That's what it feels like waiting for someone to take my photo wearing a finished garment. So these images will suffice for now. I am so pleased with this garment which can be worn as a dress, and as a coat over jeans. I also really like the buckle. Originally I made a tie belt but didn't care for it. My husband was going over to Newtown, home of the best button store in Sydney and I asked him if he could look for 5cm buckle to match my buttons. I wasn't expecting much, but he came home with a very expensive bone buckle that sets off the garment beautifully. When I commented on its price, he said "I thought the cheaper one would spoil your good work". I love that man!! I'm also pretty happy with my buttonhol
es, which I did myself - mainly out of impatience to finish the garment on the weekend.I also need to credit Celia from Miss Celie's Pants for the inspiration to make this dress. Her jacket version was quite awesome.
Meanwhile I have declared 2011 'Year of the Girl Scout'-I am going to be prepared. I confess to being a sewer who never prewashed fabrics, rarely made a muslin and leapt from one unrelated garment to another.
That behaviour is at an end. So I have just washed ten pieces from my stash. I am working up a sewing plan based on 'the merchandising formula', that is a typical six-look collection could consist of the following offerings:
Three outer wear options (a tailored option, a shorter options and novelty option); three jackets; three woven blouses; three knits; three trousers; three skirts and two dresses.
I am planning a Spring/Summer collection and an Autumn Winter collection. This is also an exercise in stash busting - my aim is to use up as much of my existing collection as possible, sell the pieces that just don't fit the theme and only buy essentials.
That really works as a dress and what a good choice by our husband on the buckle. Good luck with your collection, I'm sort of aiming to be better at planning this year too.
ReplyDeleteYour dress is stunning!
ReplyDeleteI really like this style and you did it up beautiful! I like all of your details too!
ReplyDeleteReally nice - I have been dreaming of a trench dress like this!
ReplyDeleteAdmirable goal to sew with a plan - I am of the "leap from one unrelated item to another" variety, but trying to get more organised - gradually!
An emphatic success! It looks fabulous Gail.
ReplyDeleteGail, the dress is stunning! I agree with your husband about the buckle. I really will finish my dress one day. I like your approach to a collection; I never thought of it that way. I need to rethink my SWAP! Incidentally, I'm suprised you didn't try to work in the "Waiting for Godet" line ...
ReplyDeleteAwesome buckle - good boy!! It all looks wonderful - and good for you to have such conviction to a plan and pre washing etc - very commendable.
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love it and want one just like it! My husband couldn't pick out a belt buckle if his life depended on it.
ReplyDeleteI have always liked this Burda dress. I love your version, and your DH did a wonderful job picking out a buckle. I hadn't thought of wearing it as a coat over pants, but that would be a nice look too.
ReplyDeleteWonderful dress! So many options for wearing it. Love the line-up for your sewing plan.
ReplyDeleteThis is just stunning. All that top stitching! You must post pictures of you in it as soon as you can. It's really wonderful. It looks so RTW!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to de-stash too, and plan few projects that I'll need to buy new fabric for. Though I just saw a sneak peek of the new Vogue patterns on the Adonising blog, and I may need to make a few of those dresses.
Stunning dress that will be very versatile. DH did an awesome job with the buckle and you as well with your topstitching and buttonholes.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous dress! The buckle really does work beautifully with it - your husband get an A+! :)
ReplyDeleteAt the end we all end up making resolutions for the new year, I see that you meet, LOL, that dress is incredibly beautiful, I have it in my closet slope of summer.Great work!
ReplyDeleteYour dress is lovely --- the details look beautiful, and kudos to your husband for picking out the perfect buckle, as that wasn't an easy task! I have a RTW dress that has a similar style and I love its versatility --- my favorite way to wear it is over jeans.
ReplyDeleteDon't flog yourself too much over the girl scout thing. If what you enjoy is improvisational sewing, you don't want to ruin it for yourself entirely. If I thought I could only sew what I have planned, I'd die of boredom on the spot.
ReplyDeleteAnd there can be entirely too much muslining out there, imho. If you make a fitting shell for a pattern brand, and know what few adjustments you need to make it fit you, you should be able to do those same adjustments blindly to everything you sew from that company and have it come out right. If a company is not consistent enough in its sizing for that to work, you may reconsider using it at all..
The only thing I really do is prewash. Three projects in a row given to my (otherwise very nice) smaller neighbor cured me on that count. But all I do now is toss the new fabric directly from the door into the laundry, so it's no extra work at all, fabric never makes it to the shelves unwashed. No thinking involved, you're always ready to start whatever as the inspiration strikes.
Congratulations on the husband-training too, that's worth a lot :-). And happy new year, may it be filled with projects as successful.
Gail.no wonder you are happy with this dress. It looks absolutely perfect. Your husband sounds like mine,supportive,kind, and willing to go to the fabric store for me!!.I know how you feel about the muslin thing. I'm planning on making one this week for the coat I'll be starting but I hate doing it.
ReplyDeleteGail, this is a sensational looking dress! Very nice work!
ReplyDeleteGail - I recently found a secondhand trenchcoat that is immaculate except for the buckles. I have been looking everywhere for replacements without luck and then I came across your blog which I've bookmarked for future reference. It's fantastic. So I'm off to Newtown tomorrow to hopefully find some buckles. I feel a bit worred about the price though I probably will settle for the cheaper version given the original price of the trench. :)Maree
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