Friday, October 20, 2017

The Sea-Green Linen Dress

The color of this linen is perfect. It's almost grey, but then it's green.  When I wear it, it matches my eyes and my skin looks bloomy and pink.  In short, it's my color.  And I would have ditched this dress pattern except for the fantastic sea-green linen.

The pattern gave me a high-necked dress with puffed sleeves.  I looked like a dreadful 1980s Mennonite maiden - not my vision!  I nearly chucked it in the thrift store bag. Rebecca talked my off the cliff by suggesting I re-cut the neckline.  I took the dress on and off many many times as I snipped a neckline, checked it, snipped again, checked it.  Finally, I liked it.  I made new facings by laying newspaper on top and tracing the neckline.


For the sleeves, I relied on ikat bag's helpful post on sleeves to explain what makes some fit closely and fit better.   Essentially, I flattened out the curve on top of the sleeve to reduce the puffiness. I was able to reduce the puff significantly, while still keeping the ease that I needed for songleading, the first event where I wore this dress.

I also tried on the dress multiple times to take in the waistline darts and loosen up the hip area.  So many fitting issues!  

The linen was rough and scratchy when I started making the dress, but I handled it so thoroughly that it turned soft and buttery by the time I was ready to wear it. 


I do like the dress, especially with the chunky bracelet I got at the thrift store for $2 and the merino wrap my mother-in-law got in India. But I doubt I'll have the patience to sew this pattern again!

12 comments:

Jennifer Jo said...

1. That's a gorgeous color.
2. I love the sandals.
3. Please teach me how to put my hair up like that. A tutorial, perhaps?

sillygirl said...

It is too bad it was such a pain to get the dress to how it looks now - it looks lovely on you - you should have it in multiple colors! It looks so easy to wear.

LOVE AND XXXX said...

I agree with Jennifer Jo about a video tutorial on how you fix your hair. So beautiful you and your hair. Dress looks fab on you. You ought to be a model.

Naomi said...

I'm a sucker for linen, the colour is just lovely. And merino wool wrap! Lovely.

Becky said...

I'm a huge fan of that color. Not only is my bedroom painted a very similar shade, I made all my bridesmaid's dresses out of a linen that color. Worth the trouble for sure.

jenny_o said...

Oh, that looks wonderful on you! It's too bad there were so many issues, but not making it again also keeps this one "special" - which it deserves. I'm not sure it would be as lovely in another colour!

Love the colours you chose for accessories also.

Laura said...

Really elegant, Margo! And I agree, it's your color. Thanks for the link on the sleeves; I'm off to go take a look. I have a thrifted 90s rayon dress (homesewn!) that just needs the sleeves "de-poofed."

Laurie L. said...

Chuckling about the reference to 1980s Mennonite maidens. As someone who had a lot of dresses made by my mother in the 1980s, I completely know what you are talking about. I think revamping the neckline was key to changing the look. I'd give anything to be able to alter and tailor like you do.

Christy K. said...

Oh my goodness. This dress and you together are gorgeous!!

Margo said...

Thank you, all! As for the requests for a hair tutorial, I will try. . . but Jennifer, it would go better (MUCH better) in person. I'll give a personal lesson next time you're around!

MDiskin said...

The dress and you look beautiful. But I also came for a hair tutorial! :) Please share.

Nancy In Boise said...

Nice!!! And love the shawl :)