Thursday, October 09, 2008

An Everyday Black Work Dress

We can't have too many 'everyday' clothes, right? In that vein, I used the Metropolitan Good Times Dress
from Hot Patterns, some drapy rayon knit, and a few hours to make this. Easy and comfortable to wear.

The belt at the waistline is an 'in and out' style. At front and back are two holes, each about 5 inches in from the side seam. To wear the dress, you thread the belt outside at center back, in the two holes in the back, then out the front at the holes and tie at front.

Doesn't the yoke look a bit like a church choir robe? It's saved from that effect overall, though, I think because the armholes are cut high and close to the body. Still very comfortable, and not, in my opinion, frumpy, which it very well could have been had the armholes been lower.

The highlight of this project was that I got to use my new blind hemmer! Wowza, does this baby make short work of invisible hems. I should have bought this sooner. In honor of my grandmother Eleanor, I used some of the money she left me to buy this machine and a gravity feed iron. I think she would have been happy with these purchases!

9 comments:

Gorgeous Things said...

Oh I love that dress on you! And what a wonderful way to honor your grandmother's memory. I'm sure she would approve!

Little Hunting Creek said...

This dress looks great on you. You'e right, you can't have too many work dresses, And it is a great way to remember your grandmother. Now you'll think of her whenever you do a hem.

Liana said...

Great dress, and I agree, your grandmother probably had something just like this in mind for you to do with the money. You know she'd want you to be happy.

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

Oh Barbara another winner! And the fact that your grandmother's influence is still felt in your sewing is just wonderful!

kasizzle said...

Great dress!

Gigi said...

Ack, I want that pattern! Now! Isn't the blindstitch machine awesome? I've had one for years and couldn't - wouldn't want to - live without it. Try it for padstitching a lapel sometime.

Alexandra said...

Great dress! Wow! And I wouldn't have even considered that pattern based on the illustration. You rock that dress!

Joanna said...

Barbara, your dress looks great on you and in keeping with the style you want for work, with a lovely femininity to it.

Lisette M said...

Your dress looks very stylish. I hadn't noticed that Hot patterns before. What a great way to use your grandmother's gift!, I have a feeling she would approve.

View Barbara Elfman Bell's profile on LinkedIn