Happy Anniversary or How a Scrap of Fabric Transformed a Dress
Monday, September 26, 2011 at 9:19PM 
My husband and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage this month. One way we celebrated was by going on an overnight trip without the kids (for the first time ever), staying in a B&B and having a lovely dinner together. Several weeks before that event I decided I wanted to make something new to wear, not because I didn’t have something to wear, but more as a symbolic gesture. I wanted to feel that I could still find the time to sew for me, especially for a very special occasion. With my limited time I realized this would have to be something super simple and something that did not require much fitting. I quickly decided to use my Pamela’s Patterns Perfect T-Shirt pattern (which I wrote about here) and lengthen the design to make a dress. I used a buttery smooth knit for the dress and planned to trim the neckline and sleeve hem with a solid black fabric. When I went looking for that fabric I also came across this one:
I picked up this novelty knit at a fabric exchange (I think at my friend Jane S’s house). What you can’t tell from the picture is that the space between the wide ribs is actually sheer. I’ve kept this small remnant for years with plans to make an evening wear shell. I decided it would add a lot more interest to this dress than the matte black fabric I had originally planned to use.
I very much liked how the neckline turned out. When I sent two friends pictures to see what they thought about the overall and sleeve lengths, one of them suggested using some of the same trim down the center front to add some more interest. Here’s a picture of the dress before the extra trim was added.
I cut two long ribs from the fabric and simply zigzagged the strip to the front of the dress. I then hand-sewed some dark gray, oval beads down the center space between the ribs.
I love wearing this dress. It is as comfortable as a nightgown and looks stylish but not too overdone. I think the trim really elevates this from a ho-hum garment to one with some style. The pattern is a great one and sews up super fast. Once it is fitted you can create dozens of unique looks. I’m heading to the annual Sewing Expo held in my area later this week and I’ll be on the lookout for a piece of knit to make another one of these dresses.
Reader Comments (2)
Julie, it is lovely. Marvelous accomplishment. Happy 10 years of wedded bliss.
OK, Julie, now I want this dress! So we may have to share that perfect knit we find at the Expo this weekend. hope to see you there. Oh, and BTW, the dress looks even better in person, if that is possible. LOVE IT!!!