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The Duvet Dress

posted January 5, 2012 / 20 Comments

Name and location:  Diane, Norfolk, UK

Blog:  margueritedesigns

How long have you been sewing:  all my life, seriously 1 year

Why did you want to commit to the Sew Weekly Challenge:  After a year of ‘shadowing’ the main contributors, I’m still keen to carry on.  Sew Weekly is a vehicle for my creativity and I’ve received such wonderful support and encouragement.

What do you love most about sewing garments:  A good fit, in a fabric I like.  I absolutely love prints and finding unusual sources – I now never look at a duvet in the same way again!  The creative process is also important to me, making something unique from nothing for a fraction of the cost in the shops.

What do you hate most about sewing garments?  Machine malfunction – running out of thread underneath for example, happily sewing away and not realising!  Also unpicking – what a waste of time!

What do you want to accomplish this year with regard to the challenge:  I want to investigate things I’ve never tried before, such as some couture techniques.  Generally expand my knowledge.

Your biggest non-sewing goal of 2012:  Carrying on with my City and Guilds qualification in hand knitting, which I’m nearly half way through.

What are your favourite sewing/fashion blogs:  Anything at the moment which goes into sewing depth: Sunny Gal Studio Sewing, U-Handblog, Frabjous Couture, Chick Chick Sewing and of course, The Sew Weekly.

All dressed up and ready to go ...

 

The Facts

Fabric:  One side of a double duvet
Pattern:  Vogue Repro 1043
Year:  Original 1953 design
Notions:  14 inch zip
Time to complete:  approx 12 hours
Wear again?  Definitely!

Total price:  £12 sterling (or £6 given that I only used one half of the duvet)  Zip from stash and pattern form a free offer

I wore this dress to Ladies Day at Newmarket Races this past summer.  Felt really comfortable in it and fitted in no problem!  No-one would have guessed that I was wearing a duvet…

 

Author

margueritedesigns

Diane has sewn all through life but gave things a serious go at the beginning of last year and has since taken part in 50 Sew Weekly challenges. She now wants to expand her knowledge and learn new techniques in each project she completes, as well as develop a style of her own and a sense of quality over quantity. She studied print design some years ago and a love of unusual prints and colours underpins her work. Currently, she works full time dealing with copyright issues and previously, she managed photographic sales for a leading fine art museum. Diane is so grateful for the friendship, support and encouragement she has received from the Sew Weekly community.

8 posts http://margueritedesigns.blogspot.com

20 Comments

Comments are closed.

  1. Melissa
    January 5, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    I’m so glad you’re participating again, Diane! I so enjoyed following your creations last year.

  2. Lee
    January 5, 2012 at 5:42 pm

    Great to see you here! I’m impressed you’re pushing yourself in the knitting department at well. I used to knit a lot, but sewing has taken over for me in the past year or so. The results are so much quicker. Love the duvet dress.

  3. StephC
    January 5, 2012 at 7:26 pm

    Cool! I love a good duvet cover to wear, myself. It’s the only way I can afford to make full skirted 50′s dresses.

    Ever wear a crinoline? :D

  4. House of Pinheiro
    January 6, 2012 at 3:35 am

    Diane, as I said before “50′ is amazing !!!!

  5. ReadyThreadSew
    January 6, 2012 at 6:28 am

    I love duvet covers. I currently have two gorgeous covers waiting to be made into 50s repro dresses once my patterns arrive.

  6. Meg
    January 6, 2012 at 10:16 am

    This dress is one of my favorites – you look uber fabulous!!!

  7. Kazzthespazz
    January 7, 2012 at 3:01 am

    Yay Diane, you look amazing. Well done lovely lady.

  8. margueritedesigns
    January 7, 2012 at 3:21 am

    Thanks Kazz – glad you’re here too! Look forward to seeing what you do.

  9. Charlotte Tilley
    January 7, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    You always look so lovely in your bedclothes…. xx

  10. margueritedesigns
    January 7, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    Hee! Hee! Glad you ‘crossed over’ Charlotte.

  11. Veronica Darling
    January 7, 2012 at 4:00 pm

    I remember this refashion! Best Doona Dress ever perhaps!? Wishing you a wonderful 2012 Diane!

  12. margueritedesigns
    January 8, 2012 at 6:12 am

    Thanks Veronica, I was torn between this and the tablecloth dress inspired by you!

  13. Jen
    January 8, 2012 at 7:08 pm

    I loved this dress – You were definitely my choice for ‘Fashions on the field’. Glad you are up for the Challenge again this year.

  14. margueritedesigns
    January 9, 2012 at 12:49 am

    Hi Jen, nice to see you! Feel like I’m with a familiar face now! Won’t be doing every challenge this year but I’ll still be hanging in there … Look forward to seeing what you do!