Saturday, June 04, 2011

Butterick 5600 Done

This dress has been done for awhile...actually before my two week blogging hiatus.  It has been hanging waiting for all of the meetings at my job to be finished so that it can be worn...because it definitely does not fit into the "professional" look necessary for those meetings.

I am busting out all of my floral dresses this week as an antidote to all the black, black/white, navy and gray that I've worn for the last month.  This will be one of the first ones I wear.  However, even tho' I have a completed dress, I would call this pattern a fail and I'm not sure that it's the pattern's fault.  Let's tell the truth here...I must of been delusional when I thought I would be able to make the belt portion of this dress work for me.  I have no discernable waistline on the front of me...babies, age, menopause and a refusal to work out have robbed me of a front waistline...and the only reason I appear to have one in the back is because I've been blessed with the family booty...not all female members of my family have...

So after much fussing with...adding and removing it from the fabric...making a sash and tying it a multitude of ways...my DD echoed what I was thinking when she said I was fighting a losing battle.  Here is my version of the Butterick 5600 dress styled two different ways:


without the sash


with the sash & a tank top beneath the dress

Some stats:

Fabric:
Blue linen border print from Elliot Berman

Notions:
8 blue buttons from GStreet Fabrics in Rockville
White rayon ambiance lining
scraps of pro-weft interfacing from Pams
blue rayon hem tape

I discussed the pattern alterations in this post.  The changes I made to the construction of this dress are:

1.  I underlined all of the dress pieces with lining fabric by basting the fabric and lining pieces together and then serging them.  The linen is a little lightweight and see-through.  Adding the lining gave the finished dress a little heft and eliminated any sheerness.

2.  I omitted the tabs on the sleeves.  To make them work I had to make the sleeves tighter and I liked the looseness of the sleeves.  Which came about because I enlarged the bicep area of the sleeve quite a bit and then I cut the sleeve on the bias thus causing the sleeve hem to have a little more give. 

3.  The band at the neckline was cut from the darker end of the border print.  The original dress also had tabs cut from the darker border but as noted above they weren't working for me so I left them off.

4.  Without a belt this is just a short sleeve button front dress, however, the pattern from the fabric is what makes this special in my eyes.  With the sash, it looks something like the pattern but not exactly.

So while I didn't add all of the components of the dress that appealed to me most, I did end up with a wearable dress...and I guess that's something!  *LOL*

A few more pictures:

the back


a close-up of my shoes
(aren't they fabulous!)

and with The Little Prince

...as always, more later!

56 comments:

  1. I like the dress without the sash. You used great fabric! I bet you are ready to wear something fun!!Fabulous shoes! Fabulous Little Prince! That's a cute picture of you with him.

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  2. I like the dress a lot! My favorite is with the sash, I think. Those shoes - swoon!

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  3. Blue and white is just a great combo! Great dress, and you made me giggle with your waistline comments. I was thinking much the same thing this morning.

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  4. Hmmm, should clarify...I was commenting about my own invisible waistline (=

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  5. I like this dress both with and without the sash. And yes, those shoes are amazing and your grandson is a total cutey.

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  6. I agree, better without the sash. The fabric is beautiful and perfect for summer dress. The shoes are tdf!

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  7. The dress works with a sash, it gives your waistline definition. You could even rock one that was beefier such as an obi belt.

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  8. Great dress. I actually like it with the sash. Fabulous shoes, and of course, Prince Charming!

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  9. Love the fabric of the dress and I think it looks fabulous. I think I like it better without the sash, but either way you totally rock it.

    Those shoes - they are incredible. g

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  10. Cute dress both ways. Looking good and those shoes are WAY cute.

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  11. This might not be your favorite dress, but I love it!! The colors make your face light up and it is something a little brighter than your normal wardrobe. :) Great job, even if you did end up making changes!!

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  12. I like the dress with the sash. It brings out a feminine note.

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  13. Very pretty! I like it with the sash but I think it's more "you" without it.

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  14. You make me feel so much better about myself, LOL.
    I prefer it without the sash, but I think you can wear it either way. Enjoy it.

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  15. I love the dress. Great fabric!

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  16. Would you ever consider doing a step by step You Tube video? I'm just started sewing and I do not understand the whole process. I made a simply T-shirt, but I couldn't get the stupid sleaves on! It's now a bed liner for my kitty cats.

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  17. I think the dress looks wonderful. That fabric is really gorgeous. :]

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  18. Really cute dress. I like both ways, with and without the sash.

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  19. I love it both ways, but really like it with the sash!

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  20. I take my commenting seriously - LOL After going back and forth and enlarging and rechecking past postings - I really like the sashed version a smidge more than the unsashed one. The dark blue adds and element of pizazz. But you have to wear what feels nice for you - so know that both ways work. Shoes = dreamy. The Prince = swoon.
    Blessings,
    Patti

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  21. I like the sash! It gives it something extra. Love the shoes!!

