Sunday, January 6, 2013

Remake of a Favorite

The original version of the dress was published several years ago by Country Bumpkin.  It was called April in Paris and was on the cover of issue #80.  They could not have picked a more perfect model.


The dress was  made from blue Swiss batiste and the jacket all ivory laces worked over a layer of ivory silk organza.  While Swiss batiste is a lovely fabric to work with, it's wrinkle factor can be a bit of a nightmare to deal with.  My dress remake is a beautiful small woven check white on white Swiss voile.


It's sheer but not wimpy and beautifully wrinkle resistant.  I think it is creeping up into being one of my top three favorite fabrics.


The cut away over jacket is all white Swiss and French laces worked over a layer of white silk organza.  The  sleeveless smocked dress stands quite well on it's own and dresses up very well with the added lace jacket.    The smocking and embroidery is all worked with rayon thread which I have to admit made me a bit crazy.  Love the finished result but don't love the process of working with the rayon threads

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This remake is a bit of a 'two birds with one stone' project.  I will use it as a class project during 2013 and it will be a birthday dress for a much loved granddaughter who will turn 8 in August.  The lavender and white combination is her mother's favorite and a little nod to her christening dress which was designed in the same color palette.  It does not seem possible she is already almost eight.  The photo of Hailey and her mom, my  second daughter Megan, is one of my favorites.




10 comments:

  1. I'm a newbie to smocking and I've wondered about the fabric. It seems like so much of what I see is made with extra wrinkly fabric so I don't know where to begin. With 3 little girls I can't imagine ironing that much! The dresses would never get worn. So glad to hear about an option that might be a little more kid friendly. Thanks!

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  2. PS. I'm in Utah, do you ever do anything here?

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  3. Beautiful remake and the photo of Megan and Hailey is priceless.

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  4. What a beautiful dress! I also LOVE the Christening ensemble. Beautiful photo of 'your girls'.

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  5. Both dresses are beautiful. Hailey has grown so fast. I could have guessed it was Megan you were talking about. Purple has always been here color. What a precious photo.

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  6. Olá,
    Linda costura e lindas fotos!
    Abraço e Feliz 2013!

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