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Hello! I'm Suzannah, a serious DIYer and mom of two little ones. Follow along with my DIY fixer upper house renovations, sewing and crafty projects, real food recipes, and de-stressing goals.
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Sewing Circle: Prep and stripes and spring!

I love this dress.  Obvs, so did this reader, who sent me this Sewing Circle question!

Q: So one of my girlfriends and I found this dress while we were out shopping yesterday. We actually went into the store only because we saw it in the window! Unfortunately, when we looked at the price tag, the dress was $400, way too much for us poor, starving college students. Do you know of a similar pattern?
A: Thanks so much for reading, and thanks for your email! That is a super cute dress, and I know I’ve seen patterns for ones like it, with the bias meeting in the center front of the bodice… and the skirt is basic inverted pleated skirt; you don’t need a pattern because it’s just two panels of the fabric, in rectangles, pleated with inverted box pleats.

So: the bodice. Here are a couple I found that get the look:
  • Vogue V8789.  You might have to adjust the neckline a little, but without the sleeves, it's very similar--just has princess seams instead of darts on the bodice.  I think this one is probably the closest.  Just cut the armholes and neckline down, maybe using another tank-like bodice pattern overlayed on top as a guide.

  • Butterick B5455 has a very similar look!  Same silhouette for the neckline but has a midriff panel and pleats at the neck edge.  Again, do the skirt differently--just two panels of fabric to the length you want, pleated.
  • You know, you also could try a regular dress pattern--ignoring the center line and diagonal stripes for a moment--and instead of cutting the center front on the fold, cut it on the bias, aligning your center stripes.  Something like Simplicity 1873 has the right darts and basic bodice shape; just make the neckline a V and cut each front half piece on the bias.

Do any of those look good?  None are perfect, I know, so hey, readers--have you seen the right thing??  Do share!

14 comments

  1. Oh, I LOVE that dress! I've been thinking about making something similar for spring, with the center seam on the bodice and stripes cut on the bias, now you've sent me off searching for seafoam colored striped fabric! ;)

    I think the first of these patterns is both prettiest and closest to the dress posted.

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    1. Oh, good! Yes, I'd love to find some perfect striped fabric, too, but haven't seen any recently!

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  2. How random that I came across this tutorial on pinterest moments after reading your post! I hope it's what you're looking for!

    http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/2011/03/pivoting-dart.html

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    1. A diagonal dart would be fun on a stripe, and would have a similar look at the center front! Thanks for the link!

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  3. Those dress are very lovely. I also love v shape dresses. The fashion suggestion really help.

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  4. I would love to see that dress ON someone. It is so pretty!

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  5. I just got Butterick 5490, which is very similar to the RTW dress. I love the fabric on that one! And the sequins!

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    1. Oh, yeah, same general shape but with pleats! Super cute, I love midriff panel dresses.

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  6. What about finding a FABRIC like that? I can't recall seeing a nice wide stripe available... anyone know where it would exist?

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    1. Yeah, good question... if money were no object I'm sure you could Google it and find something!

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  7. I've just spent a week searching out wide knit stripes, and I have some wide striped cotton from an upholstery shop, but a silk like that? Never seen it available. I'm sure the garment district of some awesome city has some, but not me:)

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    1. Hm. Darn. There HAS to be somewhere online, but how to find it?!

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  8. These patterns are so cute!! I love them!
    xo, Smitty

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  9. Thanks so much, so sweet of you to say! Your blog looks like fun, thanks for sharing! =)

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