Child's sundress made from a 1950s card table cloth with vintage piping from the same era.
I recently found at a yard sale a mint condition vintage cloth to a card table, ca 1950s. Since the blue in the cloth was the same as my grandaughter’s blue eyes it would be perfect for a summer dress for her. I wanted one with the feel of the fifties and to also incorporate smocking. The big challenge was getting all I needed out of a 54 inch square cloth with borders and an assymetric design. The big floral panel was cut to make a center front skirt panel border with maroon piping. The rest of the skirt had a seam in the back utilizing the tablecloth corners and it wrapped around to the piped center section. The back bodice is simply stitched channels filled with one inch elastic and tied with a sash.
It took quite a bit of thought to get all that I needed to work out the design. The quality of the fabric is lovely, a 100% birdseye cotton.
I decided to try template smocking for the bodice insert. I pleated a section of the tablecloth border for the insert. To do the template smocking I traced and made an oaktag template of one of the flower motifs in the cloth. Then the oaktag shapes were outlined on the pleats with a chainstitch. The outlined areas were then filled in with stacked cable stitches. I also used some outline stitches and french knots as well. This was my first attempt at template smocking and I will try it again. It gives you the ability to translate a fabric motif to an embroidered image.
To max out the available fabric I used a faced hem. It ends in the slim white line of the border. It was very easy to hide the stitches that way. I like using a deep hem like this to give skirt some weight.
Nearly all edges are piped with a piping made from bias tape I got from an elderly friend. It said 25 cents on the package. It was clearly of the same era as the cloth and was a great match. I could not find anything contemporary to match the maroon in the dress. I ironed open the bias tape and used it to cover my cording for the piping.
I used the tiny bodice only of Butterick 5020, choosing to pleat the center front bodice section and then smock. The rest of the design was inspired by the layout of the tablecloth.
Wow! Very special, your granddaughter is very lucky. I love the detail you put in this post -- the time you spent in all the fussy cutting and planning really shows. Thanks.
This is adorable! I love the way you remade this pretty tablecloth into a one-of-a-kind dress. You have inspired me to try something similar for my own little granddaughter.
Cute Cute Cute...I'm a big fan of everything mid-century retro. Very clever how you transformed the table cloth...nice work.
Its cool design
Thanks for the kind review
that look like
you are the best
Good job buddy