I tried to get creative on this one... was actually forced to, since I got the fabric at Goodwill Outlet and it appeared to have been another garment at one time, cut into four pieces, each a yard long and 20-25" wide. Mysterious... one piece had a border print. Anyway, I liked the soft and high quality weave feel to this funky batikey stuff, and I thought I could probably do something unexpected with it. So here I was, trying to design something that included the one panel of border print but also worked for my less funky/hippie, generally more girly style. I looked to Anthropologie for inspiration, at least for the attitude--I was looking for tribal or ethnic-ey inspired prints in more structured dresses...
And tops...
Get the general look?
So here's what I came up with!
I had fun with the one-shoulder look...
I used my old standby McCall's 5849 as a rough, rough base and created the rest of it from there. I gave the whole bodice a bias ruching overlay for texture and depth, sewing down some of the gathers to keep it from adding too much bulk to my torso! It has a faint sweetheart neckline, and the skirt is pleated into the waist, rather than gathered.
I wasn't sure about the fabric to begin with, honestly, but I'm actually quite happy with the balance of hippie to girly that I think I created! =)
Pro-quality DIY pleated lampshade tutorial!
EASY contrast trim pleated lampshade tutorial (no-sew, minimal cuts)
Easy DIY fabric covered lampshades (and the block print sconce shades I love!)