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Retro Wrap Dress in Green Plaid Silk

comments (3) August 5th, 2009 in design, tips & tricks, fabric, fundamentals, reader's closet

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aliensnextdoor aliensnextdoor, member
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Photo: K.M. Kowalski, 2009
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I chose this raw silk for my daughter Bethany, who has always loved green.  The fabric cried out to be made into a retro fashion that would drape beautifully and show off its green plaid.  I chose Butterick 4790, a retro 1952 pattern that the company reprinted.  With just three pattern pieces, it shows off the plaid, with minimal matching hassles.  Plus, I love swing of the full circle skirt. 

Instead of packaged binding, I made self-bias from fabric remnants.  Cutting the full skirt left more than enough fabric for this.  The raw silk proved to be easy to handle as a binding, and it gave a dressier and more interesting edge than a solid binding.  For wearing, the dress wraps from front to back and fastens with a button and loop in back.  The back part wraps to the front and fastens with snaps at the midriff.  Tiny butterfly buttons cover the front snaps--a trick the original pattern used for 1950s seamstresses who didn't have the luxury of today's machines and their built-in buttonholes. 

I love working with different types of silk, but hadn't played around with a plaid like this before.  It was a reasonably quick project, and my daughter got a great retro dress out of the deal.


Pattern or design used: Butterick 4790
posted in: design, tips & tricks, fabric, fundamentals, reader's closet, buttons, silk, bias binding, binding, retro, plaid
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Comments (3)

DebraEve DebraEve writes: This is just beautiful. I have recently started sewing again after a long hiatus. I want to give this a twirl. Thank you.
Posted: 9:21 am on September 9th

goldenthreadalt goldenthreadalt writes: I love this dress! I am going to make it for myself. Its darling!
Posted: 11:57 am on August 11th

Sewista Sewista writes: I have seen this pattern made up a few times over on PR. But, I must say your plaid version is fabulous and has them all beat. It never would have occurred to me to make this up in a plaid and a silk one at that. Love it!
Posted: 10:09 pm on August 5th

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