This dress is all about the fabric! Seriously I bought this fabric because of the lace and floral print ~ it encompasses two of this spring's trends. Florals and lace...then combine it with the inspiration picture...
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I'm so trendy that I'm setting off the trendy-ness alarm! *LOL* Both this print and the lace were on hand, so I'm making good use of that enormous fabric collection I own.
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It's a pretty dress to usher in spring. I will wear it with either my purple Butterick 5760 cardigan or any of the black cardis that are already in my closet. Love when sewn pieces from the collection work with newly created pieces.
Some stats ~
Pattern:
TNT sheath dress pattern
Fabric:
Rayon challis print from Fabric Mart
Black lace from Fabric.com
Notions:
Black Rayon bemberg lining
22" black invisible zipper
1" black lace for lining hem
Black rayon seam binding for dress hem
Construction ~
There are a few details that I added to my TNT dress to get this new version of my TNT dress.
Lace at the neckline...
This fabric has a very busy pattern so I wanted something to "fence in" the print and give it definition. So I made a lace flat binding to add to the neckline. The strip is made from the black lace layered over a piece of black cotton bias binding, pressed in half and sewn into the neckline between the fashion fabric and the lining.
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I think it adds a nice touch to the neckline.
The Sleeves...
I cut the sleeve on the crosswise grain using my 3/4 length sleeve pattern. The selvage edge of the lace made a great finish to the sleeve hem instead of adding one.
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A little gathering at the sleeve cap helped to ease the cap into the dress perfectly.
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The lace sleeve is what drew me to the dress and I love how it gives that unexpected lift to the dress.
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Lining...
Originally I was going to use a white lining in the dress. I liked how the white made the fabric's print look lighter. But after holding the lace up to the dress, I realized that the white lining would work against the black lace sleeves. So I went with a black bemberg rayon lining which, of course, made the fashion fabric shade a little darker. I'm okay with that because I want everything to play nice on the inside of the dress.
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Naturally I added a 1" black lace to the hemline of the lining...why not finish the dress innards as nicely as I finish the exterior of the dress.
A few more photos ~
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Conclusion ~
I make a lot of dresses. If you've noticed, lately they have been a little more fashionable and fashion forward, because really how many solid black, gray and navy dresses can you own? Even in the conservative environment that I work in.
This is the first of the easy summer dresses I plan to make this spring & summer. It's part of my "Fun in the Sun Summertime Dressing" collection.
...as always more later!
I'm so trendy that I'm setting off the trendy-ness alarm! *LOL* Both this print and the lace were on hand, so I'm making good use of that enormous fabric collection I own.
It's a pretty dress to usher in spring. I will wear it with either my purple Butterick 5760 cardigan or any of the black cardis that are already in my closet. Love when sewn pieces from the collection work with newly created pieces.
Some stats ~
Pattern:
TNT sheath dress pattern
Fabric:
Rayon challis print from Fabric Mart
Black lace from Fabric.com
Notions:
Black Rayon bemberg lining
22" black invisible zipper
1" black lace for lining hem
Black rayon seam binding for dress hem
Construction ~
There are a few details that I added to my TNT dress to get this new version of my TNT dress.
Lace at the neckline...
This fabric has a very busy pattern so I wanted something to "fence in" the print and give it definition. So I made a lace flat binding to add to the neckline. The strip is made from the black lace layered over a piece of black cotton bias binding, pressed in half and sewn into the neckline between the fashion fabric and the lining.
I think it adds a nice touch to the neckline.
The Sleeves...
I cut the sleeve on the crosswise grain using my 3/4 length sleeve pattern. The selvage edge of the lace made a great finish to the sleeve hem instead of adding one.
A little gathering at the sleeve cap helped to ease the cap into the dress perfectly.
The lace sleeve is what drew me to the dress and I love how it gives that unexpected lift to the dress.
Lining...
Originally I was going to use a white lining in the dress. I liked how the white made the fabric's print look lighter. But after holding the lace up to the dress, I realized that the white lining would work against the black lace sleeves. So I went with a black bemberg rayon lining which, of course, made the fashion fabric shade a little darker. I'm okay with that because I want everything to play nice on the inside of the dress.
Naturally I added a 1" black lace to the hemline of the lining...why not finish the dress innards as nicely as I finish the exterior of the dress.
A few more photos ~
Conclusion ~
I make a lot of dresses. If you've noticed, lately they have been a little more fashionable and fashion forward, because really how many solid black, gray and navy dresses can you own? Even in the conservative environment that I work in.
This is the first of the easy summer dresses I plan to make this spring & summer. It's part of my "Fun in the Sun Summertime Dressing" collection.
...as always more later!