The “Blue and White and Hazel” dress

The Facts

Fabric: Embroidered blue and white cotton £4/m; white cotton lawn (for lining bodice) £5/m; blue fabric bought so long ago I can’t remember what it cost.

Pattern: Victory Patterns Hazel Dress

Year: Contemporary

Notions: none

Time to complete: About 3 hours

First worn: 1st July 2012

Wear again? Yes, probably continuously for the next 6 months.

Total Cost: About £10

I can’t remember what I was actually searching for when I came across this ‘Topshop Vintage’ blue-embroidered white cotton on eBay… somtimes I simply type in “fabric” and browse whatever comes up – mainly a lot of quilting FQs and cheap boring polycottons, but with some occasional finds mingled in.  At £4 a metre, I was fully prepared to take a chance on this one – and happily, it feels as nice as it looks, thin voile-like cotton with raised sheeny embroidery:

I wonder what Topshop made out of it?  It made a lovely match with this blue stuff – an unidentified thick but slinky viscose-like peachskin-type fabric from a bargain bin.  Pretty difficult to press, but hopefully one to go through the wash cycle with minimum fuss.

I bought this pattern about 6 months ago, and having finally got round to using it, I’m delighted by how straightforward it is - two bodice pieces, one skirt piece cut twice, and two tie pieces cut four times.  Only two darts in the front bodice (placating my strong dart aversion) and no notions.  I lined it (for modesty) instead of using the facing pieces, and bias-bound the armholes, but still, it was lovely  and straightforward… and surpisingly well-fitting.  And those tie pieces are satisfyingly fat and chunky.

I wore the dress with nautical lace-ups for a casual look today, but I would definitely dress it up with heels for a more glamorous event, or wear it with a cardigan for work.  I added the belt out of paranoia about looking sack-like and/or three months pregnant (empire line is NOT my friend), but I think I’d cope without it next time.

Hmm, what’s next week’s challenge?  I might just sew these Hazels up for the rest of the year…