Seriously, it’s been a HOT summer. No rainfall the whole month of July, not a shower or drizzle. The temperatures are supposed to get up to 33 C (91.4 F) this week! It’s a good thing I took the opportunity to run outside today and take my blog photos – I think I will be hiding inside with the fan or an air conditioner the rest of the week!
Let me tell you about my “Tower Dress”. I love that name. I’ve named my dress after one of my favourite prints – called a “Tower” print, 92% polyester, 8% spandex. I love how the odd white leaf POPS out at you.
For my Tower Dress I used this McCall’s pattern, M6503, view B. It has fold back facings for a collar and a wrap bodice. I can’t wait to try some of the other bodice versions. The only pattern changes I made were to omit the side zipper (mine’s made from a knit fabric), lower the waistband about an inch (I’m not fond of high waisted garments), sew shut the wrap bodice (I find them to be a bother), and add piping (my new fetish!). I think this type of dress is available from lots of pattern makers, including the Indie pattern producers.
Cutting out my traced pieces almost ended in a few choice @#$& words. Luckily I only cut out one piece before stopping to check whether the flowers would be running in the same direction on all pieces. So I only had to re-cut one piece and I had lots of fabric left to do it. I had purchased enough for a full dress and a top.
I stabilized the seams of this knit fabric with seam tape.
I also stabilized the hem of the skirt with iron on interfacing, serged the edge, turned it up an inch and hemmed it with my sewing machine. The skirt is quite full and the hem way-down-there so I didn’t mind using my sewing machine to sew it up.
Here’s a close-up of my collar choice (can you tell I sewed shut the wrap bodice?) and my piping (love piping) on the collar edge and sleeve hems. I attached thin shoulder pads too. This fabric is so soft and comfortable I wanted to add a bit of shape to the shoulders. The thin shoulder pads did the trick! Look there are a few white leaves POPPING out at you! This is probably the most true to colour photograph in this lot. The background has a shade of pink to it that is difficult to catch.
Put your shades on now! It’s time to go outside!
Even with my “cutting mistake” I managed to salvage enough of this lovely fabric to make a top – as I had originally planned. I hope to be able to share it with you next week, so, in the meantime …
Happy Sewing!
This is very glamorous! Nice choice of fabric.
Thank you, it is one of my stash favourites!
I love the print you chose for this dress, it’s so easy to start snipping the fabric before checking if there’s a direction to the design isn’t it? Lucky you had extra. The piping adds just the right level of definition.
Thank you! I’m glad I didn’t get too carried away, and I still have enough to squeeze a top out of it!
lovely- the piping is great. I love piping too, but often forget until I’m partway through something! Why is the fabric ‘tower’ ?
Oh I think I had the piping in my hand before I even found the fabric in my stash to go with it! The word “Tower” was on the bolt stand, along with the fabric content, etc. I thought it was such a strange name for a fabric description, it just stuck in my head. Makes no sense at all!
weird huh? Googling it just brings up Eiffel tower patterns!
I know! I would have thought “Flower print” or “Thistle print” would have been more appropriate. I think they were running out of new names that day!
Maybe they meant ‘flower’ but can’t spell? Autocorrect labels? lol
That’s true! Maybe the fabric came from a third world country and the translator was asleep on the job! LOL
Fantastic dress Linda. Looks great on you!
Thank you, Naomi!
gorgeous dress – that piping gives it just the right amount of definition, rather damp here (Ireland) I would like a bit more sunshine before summer ends here (the temps barely get over 20 at the moment and thats a good day!) anyway hope it cools a little for you!
Thank you! It’s a busy print, it definitely needed something. I just know when our rains start we will be wishing for the warmer weather! My sister is headed over to Scotland soon. She will probably experience some damper weather there before we do here! I’ve never been to Ireland, England nor Scotland so I’m a bit envious! 😃
Me too Eimear. My poor brolly didn’t stop me being soaked on my way to work today. We’re supposed to have rain for all of August:-(
Oh Oh! You’re in Scotland, right? My sister is headed there soon – she should pack her umbrella! (I think it’s Global Warming!!! Everything’s messed up!)
