One day however she will be wearing my best friend chain around her wrist even if I have to break a few restraining orders to make it happen.
A few months ago I saw on her blog a 40's dress that she had just made and I fell in love with it! I went straight online and ordered myself a copy of the pattern called the New England Day Dress so that I could
The pictures above are of Rochelle's version. Isn't it dreamy? Read about her dress here.
Rochelle is currently hosting a 40's dress sew-along called 'Sew For Victory' and my new dress and I are taking part. There's still time to get involved, so click on the picture below to check out the details. You'll want to check out all the participants amazing creations. Who doesn't love vintage for crying out loud!
So here's my review of the New England Day Dress:
Fabric
A cotton poplin from Spoonflower, 'Shabby Rose', designed by Kristopherk
Like
Easy to make with great easy-paced instructions.
I love the classic vintage shape of this 1940's dress.
The sleeves! I'm majorly crushing on these sleeves, with a 'I want to write his name all over my pencil case' sort of intensity. I mean would you look at that sleeve head?!!
It's a combination of small darts finished with a gathered stitch at the head to give the sleeve that structure at the top.
Fake bib top and skirt! How sweet does this look. I used contrasting mustard fabric on the facings of the bib for a bit of 'somethin-somethin'.
It has pockets! Pockets people!
Don't Like
The dress isn't lined and uses facings instead. I'm not the biggest fan of facings instead of linings, but I do like that it's faster to put together.
Look Out For
Really cute babies ...
Have a good think about what edges need to be overlocked/serged before you put them together. The instructions only tell you to finish the edges half of the time.
The yardage! Almost every pattern piece is cut on the fold and this chews up a heck of a lot of fabric! Make sure you buy extra fabric as you don't want to be caught short. If I hadn't made the facings a different fabric, I would not have had enough!
Changes Made
I shortened the bodice by 3cm, my usual modification as I have a shorter torso.
Oh heck, here's just a bit more cuteness. Adorable much?
How's everyone going with their outfits for the Mad Men Dress Challenge?
Don't forget to get your Mad Men Dress pics to me by Friday, April the 19th, 2013
click here for the details. Need some inspiration? Check out last years contributors here.
There will also be some great giveaways including vintage brooches from Ruemiraldi, and a $25 gift voucher for Patterns From the Past store
And for those of you who want to let your readers know you are taking part in the challenge, here is a button with the HTML code
OMG! Harry has grown so much! He's the cuttest! And Julia...you look great!!!! Oh! and the dress, very, very nice too! I like the little pleating under the bust, the pockets and the name of the dress of course :) (I live in Ne England)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Um, yes I do know we're BFFS!!! ;) ;) Your dress looks incredible, but not as incredible as you look post baby! (who is adorable by the way) I agree the dress has some seriously weird facings and yardage layouts, but it was still a lot of fun to put together. I'm SO excited for the Mad Men challenge, especially since I found a vintage pattern of Peggy's EXACT dress! p.s. you better get on Flickr already so you can show off your awesome dress :)
ReplyDeleteI want to buy this pattern so I can be like you!! This is so cute!
ReplyDeletePure Awesomeness.
ReplyDeleteThat is all.
beautiful dress! and what a cutie harry is! :)
ReplyDeleteBesides my two children who were the most beautiful babies in the world (only a mother can say this), your beautiful little Harry comes a very close second. How you both look so happy and healthy. I am so glad to see you back sewing and you are obviously well settled into motherhood. This lovely dress looks so good on you and as always you have sewn and fitted it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous dress and adorable little bubba! Loved this post, I wish I could have joined in the mad men challenge but time is on the sort side for me atm! Can't wait to see what all you clever ladies come up with though!!
ReplyDeleteLove your Sew for Victory dress! I may have to search out the pattern. I finished mine yesterday and plan on starting my Mad Men challenge dress tonight!
ReplyDeleteCute dress, cute baby, cute everything! I especially love that fabric you chose - so pretty. I'm working on my Mad Men dress right now and can't wait to see everyone's submissions in April!
