What do you get when you cross a …

needle with a tiger – A pinstripe!

What do you get when you cross a bodice pattern block, a Sewaholic Hollyburn skirt and a vintage Butterick pattern?  Let me show you!

In the ’80s I remember having a red polyester knit dress – similar to the one here without a collar.  I loved it!

I decided to make another one for myself using this Butterick pattern and this knit fabric.  I’m not sure what its content is – I just found it in my stash.  I love the print.  Is this paisley or floral – or paisley floral?  or floral paisley?

Unfortunately, even though I played with the pattern layout, I just couldn’t squeeze my Butterick pattern pieces onto my fabric.  🙁

So I compromised and used my Sewaholic Hollyburn skirt pattern for the bottom of my dress – it’s not as full – and I used my bodice pattern block for the top.  I did use the original sleeves from my Butterick pattern.

The two bodice pieces are similar, except the one from the Butterick pattern has facings for a button closure in the back – not needed for my knit fabric.  I am also not going to use the darts of my bodice pattern block.

Afterwards, when the bodice was sewn together and I tried it on, I realized that I needed to cut the neck opening bigger, by  an inch, to make it more comfortable.

Since this was a knit fabric, I wanted the hems to be stable and not stretch, so I ironed and sewed on a strip of interfacing along the sleeve hemline.

Turned it up and sewed it down.

I chose to use a contrasting orange thread to bring out some of the orange in the fabric print.

Digging around in my stash I found a remnant of an orange 100% polyester fabric.  I found some matching thread too.  

Enough to make a contrasting hem at the bottom of my skirt, which I topstitched down with my matching thread.

I also had enough to make a fabric tie belt for my dress.  I used a strip of interfacing inside to give it some stiffness and used a 1/4″ seam foot to make straight even rows of stitching on my belt.

Not bad.  Now time for some pressing.

So what do you think – What do you get when you cross a bodice pattern block, a Sewaholic Hollyburn skirt and a vintage Butterick pattern?  A lovely, comfortable dress, I hope!

I tried taking photos on the deck but there was too much sun!  This is the deck chair that my husband, Mr. Green Thumb, thinks I should “just relax” in.

This is me suddenly realizing that my sleeves are set almost an inch too low on my shoulders.  I forgot my bodice pattern block has not been fitted for sleeves!  Oh well, an easy fix!  Get out that seam ripper!

Have you ever had to cut corners to squeeze your pattern pieces out of a length of fabric?

Happy Sewing!