew like you!
Hi Crystal. I’m more or less self-taught, so it can’t be that hard, lol! I’m glad you like the dress 🙂
So, so lovely!!!
Thanks Casey 🙂
oooh i love it so much! you clever thing!
on a side note.. do you have a blog button i can use on my blog possibly? i want to be able to link back to my fave blogs, and well, yours is one of them! i am looking for buttons that are 240 x 130 and if you want to know more.. here is the link
http://goatandwolf.blogspot.com.au/p/contact-buttons.html
Thanks so much, Donna! I’d love to – I’ll have a stab at photoshopping one together & send it your way <3
What a perfect use for that fabric! I love the style, and I agree that the length looks wonderful on you.
Thanks Elsa! I’m pretty happy with it, though there’s part of me that wants to buy MORE fabric and make the skirt as well 🙂
Oh my goodness that dress is amazing! I can’t believe you made it – so clever! I think the length is perfect, and that contrast top is gorgeous 🙂
Life etc
Thanks Corinne! I wasn’t sure what colour to use as the contrast top, and was really surprised by how well it worked with the blush!
I’m literally obsessed with this dress. I actually need it. Can you make one for me? Just kidding, but seriously. You should sell these or something.
Why kidd? i would SOOO buy this dress if Lilly started selling them….
LOL, I’m not a very confident sewer, so I wouldn’t feel right charging people for my amateur attempts! Maybe one day 🙂
My husband keeps saying the same thing, but I’m a pretty amateur self-taught stitcher! I’d hate for someone to pay money for something I’d sewn (badly!) and be disappointed!
absolutely gorgeous!!!
Thanks M. 🙂
Looks really great! And I agree with other comments – the shorter length works so well on you. Very impressed that you’ve whipped this up 🙂
Thanks Catherine! I’m amazed by how easy the Macaron patterns are to work with. This took me a day! Big fan 🙂
Love it!
Thanks Karena!
That is effing fantastic! I couldn’t picture that fabric in that dress when you posted the fabric but wow! I love it. It looks great on you, it’s actually a really good length on you.
Thanks Katrina! I usually get all silly and shy around my knees showing, but I think I agree with you: It wouldn’t have worked as well long.
Love it!! Too cute 🙂
Aw, thanks Shellie 🙂
I love the combination of the starry fabric and the Macaron pattern. It’s just gorgeous.
Thanks Sarah! The starry fabric is divine, I’m glad you think I’ve done it justice 🙂
It came out beautifully! The length is perfect & your shoes match it wonderfully.
Thanks DJ! They’re the only shoes that I had that even KIND of worked! Maybe I need to buy some blue shoes. yes/yes?
You look wonderful. 🙂
Thanks Rena – It’s a pretty special dress 🙂
I wanted you to make the skirt when u asked as couldnt imagine the dress….but the dress looks gorgeous! Love the color blush with it and the length is perfect-but def think you could go for a skirt too!!! And I love the bunting material!
I want some cushions in this material-that would be super!
Wow, the dress looks amazing. I would totally buy this.
It looks great! I’m a bit wary of anything knee or above with bare legs myself, even if it does look modest to most other people-it’s just a comfort thing and it always feels shorter at the back, like my arse will be hanging out if I move!
Thanks so much for the Spoonflower link! I am loving a lot of the patterns this woman does: http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/anda
I had voted A-line skirt, but I’m really digging the dress. It turned out wonderful- and I love the length!!
Whoohoo – absolutely perfect! And definitely not too short at all!
I was so depressed when I found out that this was one of a kind. I’m pretty sure you accidentally channeled my personality perfecty into one article of clothing. I will be on a search for a dress exactly like it from now on. 🙂
Try this one, Katie: It’s pretty close 🙂
http://www.etsy.com/listing/104080933/librae-galaxy-party-dress