Welcome, Summer. So glad you're here. A little bummed that I can't wear this maxi wrap dress, made back in Spring, but really, who knows with our new fickle seasons? I keep my closet all temperature now. Like a bottle of Cheer. Do they still make Cheer?
I'm getting too deep.
You see how my brain flits about. Concentration doesn't come easily to me. To boot, there's very little space in there once something is done. I therefore remember only hints about the making of this pattern, Vogue 1239 by Ralph Rucci. I do recall it was LOADS of fun, super interesting seamwork, lots of topstitching and getting into precise corners...
Can you see those intersections where the sleeve meets the front & collar? No? It happens on the back too! Here, let me pull my hair up for you...
No? Still hidden? Bit of a busy print, you say? I KNOW!!! ISN'T IT AWESOME?!!! This was another find from the glorious AKN Fabrics (located both here in town and online). At the brick and mortar, this six yard cut of Ankara set me back 22 bucks.
Ya heard me. Twenty two smackeroos.
CUE SOUND OF MUSIC POSING.
Even with six yards, I still did a bit of jigsawing with this pattern, especially since I decided to maxify it, lengthening the hem panels to sweep the floor. I gained a little bit of elbow room by reducing the width of the side gussets by 2". Speaking of elbows, I messed with the sleeves too. I think maybe I raised the waist by 1 1/4"? Oh yeah, and I only used one side of the front wrap! And threw a wide horsehair braid in the faced hem...
OH HELL. You don't come here for the explicit sewing details, right? You come here to maybe laugh and hopefully get inspired to hack into some fabric, yeah? LOOK MAN. THIS IS A FUN PATTERN. GO MAKE IT!
(I know. Sorry. I'll try and dig up my notes on this, if there's interest in that side of my brain. It's wild in there.)
That is a gorgeous dress. I love the pattern & the fabric & the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteBeth
thank you, Beth!
DeleteI love the sleeve details, so awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks! And the sleeve as-drafted is even cooler.
DeleteYour energy and brightness brings me so much joy! This pattern has been staring at me for years. You make me crave to cut and make it! Kudos to your vision!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Elizabeth! I do hope you cut into it--it's TONS of fun.
DeleteROTFLOL, about the wild side of your brain. Hey I'm impressed that you have notes. In my mind's eye, I see you with the fabric on the dressform, some shears, some pins and a wild look in your eyes as you cut and drape and pin before taking the concoction to the sewing machine to make it look like something we'd all recognize!
ReplyDeleteHAHAAA! You know your mind's eye is right!!
DeleteSo lovely! And my mind is blown at the yardage that you got for that price.
ReplyDeleteHey girl, thanks! Yeah, right? Most of their 6 yard cuts are around the 20 dollar mark.
DeleteWow Oona, That Is One BEAUTIFUL Dress!!!! Excellent work on the length extension and working with that fabric and not getting lost. You have to walk down a major NYC Street with your photographer taking camera phone pictures of people's reactions....I wanna know. I know you bring them joy and a smile. Will be thinkin' bout this one for a while. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteNow that would be fun! I normally get surprised smiles, and if I smile back (which I usually do), I get a little spontaneous conversation. I think wax print is a pick-me-up in cloth form :)
DeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteFabulous Marcy- so good to see it in all its glory at last! I did buy the pattern and plan to make it for the autumn.
ReplyDeleteooooo Sarah, you are gonna ADORE this pattern!
DeleteSO GOOD
ReplyDeleteOk-- have you seen that commercial, I think maybe it's for vanilla vodka of some sort, but at the end backup singers come on and sing "so gooood, SO GOOD"? Cracks me up every time. (ps: Thank you!)
