Sewing Alert –click away now if you´d rather read a recipe. Why not try this one for a cold, rainy Saturday?!
So, the Vintage style dress is finished and I have to say I am really very pleased with the way it has turned out.
The pattern is Vogue V8789, view A.
I have also made a silk shawl with a hand rolled hem to go with it, to cover up my shoulders.
I tried out a few new techniques (well, new to me). A horsehair hem, hand stitched to finish it off. This adds a little body to the hem. I had bought a net petticoat to wear underneath but when it arrived I looked like a giant meringue so back it went into the wardrobe.
I sewed a satin bias binding in a contrast colour to the lining.
I hand stitched the bodice lining to the bodice. I really enjoy sewing by hand.
A grosgrain waist stay (I think that is what it is called) was hand stitched around the inside and this really adds shape to the waist when it is worn.
But…the weather has turned cold and damp. The wedding is next Saturday so I have started work on the other Vintage style dress I had planned to make as it has sleeves. It´s the Butterick 5556…hopefully I´ll have it finished this week and then depending on the weather I can decide which one I´ll wear.
Meanwhile, the dogs snooze in the not so sunny sun room while the rain comes down, and I´ll get on with my sewing.
And now, if you enjoyed seeing my Going to the Wedding Dress, why not check out my blogging pal Evie´s Actual Wedding Dress. What a very talented and beautiful bride!
Chica Andaluza 
Your dress is lovely – fabulous colours. The braid in the hem should give it just enough ‘lift’ without the enormous effect the petticoat would bring. I hope you get the other dress finished (show pictures!) so you have a choice – but this one would look wonderful in the sunshine.
Have a fun day!
Thank you – means a lot from a professional like you! I am learning more with each piece I make, and having fun along the way. The colours are definitely more suited to a sunny day, but progress is going well on the other dress, so fingers crossed.
Words of wisdom from my old tutor – When you are in a hurry SLOW DOWN! You are less likely to make a mistake and need to re do a task which not only takes more time it almost always shows (even if you are the only one aware of it!) I still use this lesson when things get a bit tough.
Enjoy making the second dress – it will be well worth it if you get another dress as nice as the first.
I so agree with this. Yesterday I tackled the stand up collar of the second dress, something I have never done before. The instructions could well have been written in Chinese to start with and I was tempted to just do it “my way” but I left well alone, went back to it (a few times) and in the end it all came together how it should and I´m really pleased with the collar now.
I love the dress. Good luck making an alternate for bad weather. My dog loves to sleep on the couch like that…why do they do that?
Thanks TBM! I think the dogs sleep like that to be “above” us and to remind us exactly where our place is in the pack order 😉
I’m surprised they even let us on the couch then.
They are superior, so it makes them feel important!
Love the dress, the material is gorgeous. Sure you couldn’t work the meringue petticoat?! x
Not unless I was prepared to sit alone on a bench at the church and have a table to myself at the meal…no room for anyone to get near me 😉 I will find a use for it though!
Beautiful Tanya
I just love your attention to details. My mum always says,the hems and the finishing of a dress tell of the talent of the person who sews it
Your mum is right I think – the little details really do seem to add a “haute couture” finish!
That turned out beautifully! The fabric is perfect for the pattern.
(As nasty as the ham bone might be, it’s still better than a half-naked, very much alive baby rabbit. Glad I caught that one before it got all the way in the house!)
Thank you so much! I fell in love with that fabric when I saw it and it´s so easy to work with. Oh dear….half naked baby rabbits. I guess it was a thank you gift for you wasn´t it?!
What details and good explanations. Unused to see and enjoyed reading your post very much. The ensemble is perfect. Popped over and read the wedding dress post as well. A nice change up and unexpected read this morning. Well done!
Thank you so much! Sometimes it´s good to read about something different from our usual fare…and this was such fun to do!
Excellent work and what naughty dogs!
They do have their naughty moments…but I think they were just trying to keep it out of the rain 😉
Bless!
The dress is stunning, and I love the scarf you made to go with it too (I LOVE scarves!!) and your handstiching is just WOW. Oh and I’ll have some soup too on a rather cold, damp sort of snowy day in the Alps 🙂
Thank yuo so much Claire – another scarf fan! I have loads, they can really jazz up something ordinary.
I’ve lost count of how many I have…….. but I always seem to manage to see just another that I MUST have. But I should take a leaf out of your book and make some!!
I love this dress! Nicely done Tanya. I believe you’ll look very gorgeous in it!
Thank you Tia – it does seem to flatter even the “fuller figure” (that´s me)!
What a beautiful dress. Is that a new vogue pattern or an old one? It looks very retro.
It´s a pattern you can buy now but I think it´s a reproduction of an old one. Which means they make it in sizes for women like me (i.e. bigger) and not just the smaller sizes the real vintage patterns typically come in. Thanks for your kind words!
That dress, the shawl … you’re going to turn heads! Be careful, Tanya. You don’t want to outshine the bride. 🙂
Ah you old smoothie you! The bride is in her late twenties with long dark hair and a figure like a movie star….I think she can hold her own! And she also has an identical twin sister…the boys won´t know where to look 😉
What gorgeous fabric and i am sure that when you put that dress on and drape that shawl just so, you will feel and look wonderful, add a glass of bubbly and it will be perfect. gosh you are clever. i love that fabric too, i bet florence has nicked off with the offcuts! Wait shoes! where are the shoes? c
You´re so right Celi – the offcuts are ear marked for Florence. I have some lovely black suede shoes but really want some brown ones so am planning a little day out in the big city of Malaga next week to see what I can find!
The dress turned out beautiful. You are so clever to be making one with sleeves just in case the weather is cool. I love all your attention to detail.
