Sunday, January 8, 2012

The 2011 Christmas frock

As I explained last year with the making of the Christmas Skirt, making something to wear on Christmas Day is a tradition I decided to bring back from the days my mum used to make me a new Christmas, or school break-up free each year.

This year was no different. When I picked up this gorgeous soft cotton drill from Mood Fabrics in New York in late October, I knew it would be a Christmas Dress. It was summery, light and cotton, and if I made it in a Not Sorbetto tea dress style it could look quite classic and wearable.

Question: What does this photo tell you?

Christmas Frock

Answer: I need to find a red vintage handbag to wear with this dress.

Question: What does this photo tell you?

Christmas Frock

Answer 1: That it was fortunate I didn't end up with a rose motif over each boob, a la the Jesus arms butt skirt.

Answer 2: That I don't do blond surfer streaks in my hair very well.

Christmas Frock

To be perfectly honest I'm getting a teensy bit tired of the Not Sorbetto (Simplicity 2938). Not wearing it mind you - just making it. I have quite a few versions of the Not Sorbetto in top and dress form hanging in my closet. It's a brilliant pattern, but enough might soon be enough. So I decided to change the neck details on this dress - instead of the inverted pleat at the centre, and the two knife pleats on the outside, I gathered the neck instead. I like the effect. If the facing actually decided to ever sit where it is supposed to, I would totally LOVE the effect.

Christmas Frock

I felt this dress needed something at the waist. I toyed with the idea of making a red belt to go with it, but then realised that all it needed was a little red trim.

Besides who needs to be wearing a belt on Christmas Day when your brother has cooked an amazing feast? Belts out a notch, anyone?

Luckily I had the perfect amount of red baby ric-rac in my stash from the Blythe clothes-making days to embellish my dress with. And I discovered that baby ric-rac is quite the little bastard when it comes to attaching it by machine. I tried three times, and ended up with a wonky mess each time. In the end I hand stitched the ric-rac down which took a couple of hours, but the result was worth it.

Christmas Frock

I did my third ever hand-picked zipper. I love doing these. I actually find them easy to do, and they are so accurate too. Much better than sewing in by machine and I love the look of those tiny little stitches.

I really love this dress and I think it might be my favourite dress of all time. I love the softness and also the density of the fabric. And the print is amazing with its pixellated roses almost looking a little like camo close up. I wore it tonight to dinner with friends and on the walk to the restaurant I felt taller and straighter than I have in a while. It's almost like I feel I have to have a better posture in order to belong in this dress. And that's a really good thing.

I have a wedding in late April to attend in Bowral and I think it might be a contender against the White Flowers dress I made for my brother's wedding. Matched with the red silk/satin wedding stole from my own wedding, I think it could look pretty cool.

20 comments:

  1. Beautiful dress Michelle, tis stunning. I really like the baby ric rac, it's a really clever idea.

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  2. great dress - gorgeous fabric.
    good luck finding a red vintage bag :)

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  3. I love this dress - it is so beautiful, and really suits you!
    Love the gathered neckline too!
    x

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  4. Beautiful fabric and dress Michelle:) And yes, before you even asked the question I thought "she needs a red handbag!" so you better start looking:) Cyndy

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  5. No wonder you love it, it's beautiful! Hand picked zip... is that just hand-sewn? Is it a special technique? Linkies? Tips?! ;)

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  6. Brilliant dress - now that you have started this tradition for XMas you will have to outdo yourself each year!!!

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  7. What a gorgeous dress Michelle. It looks beautiful on you. I particularly like how the waist sits and the red ric rac detail.

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  8. Beautiful dress! I just love that fabric!

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  9. Hi,
    The dress looks great on you and your shoes rock. You have fabulous shoes.
    Bev V.

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  10. AND then you have the perfect rationale for being the new red bag!

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  11. I love having a new outfit for Christmas. Mine are not usually handmade though like your GREAT dress! Gorgeous fabric, great pattern, nice finishing!

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  12. Happy New Year Michelle! It's a beautiful dress, and you look lovely in it. I think a litte green handbag would also look great, so that it's not too with it.
    :-)
    xxx K

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  13. Ooop!I meant to sign off with "J" of course!

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  14. You're a veritable inspiration, you are. And that Jesus Arms Butt Skirt has its own je ne sais quoi. (grin).

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  15. Beautiful dress. Love the rickracks and the handpick zipper.

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  16. Gorgeous dress - the gathered neckline and ric rac are perfect

    (And yes, lucky with the rose placements)

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  17. Wow, this is a beautiful dress. I love all the little extras: the gathered neckline, the ric-rac, the hand picked zipper, just gorgeous. And the big plus is that you now NEED a red vintage handbag! x

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  18. The fabric is very cute. The neckline is lovely. Well done.

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