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Made By A Fabricista: A Breezy Summer Birthday Dress

By Kathy {Kathy Sews}




Happy birthday to me!!  I try to sew a breezy, easy wearing summer dress every July in the loudest print I can find (like this one from a couple years ago.)  This year I pulled out my BurdaStyle stash and found 5/2014 #117, the epitome of casual summer dresses!

I picked up this "palm trees at sunset" print rayon challis and it was on!!  I cut a straight size 42. Normally I size up in the hip, but clearly this has a very full skirt and is totally accommodating to the pear shaped gal.


I added 1" to the bodice length, a normal alteration for me to work for me at 5'8"-- Burda's patterns are designed for someone who is 5'6".  I excluded the pockets on the hips.  Who doesn't love a pocket?!!  Me.  I find they add too much bulk exactly where I don't want it, so bye bye hip pockets.


I love those  narrow, little straps.  But I severely dislike the way Burda said I should sew them where you have to turn them right side out by pulling them through themselves, struggling, screaming profanity and nearly giving up 1/2 way through strap #1... blah blah blah.  I just fold them in half a couple times, iron them and zip them through my sewing machine.  I could care less if I see a line of stitches on the straps on this super casual maxi dress.  If I had some cute ribbon, that would have been a great option for the straps and tie on the bodice, too.


Bras are an issue here, folks.  A regular bra with straps can be okay-- if the straps are lined up right, they can blend in, appearing like another strap on the dress.  But I opted to do a strapless bra.  If you have a figure that can handle being bra-less, you're a lucky one.


I love the drape and weight of rayon challis, plus is sews up so well on both my regular machine and my serger.  And it washes and dries nicely if you pull it out of the dryer ASAP-- no ironing for me.  I don't iron ever, unless it's a special occasion or I am in the process sewing. 


Hopefully I am eating cake and ice cream while you are reading this, not spilling my birthday yummies all over my sassy new dress.  

Happy Summer Sewing!!
~Kathy

Comments

  1. UnknownJuly 21, 2016 at 9:32 AM

    Very Nice! Pretty fabric

    ReplyDelete
  2. SewCraftyChemistJuly 21, 2016 at 12:37 PM

    It turned out PERFECTLY! I love this! So easy breezy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That Black ChicJuly 21, 2016 at 1:49 PM

    I really like this dress and the fabric is perfect. Now I will say I overlooked this fabric when I saw it but I like it now that I've seen what you've done with it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. PirkkoJuly 23, 2016 at 7:44 AM

    Beautiful! How much fabric did you need for this?

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJuly 25, 2016 at 4:52 PM

    I have plans on sewing this dress too! It's great to see the dress in action, it looks very comfortable :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. TheTellTaleTashaJuly 27, 2016 at 10:19 AM

    beautiful fabric! the dress looks casual but dressy at the same time so that gives it so many chances to wear! Love

    ReplyDelete

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