Thanks Karen, I seem to have turned a corner in my dressmaking, or maybe it´s because they are just two great patterns and I have bought lovely material especially to make them up…but this has all been great fun to do.
Your dress is sooo pretty!! I can’t wait to see you in it!!
Maybe! I´m a shy Chica 😉
great job, have fun
Thank you!
Oh dear Chica, this is so beautiful… you are doing great. The colours are like a sunshine… I loved it so much, Good Luck, Thank you, with my love, nia
Thanks Nia – I think that is what attracted me to the fabric from the start. I love the colour orange, it´s so happy and full of energy and that´s how this dress makes me feel!
Count me as impressed!
Counted!…and thank you 🙂
You are very talented with your sewing. I love the pattern and the fabric. Would you mind whipping one up for me as well? My mother was an excellent sewer and was always up late at night with her Bernina. Unfortunately I didnt’ get the sewing gene. Utterly clueless and I so admire people who can create something from a length of fabric. I do hope the weather changes and you can wear your new dress xx
Thank you so much. I am pretty much self taught as no one in my family sewed. Actually, my mother claims to have made her own wedding dress, but I think she had a lot of help and never made anything else after that!
This is very very pretty and I love all the hand stitching – very impressive. Fingers crossed the weather makes up its mind :o)
Thank you, I love hand stitching, it´s very restful. The second dress is almost half done, so I should have choices should the weather decide to stay colder!
You are so talented! I wish I could sew but I haven’t a clue. Oh wait, I did sew some jackets for my dogs using a pattern from their existing jackets…they turned out alright. But an entire dress? You did such a great job!
Love the idea of the dog jackets! If you can do that, I am sure you could do something bigger…obviously you´d just need more fabric!
True, but dogs aren’t very picky about the details!
Impressive workmanship. Beautifully made. It is one head-turner of a dress during the wedding. As for the view outside the window…just wonderful. Take care…
Ah thank you so much. The view outside was a bit sad, but even when it rains, the mountains behind my house inspire me…
What a lot of work but it’s really worth it – the dress is lovely and so is the shawl! Nice to have something like this to do on a rainy day too.
Thanks Teleri – it was such a fun project to do and am now enjoying getting stuck into the second dress. As you say, great to do on a rainy day!
This dress is stunning. I love the fabric. I think you’ve done an amazing job with the handsewing and couture touches. Don’t be shy! Please take a picture of you in it.
And thank you for the kind words about my wedding dress…I still see the flaws and things I would have done differently. I did have a meringue petticoat…it was a nightmare but I claimed brides rights and a big chair!
Thank you Evie for your lovely words – your praise means a lot as I know you are so much more experienced than I am. Am revisiting the petticoat as the second dress has hugely full skirt and needs a little “oomph”. I may be able to take a layer or two out. Otherwise I shall have to pretend I am someone terribly important and sit on a big chair too! Your dress looked wonderful and I am sure would not have had the same impact without the “meringue” 🙂
You’re too kind! I think if you can take a layer or two out it will give you the lift without too much poof. But if not, go with it. You’ll be amazed at the reaction a dress like that gets. All positive.
Will let you know how it goes. Have just taken another look at the petticoat and think I can safely take a layer out without doing too much damage!
You are so clever Tanya and I LOVE both dress patterns. You put my straight line sewing capabilities to shame. Cannot wait to see the other dress. You can see the love and pride in your sewing – just too gorgeous!
Love the pups snoozing – and hey mom, they have to have something to snack on when it gets cold.
🙂 Mandy
PS. The link did not want to work for your friend Evie’s blog.
Thanks so much Mandy. Will have to check out that link….and as for those cheeky pups, you´re right they always need snacks!
You know don’t you that it’s not seemly to outshine the bride? 😉 You’re running the risk here you know! Your dress is Wonderful, Tanya!!! Can’t wait now to see the Butterick! (When I used to sew dresses, I loved their patterns.) We had a lovely sunny weekend here, but again the rain is falling and promises to do the same all week. Where in this world is the sun shining!? Happy needling Tanya! xoxo
Thank you Spree – I was so happy with this dress (I think the colours made me happy sewing it!) but the bride is a beautiful young woman and a lovely person so I know she will be the belle of the ball…and quite rightly! Thank you though for your lovely words 🙂 The sun has made a brief appearance here today but the wind is blowing hard…when the dark clouds come over they are being chased by the wind and I have been watching their shadows on the mountain for most of the day!
ahhh, cloud-shadow watching, a lovely pastime!!! been a cloud-watcher all my life. used to lie on the grass as a girl mesmerized, happy for what passed as hours. xo
Late to this wedding….but what a fantastic looking dress and the fabric is gorgeous! Of course I love the orange shawl, too. What a talented seamstress you are, Tanya!
Thank you, and we´ve still got a few days until the actual wedding – I have nearly finished the 2nd dress, so may manage to sneak a post in on that before the big day! Thanks for your lovely words 🙂
¡Qué bonito Tanya!
Me encanta la tela y el corte es genial. El que tienes planeado hacer con mangas es hermoso también. Te mando mis medidas para que me hagas uno en azul, please… 90 – 60 -90… jejejeje I wish!!
Enhorabuena, eres una artista!
Gracias Giovanna! Empecé hacer ropa para mí porque no soy de una medida 90-60-90!
I arrive a bit late to the party but WOW! Really nice dress!! I love your fabric. And all those new techniques 😉
Thank you so much – menas a lot coming from a pro like you!
I love the autumn colours. They are my favourite! I have not made anything for years. You’ve inspired me 🙂
Thank you – do let us know if you make something, would love to see it!
You absolutely should be really pleased – I know nothing about dress-making or sewing but it looks like a great job there!
Thanks Charles – now just waiting for the sun to reappear!