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  22. I think it's really pretty both ways too! LOVE the shoes.

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  23. I agree with Debbie, I like it with the sash best. It's a great print. You don't have a waist but honestly, the sash gives you the illusion of one.

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  24. oh what a beautiful dress!!! I love it worn both ways! That print is fabulous!!!!

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  25. I like this dress, the fabric is yum! I like it without the sash bu agree with some previous commenters that you can work it with the sash and it still looks good :-) my little one is the same age as the little prince.... Such a great, cheeky age!

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  26. Gorgeous fabric! I do like it better with the sash (and with the Little Prince!)

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  27. Love the dress. That fabric is TDF. I love that blue on you. :)

    The little prince looks good next to the dress too. ;)

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  28. I love this dress with the sash. I think the sash is very flattering and gives the waist definition. The colours are beautiful on you and the shoes to die for.

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  29. I love this dress in all views but the little prince upstages it all. You both look terrific.

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  30. C - great dress. The little prince is growing rapidly! He is just more adorable each time I see him.

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  31. I love this fabric and I really like the way you used the print. I don't wear blue much, but I keep seeing it around this year and it's starting to grow on me. I, too, like the dress with the sash and I want to come and steal those gorgeous shoes. It's a really special picture of you and the Little Prince.

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  32. My dear friend, I completely understand the missing waistline. The sash gives the general idea that there is a waistline, but you'd probably more comfortable going without. The dress is completely adorable either way so do what feels best. I know you will cuz that's just how you roll--and we wouldn't want you any other way! I can't believe how big the prince is getting--still so precious!

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  33. The dress looks great. I think the more standout feature is the Little Prince. He is adorable!

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  34. I like your dress with the sash. Gives color contrast and waist definition. Nice! Love your shoes too. Little Prince is proud of you no doubt.

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  35. I really like the dress with the sash. How awesome that the fabric is linen, perfect for summer. I think it's hard to find a linen with a great print, but this one is fabulous. Great shoes and a very handsome Prince Charming!

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  36. I feel the same way about sashes on my body, although I honestly think you looked great in the picture with the sash. I actually though to myself "I don't understand her post about no waist and a losing battle - there she is with a sash looking fabulous". lol

    It's probably just not your cup of tea for styling. Either way, you picture without the sash looks great, too.

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  37. I love this dress with or without the belt. I looks really good. And those shoes..... 'I wish'...they're fabulous.

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  38. I love you in the sash! It breaks the pattern into thirds, emphasizing your bust line (don't need a waist for that). It gives the eye something to land on, while it ponders the gorgeous above and below!

    Can you tell I am a huge sash fan? My waistline is not all it could be, but a sash allows me to say "right here, sweeties!"

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  39. Looks great! Especially without the sash. The fabric really suits you.

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  40. The sash adds a little" Je ne sais quoi" but in my experience, wearing a sash causes me to be forever frigging with my top or dress to make it look right so, I'd probably choose the other view which is very pretty. Those shoes are TDF (sigh! I love shoes!)and your little prince is adorable. He's getting so tall!

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  41. I like the sash. It gives that waist illusion and I think finishes off the look.

    Your grandson takes the grand prize, however, for scene stealing. Just hang him on your hip and you will look ravishing in anything you wear.

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  42. I actually like it more with the sash....

    The shoes made my heart skip a beat and the blood rush to my head!

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  43. I like both versions of the dress, too. The belted version makes it look a bit different from your TNT version. The TNT looks great on you, but the belt just makes it pop.

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  44. I'm in the wear-it-with-the-sash camp. It's a great dress on you and you are right, the fabric makes it special. You have THE most wonderful shoes.
    With so many choices how to you ever decide what to wear in the morning?

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  45. I like it with the sash, Carolyn, the colors of the fabric are fabulous.

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  46. It will be interesting to see if the sash passes the wearability test. The little prince is turning into a big prince. Cute guy.

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  47. What a lovely dress! I like it without the sash. Your blog is so inspirational.

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  48. Another great dress. Love the fabric. My favorite is with the sash but it looks good either way. Shoes are fab.

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  49. *GASP* Shoegasm.

    And I love the dress too.

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  50. Aww beautiful! Your little prince is so handsome!

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  51. Oh, Ms. Carolyn. I love this dress. Your little prince is so cute.

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  52. Such a lovely dress! I think the sash really gives it some oo-la-la shape!

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  53. This is lovely! I like the solid color at the neckline, it really gives it very finished look. Also, this looks like a good color combo for you (blue/ white) and looks great for spring/summer! I do think it looks better without the sash/belt, but it's nice that it has different options for wear. Nicely done. :)

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  54. Great dress either way and those shoes? WOW!

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  55. Such a fab looking dress on you! I like the colors and style.

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