Hello! It has been ages since I posted on Sew Retro…mainly because I have been a lazy slacker and haven’t photographed any of my fall/winter projects until now. Ah well. I guess we are all allowed a little lazy slacker time, right?
Down in Georgia, we have had an unusually cold winter. This has left my usually winter-loving self feeling a bit fidgety and anxious for spring and flowers and warmth. Since I can’t do anything about the weather, I have been gathering patterns, buying fabric, and putting together lovely spring dresses.
I finished this particular dress last night. It is a copy of a vintage dress–1950’s–I used to own. The original dress fit me like a glove, but had very unflattering pin tucks all down the top half of the skirt (think rib knit effect–blah). So I took the dress apart, made a pattern from the pieces, and viola!

The dress is made of stretch cotton poplin (find it here), and the skirt lining of muslin and lace. I used some vintage purple buttons that I found at an estate sale awhile back. Absolutely love the dress, and plan on making another in the near future!

This pocket is not very practical, but I felt that it needed to be there.

Lace is so girly. 🙂
Fabulous work Bess! Fondly remember wearing shirtwaist dresses in the late 50s through the early 1960s. Bravo to you for taking apart and creating a pattern. It fits great and you look wonderful in the dress.
Really gorgeous!! The fabric is beautiful.
How pretty! And great idea – I tend not to like pintucks in reality either. Hope it stays warm so you can wear it lots!
wow well done! i've often thought of using clothes as patterns, but i'm too much of a wimp to try it.
My first reaction was:
PRETTY!
And so was my second.
Gorgeous print! Gorgeous dress! Gorgeous smile! Very springerly.
Garnet
So very pretty, and *love* that cheery print.