Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Vtg Simplicity 2757 ~ the Bicycle Dress


This dress started out as one of *those* projects.  Let me start at the beginning...

I bought this adorable vintage pattern last winter, Simplicity 2757:


Lovely, right?  Scooped square neckline, elbow sleeves, tiny bows.  And in a larger bust size!  Score! I must have pulled it out of the pattern box a dozen times before last week.  Finally, my project table is empty and I'm feeling the vintage dress bug, so I began tracing.

I traced the bodices first, then went back and used the bodice from this pattern that fit so well, to make any additional adjustments.  I skipped the muslin because, you know, that McCalls dress fit so well.  Uh huh.  I sadly used an adorable polkadot chambray that I have been hoarding for this fiasco of a bodice.

Main problem...TOO BIG.  I cut away at least 2 inches from the side seams and that only partially helped.  Long story short...I set it all aside and then Monday had a stroke of "OMG, I am so stupid sometimes" (ha.  You thought I was going to say genius, didn't you.) I had cut away about 2" from the side seams of the polkadot monstrosity....and I had added about the same amount in my "adjustments".  What if I straight muslin the actual pattern?  Presto!  Almost perfect.


I didn't actually  need much in the way of adjustments after all; a broad back adjustment, re-angle the shoulder seam, and move the shoulders in about 3/4 of an inch.  (I really need a 38 bust for my shoulders, but it's not so hard to adjust a slightly bigger pattern).

I did leave off the  waist darts because I wanted to forgo the zipper and just pull this over my head.  Likewise, I didn't fool with pleats this time, just gathers.  My favorite part, the tiny bow at center front:


I'm calling this the Bicycle Dress, because look...not grey polka dots, tiny BICYCLES.  All over.  (This is a Free Spirit quilting cotton called Weekends).

Other stuff...I didn't have quite enough fabric for a hem (ahem, haha!), so I added a cheeky ruffle.

Armholes finished with pink bias...

Inside seams all serged...


Bodice lined in white batiste, except I didn't cut it quite long enough.  Oops.  I had to stitch it to the top of the skirt/bodice seams, and it didn't quite cover them up!  Oh well.  Who's going to know?  (Except me and the couple hundred of you, that is.)


It is SO HOT and SO SUNNY here, I'm melting.  (Not literally).  I hope you're staying cool wherever you are!

21 comments:

  1. Super cute and summery! The print looks like a floral at a distance. Up close the bicylces are whimsical.

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  2. Angie, your dress is darling. What a fun and cute print for summer. Great jbo.

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  3. So cute and cool looking! Love the bicycle print, too!

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  4. Cute dress and print! You're being so productive during your summer break.

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  5. What ever the problems when constructing it's adorable now. Love the bow and the ruffle.

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  6. I love everything - the pattern, the fabric, you - everything!!:)

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  7. How cute! I love the cheeky ruffled hem and fun bicycle fabric.

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  8. so very cute. Love the print of the dress its very whimsical.

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  9. omg that bicycle fabric is so sweet!!

    i also really love your old-timey pictures :)

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  10. omg you're a dork. And that is an AWESOME dress. teeny tiny bicycles! bitty bow! ruffle! wheeeeee!

    word verification: "custr" um... I won't make any "last stand" allusions.

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  11. I'm glad you beat the Bicycle Dress - it is adorable. Where is Stella? I see Pricilla in the pics. g

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  12. The dress is wonderful! It's perfect for the hot summer weather. I love those little bicycles in the print.

    Sherry @ A Happy Valentine

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  13. Adoraable dress! Love how you ran the lines of bicycles in different directions on skirt/bodice/ruffle.

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  14. Come to Sydney and freeze! Love the dots running in both directions and especially the ruffle on the hem. This is a favourite of mine from your summer collection.

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  15. I LOVE this! It looks so good! The bicycles are like a little secret surprise that you discover once you look close- so cool!

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  16. I love your ruffle--so feminine. So you!

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  17. YUMMY! the lining is the perfect length, in my opine. and those bicycles are genius.

    i'm going to have to start a pin board just for the sheer amount of stuff you make that i must have.

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  18. What a great dress! And don'tcha love it when you put something down then sleep on it and the perfect answer comes to you!!!

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  19. You did such a great job on this dress Angie! I love the neckline . I just got a serger and now my dress insides can look like yours. I have an ample bust for my size and every pattern I make is a fitting disaster so I'm feeling you on this one. I'm linking to your post about rompers tomorrow BTW!

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  20. Hi there, I came across you blog whilst searching for pictures of a pattern I bought today. I then noticed you have a pug :) I also have a pug and sew. We could be best friends separated by sea or maybe we are the same person :) anyway I looked at your projects and loved them. Maybe you would like to see pictures of waldo.

    http://elationcreations.wordpress.com/

    He is wonderful and needs pug friends :) happy sewing xx

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