Almost “The St Valentine’s Day Massacre” dress.
The Facts
Fabric Red and white polka dot jersey
Pattern BurdaStyle Danielle, free
Year 2010?
Notions White bias binding
Time to complete about 4 hours
First worn Today
Wear again? Yes, when it gets warmer
Total price Everything from my stash, so can’t remember original prices. About £5.00?
I don’t really ‘do’ Valentine’s. I put this down to years of telling myself and everyone else that I didn’t give a toss about a commercial holiday invented to get money out of us. Of course this was mainly to cover for the fact that only cards I was likely to get would be from my dad and the dog. But I do think that if you love someone you should be able to tell them that every day, not just on Valentine’s. I do love red though.
The only red in my stash was a knit. Well I have been promising myself that I would bite the bullet and make something from a knit, so this would be my first attempt. I went for a tried and tested pattern, BurdaStyle’s Danielle. One of my favourite dresses, made for last year’s plaid challenge, used this pattern. I added the bias binding to sort of stop the neck stretching out of shape, and omitted the zipper (Yey!). Of course if I had done the research I would have known to cut a size smaller. And then maybe tried to fix it without hacking bits off all over the place. And I would have known that darts work differently on knits. Eventually I unpicked the lot and replaced the darts with two little gathers where they should be. I still need to hem the sleeves, I have been away this week, hence the late post, and just ran out of time. However overall I am pleased with my first attempt at knits. I just about got away with the changes I had to make and what was starting to seem like a massacre has miraculously turned out to be wearable. It is a little shorter than I would normally wear but I can still see it getting a lot of use in the summer.
Oooh, I really love this. It inspires me to make a jersey dress, which I’ve been scared to do. This looks so great on you.
Thanks Colleen! Go on, I’ll be looking out for your first jersey dress.
Love seeing the Danielle pattern in knits. I think I like it better this way. All the extra fussing about paid off. The fit is great and you look ready for love in it.
Thanks Najah! I’m amazed at the fit actually – I guess knits are a little more forgiving.
I love your fabric choice. Perfect :D
Thanks Liz!
This dress is so sweetly adorable! I love the red polka dots! And, from a first glance, I didn’t ever realize it was sewn with a knit fabric! I bet this will be super comfortable (and chic) for summer!
Cheers Michelle! I just need summer to get here quickly so I can wear it out.
I’m with you everyday should be a day like valentines day. Love the dress and it fits beautifully. Happy sewing.
Thanks Krista!
It’s great – hope you get it finished.
Cheers! Just finished it now :o)
Kinda love it! Red and polka dotty… :)
Cheers Tina!
It’s super gorgeous, the fit looks spot on. The perfect Summer dress.
Thanks Kazz!
cute and cheerful – the white around the neckline highlights nicely.
Cheers Jen! I was going to use red but it was the wrong shade. I think I actually prefer it with white. As you said, it highlights nicely.