Monday, July 18, 2011

The Rachel Dress is Finished!

The dress is  lined, piped, buttonholed, buttoned and done!


As you can see, the dress is sleeveless.  When I was finishing it up, it just seemed the way to go and I'm happy with that choice...especially since it will make it easier to wear under cardigans.



Some stats:

Fabric:
100% couture linen from Fabric Mart
(these are still on their site)

Notions:
20" invisible zipper
2 yards rayon bemberg lining
2 yards black satin piping
1 yard black lace
rayon seam binding

Construction:
All of the pattern alterations are contained in this post.  However, I did use the skirt instructions to help construct the front of the dress.  After the front was made, I just sewed the dress up as I normally would.  As I stated in my last post, seam matching was very important to me and it does work all the way around the dress. 



And since I did not add the short sleeves to the dress, I piped the armholes instead.


The detail that really makes the dress for me is the pockets with the buttons & buttonholes.  I will definitely add this detail to another version of the Rachel Skirt for fall. 


...and I'm loving the the lining with the touch of lace at the hemline!

Thankfully this is one of those flights of fancy that worked.  I can't wait to wear this to work...preferably on one of those hot & humid days that's forecast for this week...that way some  of those linen wrinkles will fall out as I'm walking from the subway to work...cause this dress is gonna wrinkle like crazy.  But isn't that the reason we linen lovers like working with it anyway!?!

One last shot:



...and as always, more later!

44 comments:

  1. Love that dress! the buttons are fantastic and the piping just does the trick. I'm really liking it sleeveless too. Enjoy. g

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  2. This dress is very now! I love the pockets, and the contrast of the blue fabric with the black piping. Clearly, this is another winner!

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  3. What a lovely color. The dress is beautiful and you look stunning ! Linen should wrinkel and it is also part of it beauty. i love you blog and you have inspired me to start to make clothes again.

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  4. Love the dress! The piping is just fantastic with the blue colour!

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  5. the piping does add to the dress, it looks great, and it looks its comfortable also.

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  6. The details are fantastic, the piping, the lace hem, the buttons, the heavy linen- fab! Such a great dress to wear on a hot and muggy day.

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  7. It's beautiful and looks so nice I really like the color.

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  8. This turned out lovely. Linen doesn't look quite right without a few wrinkles, don't you think? Love that color too. Where do you find all your lovely cardigans?
    Blessings,
    Patti

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  9. I might have to beat you up and take that necklace! Then I would have to take the dress too because they look so good together! Then, I'd have to hire someone to take the cardigan because who wants to break up the set. Of course, you could always just give them all to me and we wouldn't have to fight.

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  10. beautiful job! i love a good linen dress/ skirt/ anything... and yours turned out beautifully. I may have to start adding lace to my linings; i really like the soft touch that added.

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  11. Beautiful dress and you are so right, great pockets. Enjoy wearing your new dress.

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  12. I love that dress. It looks beautiful on you. I have to admit, I would purchase that dress in RTW if it were available. Excellent details.

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  13. Bravissima! Turned out fabulous, love the pocket detail. And you need to watch out for a catfight between Elaray and me over that necklace . . .

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  14. Carolyn, you've done it again! It's a lovely dress.

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  15. Wow...such a great dress! I love the pockets and the piping. The colors together are wonderful.

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  16. That colour is very pretty on you - I think you have another winner on your hands.

    I love linen - absolutley love it! Sure it wrinkles, but it's so wonderful that it's worth the rumples!

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  17. Oh, the dress is lovely! Thank you for noting all the many extra details you added to the dress -- piping, buttoned pockets, lining -- I might not ever have been able to define why this dress looks so special in comparison to an off-the-rack blue shift. Count me among the linen-lovers, esp. for summer.

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  18. You designed another winner. I love linen, don't know anyone IRL that does though.

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  19. Perfection! I would love a nice linen dress like this. The details make it so special.

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  20. What a great color on you! And fun details. I have a love/hate relationship with linen - I love how cool and breathable it is, but hate how it looks all wrinkly and baggy (stretched out) by the afternoon.

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  21. Carolyn... the color looks so good on you! I really like the pockets... it turned out cute! Oh, and since you lined it... I would think that your linen dress will be much more manageable!

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  22. That's a great color on you! And "couture linen" sounds very appealing!

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  23. The dress came out great and I love those pockets. now I guess I m issed something, because where did the name Rachel come from?

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  24. I love lace on the lining too. It just makes the dress/skirt more special. Enjoy.

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  25. Nice! Love those pockets!!

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  26. Wow! Love everything about it!

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  27. Fabulous! You had such a quick eye to pick out the detail and know what pattern would work to get you the results!

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  28. Beautiful dress and again another dress that looks awesome on you!

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  29. Another fabulous dress Carolyn. Love the simple details, they really make the dress. Thanks for the idea of putting lace on the lining, never thought of that. I will use it in the future. I always learn something from you. Thank you.

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  30. Cute as hell! The sleeveless version is just right for this summer.

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  31. Gorgeous colour on you and the extra bits give it the dress a kick.

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  32. The color looks great on you, Carolyn. Not to mention the dress is fun and summery.

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  33. Lovely dress! The black piping gives it a lovely touch!

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  34. Embrace the wrinkles! The dress is beautiful.

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  35. I love the idea of lace on the lining hem! I might steal it from you :)

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  36. What an awesome dress! I also love how you added lace to the hem of the lining. What a classy detail. I bought some of the couture linen from Fabric Mart too and am really happy with it.

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  37. call me completely nuts, but I really like it when linen wrinkles because then it is obvious that it is linen and not polyester! I guess I am a fellow fabric snob too....

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  38. I don't know how I missed this one, Carolyn. I saw your post on Stitcher's Guild about it and zipped right over to your 'blog to read up about it. Very cute: the color, the style and those wonderful pockets!

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  39. You have a winner with this dress. I love the buttons on the pockets and how much you put into the details. A job well done. It looks great on you and I am sure you are enjoying wearing it in the hot weather you are having.

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  40. That is such a cool dress, I love the piping details, and the colour and shape look awesome on you :)

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