Burda Style For people who sew
Description
I live in the tropics where it’s terribly sunny all year round, but have been afflicted with a chronic desire for coats, jackets, and trenches. What is a girl to do?
I’m always on the lookout for outerwear that can be modified into summer wear. This time I started with a vintage pattern (as usual), but deviated so far from it that I dare not post the pattern envelope up (as usual)!
I used Ikea fabric in a gorgeously breathtaking large scale print. It is a little stiff, so it keeps its shape very nicely like a coat dress should. I meant to make the collar in plain old black drill, but accidentally came across my fur scraps while searching for the drill. I continued the fur thing and used it to trim the junction between the black and patterned fabrics, though it’s not completely obvious in the pictures.
This is my first collared dress, and I am so, so, so happy with the result! The collar looks weirdly boggly in the photo, but really it looks fine in real life.
I’ve worn this to work twice and gotten random cries of ‘Peacock! peacock!’ both times.
Material Notes
Ikea lightweight canvas, craft fur, black cotton drill, vintage leather tooled clutch
Difficulty
Novice
Categories
- For
- Women
22 Comments Sign in to add a post
Featured
-
DIY to Try
Lace Insert
Make a new pair of chic shorts for summer!
-
Editors' Pick
Beachside Beauty: 6 New Dress Patterns
This collection is filled with beautiful gowns that are so elegant!
-
Webinars
Make the Alison Swimsuit!
In addition to getting the pattern, learn step-by-step how to construct it beautifully
-
Pattern of the Week
Sweetheart Dress
This cute sheath dress has a sweetheart neckline and a bustier style top!
-
Denise's Desk
National Sewing Machine Day
Share stories of the sewing machines in your life.
BurdaStyle - Footer
BurdaStyle is a DIY fashion and sewing community. Our aim is to bring the craft of sewing to a new generation of fashion designers, hobbyists, DIY'ers, and inspire fashion enthusiasts. We offer downloadable PDF sewing patterns, project ideas, tutorials and a community passionate about fashion. Press coverage on BurdaStyle can be found here.
Website Help
About BurdaStyle
© 2013 BurdaStyle. Inc. All rights reserved. Site by AREA 17
May 8, 2012, 06.20 AMby juanitatortilla
Nice! I may have the same IKEA fabric too, and am thinking of what dress I should do with such a heavy fabric like that :)
1 Reply
May 11, 2012, 01.36 AMby The Tropical Sewist
I had the same problem! Decided I needed a really simple non-drapey shape and this is the best I could come up with :( show us yours when you’re done!
Sep 21, 2011, 03.19 PMby JoanieZ
The large print is absolutely brilliant, you worked it perfectly. This is the greatest dress and very flattering for you. I am glad you left off the pockets in your pattern. :-)
1 Reply
Sep 23, 2011, 02.49 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Thanks so much! I agree…I think no pockets was right for this pattern. I do like pockets on a dress though – I’ll probbly add them next time around!
Sep 10, 2011, 09.43 AMby robyndog
Absolutely stunning! You are truly talented.
Sep 2, 2011, 02.56 PMby agy
oh my gosh, this is brilliant! Love how everything has come together so well!
Sep 2, 2011, 01.26 PMby memoryseed
Hi! Yeah, been working on a couple of tops using old stuff, and some cushions etc :) Will finally post the tops pics this morning, kinda shy about them though…
Aug 31, 2011, 06.16 PMby memoryseed
Hello! Loving your work as usual! :)
1 Reply
Sep 1, 2011, 08.42 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Thanks! Have you got any garments in the works? Looking forward!
Aug 28, 2011, 09.05 PMby lyndi
absolutely perfect!!!
Aug 28, 2011, 04.19 PMby kerstika
What a beautiful dress!
Aug 27, 2011, 09.00 PMby The Tropical Sewist
Oh my! Front page news! Utterly flabbergasted… :O
Aug 27, 2011, 12.20 AMby Lexicon
Once again a winner and another to add to my favorites!
1 Reply
Aug 27, 2011, 09.00 PMby The Tropical Sewist
Aw, thanks!
Aug 26, 2011, 04.39 PMby treacle-toes
I actually really like the shape of the dress as it it – there’s a simple elegance to it. The Ikea fabric works really well and I love the ratio of black to patterned fabric you’ve chosen to use – really nice!! My only reservation is the collar (as I’m anti-fur, but that’s only a personal opinion :o) ). Otherwise overall, I think the dress is really lovely. Are you feeling bold enough yet to reveal which pattern you used?
1 Reply
Aug 27, 2011, 08.59 PMby The Tropical Sewist
Well, since you asked, here it is…now you can figure how many mistakes I made and how many hairs I pulled out of my head! I need to try that collar on the pattern again…I really liked the original.
