Apr
17
Melanie, from the Crafty Cupboard, is here to give you her “Flipped Creation”
************************************************************************
You would think that with a color-blocking pattern like this one, I’d actually color block something. Instead, I decided to texture block with a little chambray and lace! I have used this combination before in sewing for my kids, and it was an instant favorite, so I knew it couldn’t go wrong! Since a dress was desperately needed in my 7-year-old’s wardrobe, I stuck to a dress for my pattern flip, and just embellished a lot on an already great thing.
Because the original pattern is extremely simple and give such a classy, modern feel, I didn’t want to mess too much with the lines of the actual garment, but with the addition of lace… well, you need something a little more girly. That’s where the pleated bottom portion comes in- it kind of has a vintage feel now too!
And for anyone, pockets are just an added bonus! Pockets- Check!
The construction of this flip was basically the same as the original, with a few additions. I cut both the lace and contrast color for the top, and basted them together before constructing the garment. I also wanted a definitive separation between the bodice, center, and bottom of the dress, so I added some simple white piping.
Since I had already gone through all that trouble to make the pattern more girly and sophisticated with lace and whatnot, I couldn’t leave it with a button closure- a fully lined dress (I love lined dresses. Love them!) needs an invisible zipper!
I’m not going to lie- the zipper was a little bit tricky because of the bulk from the piping. I had already removed some of the cotton cording from the piping before I sewed it to the zipper, but the seam allowance was still pretty dense. I ended up mis-aligning the piping juuuuust a bit so that the zipper would close without hesitation.
The pockets are so fun! They are angled, hugely wide/tall welt pockets, with a lace bow sewn onto the welt. It took some figuring to decide at what point to insert the bow portion as I was sewing it up, but eventually (after 2 hours- ugh! Trial and error.) I got a fun look that I thought worked great. I made the pockets extra deep, and I’ve found lots of little toys and hidden treasures in there over the past few weeks before tossing it in the wash.
I also had to sneak some other fabric inside the pocket- Pez never hurts any sewing project. 😉
The pleated bottom portion of the dress was a toss up between going lace with chambray peek-a-boo pleats or the other way around… and I opted for more chambray. Blue is forever and always my favorite color (and my daughter’s too so far, probably because I use it for her all the time), so if I have a choice of adding more blue… I’ll do it. I had to cut the pattern piece for the bottom and add in room for a substantial pleat so enough of the lace would show through at her knees. The A-line shape of the original dress was perfect, but the added flounce from the pleats is just so retro-precious!
In my opinion, this is the most perfectly flippable pattern ever! The original is so great, so fast, so fun- but it is also like a blank slate! I am definitely going to pursue other flip ideas with the Color block Dress! Thanks so much for inviting me to participate in a great pattern flip!
************************************************************************
And, in the meantime, link up your “Flipped Pattern”
{there are only a few hours left….the linky party ends tonight at 11:00 PM CST}
10 Comments
Veronica