· 1950s BBQ Dress ·

I had an Official Blog Posting Plan all laid out for the summer, organized into a perfectly arranged pattern and balance of historical, vintage, and "other" posts which indicated that this dress was supposed to wait for a few weeks before posting.

However, I love it so much that it is moving up on the schedule. ;-)

On a trip to JoAnns last August, the clearance rack was an additional 50% off and we were browsing.  Obviously, we like to flirt with temptation... further evidenced by the fact that we ended up coming home with several new pieces, including this slightly crazy novelty print.  It was quirky in the right ways, a great color for me, and I was in the right mood.  Once we got home I started seriously questioning my decision though!  At home it seemed a little *too* quirky, overly colorful (there are at least 4 different shades of red alone!), and I wasn't in the right mood anymore.

I plugged away at it though, and set a deadline a couple weeks away.  The more I worked with the fabric, the more I wondered what in the WORLD I was thinking when I bought it!  I just couldn't see myself really loving (or even liking!) the dress.  I pacified myself with the consolation that I could sell the completed dress if I really hated it and at least make back the money invested in the supplies.  Intervening projects and unexpected setbacks ended up delaying completion until November.  So it languished in the closet until (with a bit of trepidation) I got it out for its debut in June... but I'm pleased to report that I LOVED it! :-D  It is super comfortable, and it just feels like "me" this year. :-)

I loved the fun details and unique skirt gathering of Butterick 5920, but I am very, very partial to kimono sleeves so I adjusted the pattern accordingly.  I wanted to add in some black accents to break up the pattern a bit and highlight the elements, so I decided on piping.

Of course, in my inherently cheap manner, I felt compelled to make the piping instead of buying it pre-made.  And I got to remember how much I really don't like piping angles. :-P  Ugh!  Why do I keep forgetting that?!  It is such a lesson in frustration and they never turn out nice enough.  The time needed to make and apply piping to the sleeves, neck, placket, and pockets was longer than expected and took a part in delaying the result.

But after all the trouble, I am SOOO glad I did it! :-)

This fabric design is rather large, and when I bought it I knew I'd have to take the repeat into account if I wanted to match up the designs.  I bought a bit extra than the pattern called for, and ended up getting even more than that to finish off the bolt.

Turns out that that was the best decision I could have made!  I thought the repeat was about 13" long, but after getting it home and laying the pieces out, I discovered that it was Twenty. Seven. Inches. Long!  Wow.  And, Ugh.  But, I love a good puzzle, and it provided just the right amount of challenge. ;-)  I matched up the design on the center front skirt seam and the front bodice.  I also made it so that the design "reads" all the way around the skirt and bodice.  That part might not end up being terribly perceptible to most, but it makes me happy!  The pockets were intentionally contrasting with the surrounding design so they would "pop" and they each feature a motif.

All things considered, I just barely squeaked by with enough fabric.  Whew!

I made bound buttonholes on this dress too- they are so addicting!  I love the way they look. :-)

This dress also marked a "first" for me, and one I never thought I would sink to the depths of.  I was determined not to buy any new buttons for this dress, but I didn't have enough matching ones.  Since the fabric was already so crazy and I wasn't sure I would even end up keeping the completed dress, I used mismatched buttons.  Oh, the horror!

But seriously- I really don't like mismatched buttons.

Granted, these buttons are rather subtly mismatched and still in an orderly pattern, but I actually like them!  Sometimes I utterly shock myself. ;-)

I LOVE these pockets, and moved them to the skirt rather than the chest.  I love the way they naturally pop out since they are placed under the skirt gathers. :-)

And I love the way the center placket extends into the skirt, and I'm so glad I chose to highlight that with the piping. :-)

OK, judging by the amount of times I said that I "loved" some aspect of this dress, have you picked up on the fact that I am really adoring this dress?! ;-)  It was such an unexpected love affair, but I'm glad it has fared better than expected!  I think the fact that so far I've gotten tons of compliments from even the most unlikely of sources might have done its share in boosting my esteem of it, too. ;-)

· Photography by Kathryn ·