It’s fake fur…don’t worry! It doesn’t look anything like the real deal, either. More like a thick flannel. I would so not use real fur.
Aug 26, 2011, 07.48 AMby tracymcd
Another amazing dress. I am in awe of your eye for picking out dress silhouettes that really show the fabric to its up most. This is another that is going on my inspiration board.
1 Reply
Aug 27, 2011, 08.56 PMby The Tropical Sewist
Aw shucks…thanks so much! Your fabric sense isn’t shabby either!
Aug 25, 2011, 03.22 PMby LimeSoda
RE: “Thanks! I agree with you about the fit, especially looking at the side-view photos. Thinking about putting in some back darts, but am wondering whether they’ll show off my belly flab. I like the A-line silhouette because it skims my tummy nicely. What do you think?”
I believe even if you stitched in two short back darts on either side of the lower back you wouldn’t lose the A-line silhouette which I love on you as well. Just a minimal nip/tuck would show off your lovely figure as well. ;-0
1 Reply
Aug 27, 2011, 08.43 PMby The Tropical Sewist
Oh dear! I had a look at my dress again and realised that I actually did sew in back darts already! Argh…
Aug 24, 2011, 07.02 PMby LimeSoda
Innovative touches – for me especially the juxtaposition of the fabric. I do wish you’d made the dress a teensy more fitted but it’s not a deal breaker. So very well done!
1 Reply
Aug 25, 2011, 06.17 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Thanks! I agree with you about the fit, especially looking at the side-view photos. Thinking about putting in some back darts, but am wondering whether they’ll show off my belly flab. I like the A-line silhouette because it skims my tummy nicely. What do you think?
Aug 24, 2011, 01.55 PMby dabura
WOW very original dress. I like it a lot. Looks great :) Congrats
1 Reply
Aug 25, 2011, 06.15 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Thanks so much!
Aug 24, 2011, 09.41 AMby Mai-der
WOW!!!! Cool dress!!!! I love the way that you use the Ikea´s fabric!!! You give me an idea, thanks!
1 Reply
Aug 25, 2011, 06.15 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Thanks! I love Ikea’s large-scale prints. And the fabric is so affordable, I don’t fuss if I make a mistake!
Aug 24, 2011, 06.35 AMby craftibabe
1 Reply
Aug 25, 2011, 06.14 AMby The Tropical Sewist
oh yes! Ikea fabric is pretty good for garments if you don’t do anything too drapy or flowy. I like their structure, and they’re inexpensive and wash really well too.
Aug 24, 2011, 02.24 AMby ashchaser
I am so excited to see someone else using fur for a peter pan collar! Did you stitch most of that by hand? I made one recently of rabbit fur and had to do the vast majority all by hand, which was very time consuming yet totally worth it. This tropical adaptation to a coat/dress is fantastic, with such a regal collar line!
1 Reply
Aug 24, 2011, 05.30 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Thank you! Actually blush what I used is not genuine fur! I tried using rabbit fur a while back, to make a clutch, and like you had to hand stitch all of it. Still the results were not good, because tufts of the fur kept coming off and leaving bald patches!
For this one I used craft fur. cheapskate I know, but the material feels pretty good for fake fur, and it saves me a ton of dry-cleaning. Since it was craft fur I could machine-stitch all the way. And I cheated by using cotton on the underside of the lapels, to make it easier :) only I had to tack the underside of the collar onto the dress, so I can walk about on windy days!
Aug 24, 2011, 12.29 AMby cyndi-de-crafti
I absolutely adore this dress! I love the contrast of the color, the boldness of graphics and the off balance of color seperation. I live in the cold weather and have to go everywhere with a jacket. I am on the other hand jealous of people who live in the tropics that are able to wear dresses like yours all year around. Well done! :)
1 Reply
Aug 24, 2011, 05.26 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Wow, you made my day! I would like to go places in a jacket for a few months a year actually :) though I’m sure it means you would need a much bigger wardrobe than I need (not want!)!
Aug 23, 2011, 08.46 PMby turtlegirl00
excellent dress and great description! i love the shape and the collar looks perfect!
1 Reply
Aug 24, 2011, 05.18 AMby The Tropical Sewist
aw, thanks! I love the simple a-line shape – it hades many a flaw!
Aug 23, 2011, 05.08 PMby nellyvdb
Lovely dress, funny story, i loved reading it :D
2 Replies
Aug 24, 2011, 05.17 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Thanks! and is that Parc Guell in your profile pic?
Aug 24, 2011, 03.21 PMby nellyvdb
Yes it is, my favourite and most inspiring place in the world, so far (haven’t travelled too much lately), Gaudi is my favourite architect :)
Aug 23, 2011, 04.41 PMby inskirt
Love the dress!
1 Reply
Aug 24, 2011, 05.13 AMby The Tropical Sewist
thanks so much :)