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suggestions for broderie anglais dress

IreneS | Posted in Patterns on

My daughter wants me to make her a dress like this white broderie anglais one by Paul Smith –

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/S2009RTW-PAUL/?loop=0&iphoto=26&play=false&cnt=29

 

but I’m having trouble finding a pattern, it’s got dropped shoulders, sleeves gathered below the elbow, V neck….

Seems that having your mum sew for you was so uncool until now – she’s 16 – and I copied a Chris Kane skirt for her in silk organza….

 

Irene

 

Replies

  1. KharminJ | | #1

    Good Morning, Irene!That dress is really cute! and probably not a "difficult" project, once you get the pattern together. Much of its 'special-ness' comes from the fabric (gorgeous!) rather than the design lines. Depending on your comfort level at "stretching the instructions" (metaphorically, not literally!) - I would start by looking for appropriate 'parts' from from several patterns, to combine. (Muslin! Muslin! Muslin!) The dropped shoulder sleeves, for instance, could be found in "pirate shirts", and the gathered empire-waisted bodice could come from one of the "easy-to-sew" summer dresses so prevalent this month. OR, you could simply modify the body of the pirate shirt - eliminate the collar altogether and draw in a v-neck to fit; gather or add a casing for elastic or draw-string, exactly where your daughter wants it. Here's a Simplicity pattern (4923) that may be a good place to start: http://www.simplicity.com/designFrame.cfm?dvPage=designFrontBack.cfm&design=4923 Maybe a good vest, too? Personally, I wouldn't mind having that pic of Johnnie Depp hanging around, anyway! LOLBright Blessings and Happy Improvising! Kharmin

    1. IreneS | | #2

      I'm starting to sew without following a pattern exactly - I copied this skirt

      http://www.stylefeeder.com/i/g9b2zqdx/Christopher-Kane-Scalloped-Silk-Skirt

      by using a plain skirt pattern, cutting it into strips, making 20 rows of scallops, and sewing it all back together again......

      not sure if this pattern would be more or less difficult to alter to make the dress?

      http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=3625&show=1

      I've ordered some fabric samples....

      Irene

      1. starzoe | | #4

        The lovely dress you want to duplicate seems to have a band under the bust and a V neckline such as many of the blouse patterns this summer. I would begin with something like that, the rest should come easily to you (considering the great job you did on the pink skirt)!What a lucky girl your daughter is! I'm waiting for my early teen grandgirls to stop being tomboys and beginning to dress like real girls.

      2. KharminJ | | #5

        Wow! Okay, so now we have a pretty good idea where your skills are on the scale ... Wow! again! And Thea will look stunning in it, too!

        I think the second pattern reco'd here - the dress 3745 - would give you a better starting point than the one you suggested (which link is bent a little - not quite broken, but not right.) The gathered yoke on that shirt (Simplicity 3625) is in the wrong place for the garment you're looking to copy. However, you *could* probably use those sleeves with the other dress. Isn't 'Chinese Menu' sewing fun?Kharmin

        1. IreneS | | #6

          3745 looks like a very good place to start, daughter going to London tomorrow and so can go to the fabric stores near Edgeware Road and in Berwick Street and buy the fabric!

          Irene

           

          1. KharminJ | | #7

            Oh - have her drool at (not on!) some pretties for us, please! (grin)Kharmin

      3. Ceeayche | | #8

        The skirt is cute!

  2. woodruff | | #3

    Simplicity 3475 comes pretty close. One view even has a dropped shoulder, so you'd just need to wing (so to speak) the bottom of the sleeve:

    http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/patterns/sewingpatterns.pl?patternid=15904

  3. User avater
    Sewista | | #9

    That is one gorgeous dress. Thanks so much for the link. I really enjoyed the fashions. Do you have any idea who the person is whose name is under Paul Smith Design? Is it the designer or is it the model. It changes with each garment. Just curious.

    I will follow your progress on this as that is such a fascinating outfit. I think the pattern suggested will be a great start. But the fabric, where will you find this fabric?

    1. IreneS | | #10

      I'm in Oxford, UK, so have samples from Joel and Son and Broadwick Silks, both in London - hope to get there next week. The names are those of the models.

       

      Irene

       

      1. User avater
        Sewista | | #11

        Thanks. This must be a wonderful fabric store.

        1. IreneS | | #12

          Well, about 8 hours of sewing - adapting the pattern - the sleeves were the easy bit. Thought I would put front bands on then put length of broderie anglaise with scalloped edge along it, didn't work. So took bands off, pleated and darted and stitched more bits cut from the edges until finally THE FABRIC GAVE IN!!!! Asked daughter to get a white zip from the stash - came back with 2, one open ended and lightweight, one regular zip but heavy enough for a jacket... so sewed over the end of the open ended zip.

          SO, one happy daughter, pile of scraps of white fabric.... she's at school but also modelling - which is why I've make the Christopher Kane and now Paul Smith copies, she went for a casting for a look book last week, this morning described a dress she loved from there - black with rows of zipper edges in loops and swirls all over it..... I wonder where you can buy that??? It'll be a lot easier when she's reached the top (if she does) and they give her a choice of garments.

           

          Irene

           

           

          1. User avater
            Sewista | | #13

            Your daughter is lovely in her new dress. You did a beautiful job. As for the zippers, what you use are by the yard home dec zippers. They go for miles, well maybe not miles, but they are vvvvery long as they are meant to be cut to size and are sold on a roll. I think a google of any home dec or tailoring supply place could put you in touch. Good luck.

          2. sewelegant | | #14

            The dress is wonderful.  I was wondering if you plan on making a yellow vest?  I admire how you are able to copy the design.

            Copied this from Nancy's Notions catalog.  It is the Zippers By The Yard she sells and instead of the home dec wt. Sewista commented on, this is regular dress zipper wt.

            View Image

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            White Make A Zipper

            Yours Today:$11.99

            View Image

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            Black Make A Zipper

            Yours Today:$11.99

            View Image

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