Vintage Beauty

Hi, I am Jenya from While she was sleeping, and I am so happy I can finally reveal my version of the Croquet Dress pattern by Oliver + S!

I enjoy challenges where I am provided with a starting point and then given freedom to do as I please. For this challenge I wanted to keep the pattern recognisable, but give it a little twist that would make it my own and unique.

I initially wanted to make an A line dress out of lightweight denim, but when Little Monkey saw my choice of fabric she said, ‘Bwa’ and turned away. Boy was I happy I did not cut into fabric before consulting with my little customer! You see, it is important for me to make something my daughter likes and wants to wear.

So once Little Monkey rejected my idea we started looking through my fabric stash together. Pulling fabric out, stretching it on the floor, touching and folding it together with my daughter was so much fun!

Little Monkey chose vintage floral brushed cotton that I purchased from House of Cloth. The fabric is super soft and nice to touch. It feels wonderful against the skin and it drapes beautifully. Little Monkey’s choice of fabric determined a few other changes I have made.

The most noticeable change is that the dress has become a blouse. I can’t explain it. This fabric had to become a blouse, not a dress.

Pintucks. Sweet little pintucks. They are such a delicate detail. For some reason I associate pintucks with vintage. Perfect for our choice of fabric! I replaced gathers on the front of the blouse with four pintucks, and I love the look!

Once it came to sewing the collar detail in place I thought my blouse was looking a little too busy. Golden ricrac helped break up the business of the print.

The other obvious change is that Little Monkey’s blouse has long sleeves. I cut them too wide but instead of trimming excess fabric I narrowed the bottom of the sleeves by sewing three pintucks on each sleeve.

Another detail that I associate with vintage is a button up closure on the back of a garment.

Both Little Monkey and I love buttons. When she saw the back of her new blouse she was pleased with the amount of buttons. She is so funny!

So, this is my ‘flip’. What do you think?

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