DeleteLovely as always Marcy ... FIESTA ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you Monica! I do like to party :)
DeleteThis dress is amazing and beautiful! I cannot wait to visit the Ankara store next month when I come to NYC. I saw a dress very similar to this and not nearly as nice in Nostroms for over $5300! That's right you read it correctly $5300! To think you made this for under $30! Do folks really spend that amount of money on a dress? Anyway I have go on too long😊 I just love this look!❤️
ReplyDeleteYes, you must put AKN on your list! And I can kind of believe that price tag (*kind* of), depending on construction. I mean, I really didn't make it for under $30 if you consider the hours!
DeleteSo.... you're not leaving any fabulous out here for the rest of us? I see how it is.
ReplyDeleteI'm greedy like that.
DeleteWow, this is incredible! Very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann!
DeleteWow! I agree with Body Design. You need a photo shoot of you just walking down the street. Seeing all the smiles is bound to light up anybody's day.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome dress. A construction question, how did you use just one wrap panel of the dress? I would love your construction info is you have time to blog about it.
I'll dig up those notes! If I recall... one side is a bit wider than the other? I just mirrored the skinnier side to save fabric.
DeleteLove, love, love the dress!!! and yes, AKN Fabrics is the bee knees for affordable fabric (I'm wearing a dress right now that I made with fabric purchased from them) and their shipping time is great as well.
ReplyDeleteNice! It's so rare to find an NY fabric store that I can recommend for y'all out of town, so it's good to hear that you like them online.
DeleteWow! I love this pattern but I would never have thought of doing it in a print like that. It's amazing.
ReplyDeleteAs is your fabulous Ninja Scientist version! I did some stalking on you when I was pondering this pattern :)
DeleteThanks Maxine!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the pattern's self-belt might be like in a solid color? Probably I'm overthinking it. This is a wonderful dress that looks fabulous on you.
ReplyDeleteI wonder too!!! I just didn't have enough left to try it. I was *this close* to going back to AKN and grabbing another 6 yards.
DeleteI love the pattern and the FABRIC.....mmmmm. It's so beautiful. Is the garment heavy. It looks like a lot of fabric, but not too much for you. I love it! Thanks for sharing with us. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's not really that heavy--100% cotton so it's not too bad! And I did wash the yardage, which removes some of the wax and stiffness.
DeleteOh man, another BEAUTIFUL print dress! I LOVE wild prints, even if I 'shouldn't' put them on my size 22 butt. I still do, of course, because pretty fabric. Thanks for all the inspiration 💜
ReplyDeleteGirl, you should put wild prints wherever your heart desires!!
DeleteAMAZING! I am now inspired.
ReplyDeleteloving your new dress, sis! must copy it when i find the right fabric
ReplyDeleteAhh you're so sewfame I don't think another comment will matter but a river ain't nothing but a million drops an' baby you look more powerful than any river in this dress.
ReplyDelete(Yeah ok ill never call anyone baby again, deal)
Ah wah. I had a whole post about how you was stronger than a river but I lost it.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes ponder if the whole don't wear loud prints is a race thing. What do we have in common fam? I say rock the bright colours. Mi familia is Apache so I'm gonna rock me some real tribal prints, some bright booty pendletons and wear bright red headbands everywhere.
You still stronger than a river even if the comment ate my metaphor.
Well, I'm catching up here, and what a stunning dress! All of yours are, but each in a different, dramatic, "WOWZA!" way. It suits you perfectly. And, of course, it makes me want to start sewing again (almost but not quite there yet) because it is miles above store-bought goods. Congratulations on another outstanding make! Cheers, Cindy (Creative Hormone Rush)
ReplyDeleteThis one is just too beautiful for words. You are amazing!
ReplyDeleteStunningly Beautiful! A real work of art!
ReplyDeleteJust saw this dress in Threads Magazine and fell REALLY hard! That led me down a rabbit hole oohing and ahhing at your Instagram feed and now I’m digging my way through your blog. It’s all wonderful!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I just spent hours on the internet looking at wax prints. What a wonderful world you have introduced me to, Marcy. I really like the details you have given us. The Ralph Rucci pattern is perfect for displaying these prints. Thank you!
ReplyDelete