Can you guess?
Chicken Dress!
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
My New Year’s project was Simplicity 4102 (1942). I bought the fabric for this three or four years ago and have been planning it and planning it but somehow never got around to sewing it. I was upset about this for awhile but now I’m not because, if I had sewn it earlier, it would now be the wrong size and I wouldn’t be able to wear it. See? Sometimes procrastination is a good thing!
I made View 1, on the left. Actually, the fabric I chose is not that different from the one shown, so the finished product looks pretty much like the illustration.
I am an absolute rick-rack fiend, and this is a terrific dress for rick-rack. Heck, it pretty much necessitates rick-rack. I can’t even picture it plain. I’m thinking of painting–I don’t embroider–myself a sampler:
Ha ha!
But, seriously, folks: It will save you loads of time and frustration if you’re a dedicated rick-rack-ite.
Anyway, here is the dress. Sorry about the harsh lighting, but you get the idea. I had to take the pattern in a size horizontally and lengthen the bodice/lower the bust darts. If I make it again I might take about a half inch out of the shoulders. I altered the waistband from one piece to two pieces but I think I forgot to add the extra seam allowance back because it’s pretty snug, and that’s not a problem I usually have with waistbands (hips, yes; waists, no). Oops. It should be fine, though, as long as I don’t wear it to Thanksgiving dinner.
Flickr set here. Blog entries here. Not much on either one since it wasn’t a very frustrating pattern.

Love it! Green, 1940’s, chickens, pockets, rickrack – that dress has everything!
This dress is great! I love your chicken fabric and the trimming. You won’t ever have to worry about running into someone in the same get up!!!
I just realized why this looks so familiar: because I’ve got the girl sized version in my stash. Now to track this down in a B36!