ReplyDeleteOMG he is so adorable, ridiccc!!!
ReplyDeleteAlso cute dress, got distracted by the bubsy :)
Love the dress and your fabric choice. Tho got to say that the best thing you've made is your littley! How cute is he, can he and I be BFFs please?
ReplyDeleteOmg he is so freaking adorable!!!! And that dress is just gorgeous. I love this pattern.
ReplyDeleteFabulous fabulous! I love the 40s shoulders. The material is a great choice - bold oversized flowers are a perfect match with the pattern!
ReplyDeleteYour dress is gorgeous! I love the fabric, and I agree with you on the sleeve head, they're very tasty!
ReplyDeleteAaw, he's adorable and you my dear look fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love your version of the dress! And that sleeve truly is remarkable :)
This dress is so gorgeous! I love all the sweet 1940s details and the fabric you chose is right up my street! You also look super stunning...I can't believe you've just had a baby!!! And what an adorable baby too!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow this dress is stunning! I wish I could be Rochelle's bestie-- she's the coolest! :) You look lovely, as does Harry-- what a sweet little family! Love the fabric that you chose! Very much looking forward to seeing your Mad Men dress!
ReplyDeleteLovely dress! And those pictures of you and your baby are ridiculously cute!
ReplyDeleteI actually just finished my dress yesterday and already wore it out for dinner on a date night with my hubby. I'll e-mail you when I do my post! I think I like it way better than I thought I would. I have a feeling I will be wearing it quite a bit this year.
Baby! He is so perfect. This dress you made is beautiful too, the colors are just right.
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty dress Julia! Love the fabric and the pattern. Your little man is so adorable!
ReplyDeleteLove the cute babies :) Wait... this post is about the dress, right? OK, the dress looks wonderful too. Especially with the baby embellishment... ;)
ReplyDeleteI think Rochelle has probably found lots of new best friends in this sew along! ;)
Not into vintage enough to join your challenge but love the 40s look on you. Your bub is too gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteSo, so lovely! It is the perfect '40s silhouette, and I love your fabric choice. I'm off to check out that pattern. Your baby is a such a cutie, and you look amazing for having had a baby just a few months ago.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what's more pretty, your dress or that cute baby of yours? Well, that's easy, it's the little boy! But the dress is amazing and you look so good in it, nobody would ever believe you just had a baby. I am making the muslin for my Peggy dress right now, can't wait to see everybody's beautiful outfits...
ReplyDeleteYou look fantastic and that is one super cute baby!
ReplyDeleteHi! I just found your blog and it's great!! I put it in the bookmarks, and I never put anything on the bookmarks :) You and your baby are both adorable.
ReplyDeleteyou look so pretty and your baby is so cute! Congratulations!
ReplyDeletefound your site through pattern review as another member linked to your blog while reviewing her version of butterick 5603. funny that i didnt find you before because ive been reading beccie's (sew retro rose)blog for awhile and have been following her madmen challenge dress. anyhow, love your sense of humor that had me smiling and smirking and laughing all through your post. i'll be back not just for your gorgeous dresses and sewing info but also for your wit. cutie pie baby :D.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, adorable, and that dress is pretty cute too! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteLove this dress - I loved Rochelle's version too and this one is just as awesome! I really want this pattern, but I have so many others I still need to sew though that I can't really justify it at the moment.
ReplyDeleteWhat a phenom dress!!! You look stunning in it xx
ReplyDeleteSieht ja echt toll aus, super Outfits von euch beiden.
ReplyDeleteCan I ask a slightly weird question? Would the bib top allow for breastfeeding? I love to wear dresses so I'm always on the look out for a pattern that will give sufficient boob access. Cheers! Victoria
ReplyDeleteHi Minnow, not weird at all. I know all about the necessary boob access. The amount of times I have to get the girls out these days is ridiculous. A bib top is perfect for breastfeeding. The only catch with this dress is that it's a fake bib, so it doesn't come undone all the way. If you could get a little clever and redraft it so that it was a properly functioning bib then it would be a great success!
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