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Tuesday 28 May 2013

Finished: Nautical Dress


This dress has been in the pipeline for some time. Despite being quick to sew, it's taken me a while to get it put together. However I wanted to wear it to a wedding reception this past weekend, so that deadline certainly helped to spur me on.

The pattern I used was from Sew U Home Stretch - the same babydoll pattern I used to make my Juniper dress. However this time I opted to make it sleeveless with bound armholes and neckline. I also raised the neckline to a boat neck style.

There isn't much to say about this dress, but I'm pretty happy with it and am hoping it will see me through the rest of pregnancy as I still have room to grow.


It was also a great use of two tricky fabrics - the top is a a blue cotton jersey from Croft Mill but it hasn't got much stretch to it and I was a bit underwhelmed by it. The bottom is a nautical print I bought from Mandors, and I gave away a length of the fabric in this year's Sew Grateful giveaway. I love the print but it's pretty big and difficult to use effectively. I really like it paired with the navy, and think it would also make a great maxi skirt. So actually, the dress was a happy marriage of two potentially awkward fabrics.


Sorry the photos aren't great, I've mislaid part of my tripod and trying to rig up something in the interim to take photos of myself was pretty challenging - hence the missing faces and weird angles :)

K x


28 comments:

  1. Gail28 May 2013 at 17:33

    What an adorable dress! I'm a huge sucker for anything nautical :-) It must feel so great to get such a fantastic result from two fabrics you weren't so crazy about on their own.

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    1. Kestrel29 May 2013 at 21:52

      Thanks Gail, I'm really chuffed with the result.

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  2. Roisin Muldoon28 May 2013 at 17:45

    Aaah! I love it, it's so cute, and you're looking amazing too!

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  3. Anonymous28 May 2013 at 17:55

    Love the plain top with the pattern bottom, you look lovely! PS like the kitchen too!

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  4. Anonymous28 May 2013 at 17:57

    That is cute, nice pairing of fabrics. Nautical without looking like you've misplaced your yacht ;-)

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  5. Vix28 May 2013 at 18:16

    That nautical dress is adorable on you! x

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  6. Helen28 May 2013 at 18:49

    Lovely! The nautical fabric is just perfect!

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  7. Nessa28 May 2013 at 19:44

    You look just lovely in this dress - it is definitely a success.

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  8. Vicki Kate28 May 2013 at 20:05

    You look great K and the dress is fabulous too!

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  9. Tabatha Tweedie28 May 2013 at 20:14

    Lovely! Hope you are well.

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  10. Helen Le Caplain28 May 2013 at 23:11

    Both you and the dress look amazing - nice work missus!

    www.mancunianvintage.com

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  11. Marie28 May 2013 at 23:55

    Great dress!!! I love the nautical print, it works beautifully with the plain navy bodice!

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  12. Anonymous29 May 2013 at 01:12

    This is adorable! I love it on you! Your lipstick is super cute, too!

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  13. Scruffybadger29 May 2013 at 07:10

    Really like what you've done here - the two fabrics work so well together and you've got a really unique and cute dress to see you through months ahead. Looks lovely.

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  14. Hana - Marmota29 May 2013 at 07:55

    Heh, I wouldn't have even noticed weird photos - I just look at the dress anyway, seeing this is a sewing blog. :-)
    It's a great use of two potential awkward fabrics! And yes, deadlines are a good incentive to finish projects...

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  15. Lucy in the Clouds29 May 2013 at 10:17

    Ah it's so cute! I was hoping to get to Mandors on Saturday when I was in Edinburgh but some big caravan crash on the A1 meant we didn't have time to go into the city :( Next time....

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    1. Kestrel29 May 2013 at 21:51

      That's a shame - though the Mandors is bigger and better in Glasgow...:)

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  16. Shelly29 May 2013 at 13:29

    Lovely dress. Great use of two potentially difficult fabrics.

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  17. shivani29 May 2013 at 14:04

    lovely dress - a great use of that panel print. You look wonderful :)

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  18. Anonymous29 May 2013 at 14:48

    I love this! And would happily steal it off you. Great combo of fabrics, looking very chic.

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  19. Anonymous29 May 2013 at 17:02

    Oh I love this! I've still got my fabric I won in the giveaway. I've been putting off using it until I had the right pattern. I was going to make a blouse but now you mention it I'm thinking that a maxi skirt would look fabulous. Or I may just nick your idea and pair it with another fabric to make a maxi dress.

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    1. Kestrel29 May 2013 at 21:51

      I really like it paired with a plain fabric - it' a great print but large so tricky to use. I wish I had enough left for a maxi skirt but I hope you find the right project for yours.

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  20. niddetissus29 May 2013 at 18:11

    I love, love, love it!

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  21. Meg the Grand29 May 2013 at 20:50

    Love the blue paired with that delightful nautical print! You look marvelous!

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  22. The Vintage Knitter30 May 2013 at 14:20

    You're looking very bump-tastic there and that dress is perfect. I love a good nautical print too.

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  23. Philippa1 June 2013 at 17:14

    I really like this dress. Much more interesting than standard maternity wear. You look very well and happy in your pictures and the dress really suits you!

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  24. Jill1 June 2013 at 19:56

    I love that you went with a boatneck top on a nautical dress, how clever of you ;-)
    It's really, really lovely and looks amazingly comfy!

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Thanks for reading and commenting - I love to hear what you have to say