I have developed a passion for polka dots and it is all down to this dress:
Do you ever have times where things just come together perfectly when sewing? When you haven’t done anything differently, but things just seem to… well…work!
Well I appear to be having one of those times in life where exactly this happens. All of my sewing projects lately have been turning out great and have proven extremely enjoyable! I am on a bit of a roll, which is a welcome change 
This wasn’t the case a couple of months back though. Back in March, for my birthday, I was treated to a bunch of amazing patterns, and yes I will hold up my hands and admit I haven’t got around to using even half of these yet 
Anyway, one of these was the Butterick Patterns by Gertie 5882 vintage style dress.
It is a very beautiful dress, and I was so excited to give it a try. The only problem was, it didn’t quite work out. I wish I had a photograph to show you but I think it would have been classed as indecent exposure. I don’t know how it happened but the bodice just wasn’t happening for me. I completely blame myself and will be giving the pattern another chance in the future, but as for my first attempt, well it was more kind both to myself and the dress to just call it a day!
However, have you seen how many panels make up that skirt section of the dress?!? It is stunning and I was desperate not to let it go to waste. I had no idea what I would do with it exactly, but kept it to one side for a rainy day when inspiration would hopefully hit.
Well, as it turns out inspiration came in the form of a sewing swap all the way from Australia when I was sent this amazing pattern, New Look 6143:
and straight away the polka dot dress on the front cover illustrations screamed out at me!
So this is what I re-created!
I used the bodice from the New look pattern, and the skirt from Gertie 5882 . Team this with my big net underskirt, and what do you get?
I will tell you what you get… you get the perfect vintage dress that is going to kick start an obsession with polka dots!!!!
Check out my self covered, matching buttons too, I am rather proud
Turns out, it is also the perfect dress to attend a vintage fair in too… I even had a woman ask to take a photo of me because she liked it so much
What a compliment.
Please do feel free to check out the Made With Hugs and Kisses blog for more pictures and lots more creations
I anticipate many polka dot related creations in the near future, and luckily, from the sewing meet up in Birmingham a few weekends ago, I will not be stuck for fabric to fuel this new obsession, as within the ginormous stash I came home with, two of these were dotty.
I am now on the look out for more vintage or vintage themed patterns that I can team with these fabrics, after all, if you are going to sew with polka dots, you have to sew vintage!
Happy sewing everyone
Tagged as:
dress,
gerties,
made with hugs and kisses,
mistakes,
pattern,
polka dot,
Polka Dots,
red,
sewing,
Vintage,
vintage fair
