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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.
I believe you can love your home just the way it is, AND have the power to design and make big changes to make it better.
I'm also the author of DIY Wardrobe Makeovers!

Loosely inspired, but feeling a great summer vibe: lighthouse dress!

You read that right--this is my lighthouse dress.

The back story is, ages ago when I first saw Anthropologie's Bike Lane dress, it must have struck some special chord.  Because I was at a JoAnn I don't normally go to a while ago, and saw a white print with red and blue lighthouses on it on the clearance racks, and thought: summer dress!

I waited till the red tag clearance fabrics were an extra 50% off on a big weekend sale, and headed back--they still had a bolt of my lighthouses!  So I paid $2.50/yard for the lovely 100% cotton lightweight twill, perfect for a dress, and started thinking about patterns.

Let me also show you all my inspirations!  Like I said, I think Anthro has embedded in my mind this cutesey-print dress concept so it comes to me when thinking about designing!  Here's the Bike Lane Dress from a few years ago...

They also had the Two-Wheeler Shirtdress...

This year, there's even this dress with Japanese tea houses printed on it...

But, in addition to the cute prints, I think I associated my lighthouses with the cute pleated sweetheart neckline of Anthro's other summery frocks, like the Traced Twirls Dress...

And the Sincerely Paris Halter Dress:

And, most recently, the Akebono Halter Dress!

So when I found McCall's Laura Ashley M6350 while flipping through the McCall's book when McCall's were $1/each at Joann... it was perfect!  This pattern is almost the spittin' image of the Traced Twirls Dress.

Super cute and flattering, sort of vintage-inspired pattern.  I could see it sooo clearly in my mind--my lighthouse fabric in that bodice!  I didn't have quite enough for the pattern's 6-panel skirt, so I gave it a smaller, modified half-circle skirt.

(Forgive the terrible lighting and weird colors of these pics...)  Ta-da!


It's even red, white, and blue for this patriotic time of year. ;)  And I am now a BIG fan of this pattern!  I think I might want to make another one sometime soooon!

So, do you have any dresses with cutesy little prints on them?  Or any fabric?  (I have a pattern recommendation... ;) )

24 comments

  1. So cute! Perfect for 4th of July!

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  2. How did you do your hair? It looks great!

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    1. Thanks! Just curled it a little I think the day before I took this pic, and pinned up the front/top part with bobby pins in an X, giving it a little poof!

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  3. Amazing Dress! It really has a wonderful neckline.

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  4. Anonymous6/20/2012

    That is a very nice dress. I'm going to have to pick up this pattern too!

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  5. That looks great! I need to make one for myself...

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  6. Anonymous6/20/2012

    Lovely! What a great summer dress!

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  7. What a great summer dress! Would look lovely with a wide red or blue waist belt as well!

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  8. Anonymous6/20/2012

    Squeeee!! Love this to death. Congratulations on another beautiful creation.

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  9. You're just so cute! Loving the red lipstick and very white dress

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  10. omg it's perfect! i feel like i've either asked you this or i've seen you answer it before but...do you ever do custom work? :)

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    1. Aaw, thanks!! I don't do custom sewing, but I have a post about it and some recommendations... http://www.adventuresindressmaking.com/2011/09/custom-sewing-etsy-seller.html

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  11. Dutch Girl6/20/2012

    Wow, I really like this dress. In Bristol where I have been in summer, there was a store with a lot of that kind of dresses but so expensive. I like the idea to make one on my own. Good work.

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  12. Love it, it's really cute! I wish I had more time to sew. I haven't sewn in a month.

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    1. Summer is the perfect time!! You've got a few months! ;)

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  13. That IS a cute dress! The pattern and fabric work well together, and it turned out fabulously! I love prints, but have to admit I don't wear that many dresses, so tops it is.

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    1. I know the feeling. I seek out opportunities to wear dresses. ;)

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  14. That's so cute! And that fabric is awesome, and perfect for someone like me - it doesn't need to be lined up properly.

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  15. I love cute prints :) I can't believe you waited till it was on sale to go back... so brave, lol. I'm too scared of my precious fabric selling out! This is a super cute dress. Colour me jealous :)

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  16. Sweet!
    I love the style and the print is all summer!
    Xx
    Callie

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  17. so cute! I just love it! You are too cute! I am a new follower, love ur blog! I have that pattern too, I can't wait to make it:)

    Reyna

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    1. Thanks, welcome! It is a fun pattern, have fun!

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  18. I'm absolutely dying over this dress. If you ever feel like doing a clothes swap this summer, let me know. ;)

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