You may have seen on my Instagram feed (@ZoSews, how original) a few weeks ago a sneaky peek at a hand picked zipper. This was the zipper for a dress I was planning on wearing for my (gasp) 30th birthday soiree.
This dress started last year, in my mind. I saw Sarai’s tweaked floral Lonsdale dress, and I fell in love. I wanted that one! This seemed the perfect opportunity to make it!
My birthday party consisted of cocktails at a Seamstress bar (how appropriate), delish dumplings in Chinatown and then the crescendo, hours of karaoke!
Unfortunately, I was having WAY too much fun to take any photos. Yep, that’s right, I didn’t take ONE photo lol… Luckily I was able to scrounge around and get a few from other partygoers. They all look something like this, so I won’t be repetitive and will just give you one. Don’t look at those creases, I’d been sitting down for a couple of hours before this was taken.
Dress details
- This number combines the bodice of Sewaholic’s Lonsdale, and the pencil skirt (minus the high waistband) from Gertie’s book.
- Amazingly, I didn’t have to make one change to the bodice! I made one size bigger in the skirt though to account for ease required due to no stretch in the fabric.
- Enlarged the front waist darts because it was puffing out away from the body.
- Due to the long straps of the bodice, this chewed up a lot of fabric – just a note.
- I made the dress out of a ‘vintage’ print cotton, and lined the bodice with a blue rayon, both from Spotlight. This lining is what started my love affair with rayon.
- I hand picked the zipper – a new love, inspired by Neeno and her scandalous zipper porn
I followed a mix of Gertie’s instructions from the book,with Tasia’s.
If I had my time again I’d add a kick pleat to the skirt, there’s a lot of stress put on one little join at the moment and its already starting to show after only one wear. I only realised this would happen after cutting the skirt out – too late!
I am very happy with this dress! I love the shape, so I may even make it again.
I want to write a review for Pattern Review on this dress, but I’m not sure whether to list this as Lonsdale, Gertie’s skirt, or both (do a review for each). What do you think?
Here’s a few extra birthday pics, just for fun I cropped others out to be polite because I am so unorganised I didn’t get around to asking anyone if they minded being put on the interwebs before writing this post.
Lol. I was surprised with a cake with my face on it – scary! (yet delicious)
We wore party hats!
That’s it!
Z xx
Greta job and inspired pattern mash-up I must say. Lonsdale is on my list… I have some navy and red fabric… I think it’s going to be a naughty little queue jumper…
Ooh sounds lovely!
Happy birthday!!!!! Love the dress– it’s WAY cute!
Thank you, and thank you!
Love the colors of the dress and it looks great on you. Also, happy birthday, looks like you had a lot of fun!
Thank so much! I had a ball
Great mish mash! I say do a review for each. Happy Birthday!
Thank you! I think I will
Happy birthday, dear Zo! You looks great with your dress!
Aww thank you Rosy! You’re very kind.