Umbrella, light kagoule and sturdy non leaking traininers!
I’ll pass it on! 😂
Linda, you’re dress is lovely and the piping gives it a slightly vintage look. Love the print. Enjoy the sunshine, it isn’t everywhere!
Thanks Linda! I have been searching in my head because I KNOW I have a photo of my Aunt or my Mother in a similar dress from way back. I’ve got to find the photo so I can stop wondering about it. But this one is quite vintage, probably if I made it in a cotton or linen with piping and an applique on the chest? Then it would be similar to the photo, that I can’t find.
Linda, the Tower dress is beautiful. I’m impressed that you got it done in the heat, it may not have been 33C but it felt pretty darn hot and humid to this Prairie girl!
Thank you! It’s cool inside. It’s going outside for a photo shoot that just makes me want to melt. I’m just not used to it. I like our usual “wishy-washy” weather here on the coast!
It turned out looking so wonderful. Like everyone else, I really like the piping! It was 108 F here last week and I didn’t want to do anything, even sew!
Thanks you! Seriously, 108F! I don’t know if I could stand that! I’d be bathing in ice cubes for sure! Well… be sure to take it easy in that heat!
This is a great classic style dress, and it looks GREAT on you. I really like the piping, and I’d sew up the wrap too!😉
Thank you! I just slightly remember my Aunt, I think, having a similar dress. It must be a classic!
I love the dress. As your sister, I can say it is cute the way you say, “the only pattern change I am going to make” and then you completely redo the dress. I never, during my entire sewing career, was brave enough to totally re-shape a pattern. And the piping, wow. Looks lovely.
Hahaha! I thought it was just a few simple changes… until I started writing them down! (Thank you!)
Lovely dress in a fab fabric – loving the piping! I think I’m going to take your lead and spend the next week sitting next to a fan… It’s going to be 35C here 🙁
Thank you! Oh no! 35C! I feel your pain! Where is this hot weather coming from? 😂
Oooh, this came out great. I think the piping takes it up a notch and it looks more classy, less party dress. I was wondering which neckline you were going to chose. I’m still leaning towards restrained ruffles. I’m memorized by the white leaf unexpectedly popping out. I’m going to have to Google Tower fabric as I don’t know what that means. And, it’s been hot here too. Rather lovely outside, but in my apartment with west facing windows and no AC… 😨😱😲
Thanks! I want to do another option now too! I like this pattern. I was talking about the “Tower” name with another commentator and we couldn’t figure out why it was called Tower, unless it was an error. An autocorrect type of thing for “Flower”. You can’t get an answer from Google on it! What are we going to do about this heat, huh?
Loving your tower dress Linda! I’m glad you realised the direction of the print early on – phew!
Thank you! Yes, I’m always happy to make mistakes that I catch!!
What beautiful fabric. I love our use of piping. It really makes the pattern pop out, especially those white leaves. Your dress is gorgeous. Xx
Thank you! I managed enough leftover for a top. So doubly happy!
Hello. Yes, I’m the caboose in your comments My somewhat different schedule has left me flustered As you mentioned about heat, that’s not helping. The print of your Tower dress is so pretty and the piping around the collar is gorgeous. That piping just adds a little pizzaz but it doesn’t take away from the print. You created a lovely dress. 😊
No worries! Life is busy for all of us! Comments are welcome anytime – even if you might be the last! Thank you for your lovely comments. I haven’t finished with this fabric and piping yet… there is one more garment to come!
Great looking dress. The piping detail is such a beautiful detail and gives this the dress the wow factor. And of course: it suits you well.
Thank you! I do like this fabric. I wonder if I could find more, perhaps in a different print or colour!
Thanks for joining the Top of the World Style linkup party with your awesome outfit. This dress looks awesome. The fabric is such a classic. You’ll have this dress for years!
Thank you Nicole! Every now and then the stars align, just like every now and then my sewing aligns with your Linkup Party! 😃👍
And I must add – Thank you for hosting!