Burda Style For people who sew
Pattern Magic - knot dress in embroidered twill
Views
3627
Description
So I was browsing the local library and I was so excited to find Tomoko Nakamichi’s Pattern Magic on the shelf! It was the catalyst I needed to launch myself into exploring pattern-making and develop my understanding of garment design.
I fell in love with -‘The knot (musubu) dress’ and set about drafting the pattern as instructed in the book. The book promises to “create a classic garment merely by draping the bodice fabric in the way you want and then tying a dramatic bow.” The diagrams and explanations are straight-forward and easy to follow. The pattern drafting and manipulation are based on basic slopers and the focus of the book is to explain the construction of a pattern. I lengthened the hemline of the dress as I wanted it to finish just on the knee. The book does not elaborate on how to sew or finish the garment. I decided to draft an all-in-one facing for the neckline and armscye.
I chose an embroidered twill because I wanted a stiff, heavy fabric to allow the knotted bow to hold its shape and the embroidery to add some interest. The colour is somewhere between navy and black – the tag states the colour as ‘eclipse.’ The front of the skirt has an inverted pleat and the back has a pleat on each side. I lengthened the back pleats so the dress was more fitted around the lumbar spine. I used an invisible zipper and hook and eye for the back closure because I wanted to minimise bulk. I finished the neckline and armscye with an all-in-one facing.
I’m very happy with this dress and I can’t wait to try some of the other ‘Tying a Bow’ variations outlined in this book! If only I didn’t have to return the book to the library :(
Material Notes
Embroidered twill (eclipse) 120cm wide ($6.00/metre, Spotlight clearance fabrics); interfacing; 56 cm invisible zipper (navy); hook and eye (from the op-shop); thread;
paper, ruler and French curve for drafting the pattern.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Related Techniques
Categories
- Season
- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
- For
- Women
- Garment Type
- Dress
- Style
- Classic, Mod, Vintage
- Material
- Cotton
Credits
- Tomoko Nakamichi
Pattern Magic book
28 Comments Sign in to add a post
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Jan 1, 2013, 03.49 PMby rebeccawip
so cute!!!!! that dress is pure awesome and it looks stunning on you. you have just the right figure for a dress that has such a unique detail
Dec 19, 2012, 12.07 PMby hajnika
Beautiful dress and beautifully done!
1 Reply
Dec 21, 2012, 09.33 AMby cynthia-1
Thanks again to everyone for all your encouraging comments – I can’t believe I was on the Burdastyle homepage under ‘member spotlight’!
Dec 19, 2012, 09.15 AMby loyl8
Love it
Dec 18, 2012, 09.48 AMby JillStraw
Love it! Well done.
Dec 17, 2012, 02.24 AMby Deborah Green
Fantastic, beautiful work, gorgeous dress xxxx
Dec 16, 2012, 09.18 AMby corinneski
I looked at the Pattern Magic book and felt so intimidated by it I didn’t even open it. Congratulations on a fabulous job. I feel I should go and take another look at this book. Good to see a girl from The Gong made it onto the front page of Burdastyle.
1 Reply
Dec 18, 2012, 11.46 AMby cynthia-1
Thank you :) You definitely should have a look through the book- it’s not that scary!
If you’re down the south coast, you can have flick through it a Wollongong Library. We love the Gong!
Dec 15, 2012, 11.41 PMby infinite-plus-one
wow, looks incredible!
Dec 15, 2012, 09.41 PMby Vicki Williams
I think that the proportions of this design are just perfect for you. Sometimes a bow that big on a petite frame can overwhelm not in a good way. But the A-line with the inverted pleat gives you the perfect balance to the bow. Well done.
Dec 15, 2012, 04.16 PMby anabella68
really cute!!!
Dec 4, 2012, 05.07 AMby smallone
fantabulous version!!!!!!!!!
1 Reply
Dec 4, 2012, 09.44 AMby cynthia-1
Thanks everyone for all your positive comments :)
Dec 3, 2012, 05.26 PMby jkaori
Super cute!
Dec 3, 2012, 09.26 AMby dftse
Very pretty dress! You look great, hair looks nice too!!
Dec 3, 2012, 05.24 AMby chillwear
Adorable!
Dec 3, 2012, 03.31 AMby sophia329
This looks great! I have the book too but I haven’t made anything yet.
Dec 2, 2012, 11.14 PMby libra-s
Soo pretty!!
Dec 2, 2012, 06.04 PMby barmaglot
Love the dress! You’ve done a great job!
Dec 2, 2012, 05.18 PMby auroras-y-sirenas
Beauuuutiful !!
Dec 2, 2012, 02.09 PMby Mary Athey
This dress is simply.stunning on.you. I love.the bow xx
Dec 2, 2012, 01.16 PMby kisses
Nice dress…I am so going to buy this book
Dec 2, 2012, 12.38 PMby lauriana
It looks lovely! The Pattern Magic books are great but I love how you used the book to create your own design. I haven’t tried any of the “tying a bow” designs yet, but you remind me that I really should…
Dec 2, 2012, 12.03 PMby tzyg0nka
Lovely dress. You just inspired me to buy the book!
Dec 2, 2012, 11.26 AMby misumihaela
great dress and great fabrick :-) I also have patern magic book but didnt made anything yet :-) only changet my way of using pattern :-)
Dec 2, 2012, 10.55 AMby Karen Thoonen
That’s an amazing dress! Now I want to read that book too!
Dec 2, 2012, 10.52 AMby jennyrecorder
This is the most successful version of this dress that I’ve seen, well done it’s gorgeous :)
Dec 2, 2012, 10.38 AMby pambox
That looks amazing! I love the colour.
Dec 2, 2012, 10.09 AMby Ruffles Gazebo
youve done a great job!
Dec 2, 2012, 09.39 AMby jadealamode
Wow ! Your dress looks lovely….well done
Dec 2, 2012, 08.47 AMby laracrj
Gorgeous – such an elegant shape and the fit looks perfect!