prairie girl or grandma's housecoat?

I've decided that this spring summer I'm going to live in dresses.  I love dresses - they're usually flattering and pretty cool on the hot humid days we have down here.  I've been stocking up on dress patterns for years, but never seem to get around to making any.  Well, this weekend I finally made myself a dress.  I went with the Prairie Girl dress by Favorite Things.  I was going to dive in on my good fabric, but decided to hold off until I worked out the kinks.  Good idea.  I ended up using one of my thrifted sheets to make this "wearable muslin".  Eh, it turned out okay.  The pattern runs pretty true to size, in my opinion, though I did have to make a bit of a full bust adjustment (no surprise).  I ended up lengthening the bodice a bit to make sure that the empire seam fell under the girls, but I could have done without that.  I plan to take that adjustment out of the next version.  This dress went together very easily, though I'm not crazy about how the facings are handled.  I'll probably do something different with that next time.

Unfortunately, I think the dress looks better on the hanger than it does on me, though I think a lot of that has to do with the 7-8 lbs I've recently gained (yikes!).  My belly looks a little too pudgy in these photos!  I do plan to wear this dress, but probably not out of the house.  I don't know, maybe it's the fabric, but it reminds me of a granny housecoat.  I will make this dress again, but next time I'm using my good fabric!

Comments

[Kate]

I adore this dress! If I could find a dress that made my "girls" look that good, I'd buy it. I love wearing dresses, but can never find one that fits me in the bust. So, skirts it is, I guess. Very nicely done!

[erin]

it looks great, beki! can't wait to see it made out of the good stuff!

[jenn]

I think the dress looks great! I have been thinking about buying that pattern. they have a couple of cute skirt patterns as well...I am so afraid of making clothes though...if I needed to adjust anything I don't know if I could figure out how!

[Kathryn]

I agree with the others...it looks really cute!

[Rachel]

What a great idea to make all your summer dresses Beki! I really ought to do that too. I think once you make this out of better fabric you are going to love this dress. I think it is the vintage sheets that make you feel granny-ish. I love a vintage sheet, but I can't help always think about it being a sheet even after it's cut. But that would make a fab housedress.

[Holly]

Tee Hee.... The girls (or as I have come to call mine,... the Sista's) look fine... Put some cute flip flops on and wear it girl! Wanna know a secret? SSSHHHH don't tell anyone..... get some Spanx! Then no one will ever see the extra lbs. and you wont have to kill yourself with trying to get rid of them! Fat and Happy... I guess the saying goes.... Although your much more brave than me to post a pic of yourself! Cute dress, keep it up!

[emily]

Love the dress! and you are being too hard on yourself. Do show us the pictures if you make the same pattern in another fabric! Lovely blog you have here!

[Carrie S.]

I love the dress - on you and off (jesh, THAT sounded weird, but you know what I meant!) It took me so long to work up the nerve to make a skirt, I'd probably never get around to a dress!~ Yay you for going for it!

[Stephanie]

I think it's the fabric, honestly. I bet if you made this in a brown linen (hello, to match your new jewlry!), it would look great. I really like the style.

[rohanknitter]

Very cute pattern - I like it!

[Jess]

I think the dress looks cute on you! That person who suggested making it in brown linen had a really good idea- good luck making all your dresses!

[sewstylish]

Oh I like it. Add some cool jewelry and flip flops and you will be sew styling. Unfortunately I don't have to worry about the girls I usually have to make it smaller in that area. Ah well we can't have it all.

[Sarah Jackson]

I have to agree that it's the fabric. The style is adorable on you.

[cindy]

This is really cute. I like a lot, looks great for all type of summery activities:))

[Faith]

I really like your new dress especially the fabric. Very retro. Maybe thats why you're thinking granny. But retro is all the rage today. If you hadn't told us it was a sheet, we'd never known. Good job! Wear it and pat yourself on the back.

[Tamara]

I made the shirt from that pattern and really like it. I agree with some of the others. I definitely think that the fabric is making the dress not quite right. If you make it in some really cute fabric then it will be fabulous.

[emmyjane]

it looks WAY better on you than on the hanger! Very cute and summery with that t-shirt underneath.

[carrie]

great idea to use your linens first--i've got plenty of those hanging around the craft room. maybe i'll try my hand at a summer dress!

[kristena]

I love the old sheet, and I hate that it conjures thoughts of dowdy granny housecoats. Maybe if you remove the sleeves it will feel more fresh? I really want that dress to work for you! :)

[Jade]

Hey, I'm proud of you for cutting into some vintage linens! ;)

[lla]

I don't know how it feels, but it doesn't *look* granny in the slightest! I think it looks great, and more importantly - great on YOU!

[Betsy Ramm]

I want to see it in the nice fabric!!!

[Stacie.Make.Do.]

Oh, dear. After reading that almost everyone likes it I hate to say my opinion... but I do think "granny". Not that it looks bad - it doesn't! It must be the fabric. Having said that, I think it would say "prairie" if it had a ruffle, not too gathered; a nice floppy one. Or the right apron.

[heidi]

that pattern is darling, and i think i may follow suit with the dresses this year. i think i gained 10 pounds toward the end of winter. back to the diet i suppose!

[lera]

I like it! Housecoat or not! (I think not.)

[April]

You look smashing!! I love this dress....it makes me want a glass of lemonade.

[miss chris]

Honey, I just had to add something. I saw a coldwater creek ad this morning and it reminded me of something...

http://www.coldwatercreek.com/Products/Product.aspx?productid=39482&ensembleid=45322

Ha! A little freaky, no?

[paula]

sweet dress. if it were me, i'd try it in a darker color - conservative. But then you're young and I'm getting old and ...and and and.

You'll make it in a very cool fabric where it'll turn out fabulously. I quit making clothes for me because I was wasting too much money because I didn't have the patience to alter or to remake it. So you're ahead of me there. (ha...ahead of ME in tons of ways)!
Paula

[Emily]

how did you get my Nana's sheets? Seriously she had the EXACT pattern- I'm pretty sure my mom has the pillowcases to match at her house still..

It does make a cute dress though!

[Debo]

My Gram never had a housedress like that! It's lovely. I might need to find that pattern. well done.

[Tina]

Ooooh! I grew up with these sheets--Mom had them on the twin beds in the "Blue Room." I love seeing these made as a dress. I have also used thrifted sheets as muslins, but none have been as sweet as this!

[kelli]

Um, that dress is fabulous!! I just love it. Good for you!

[Maddie]

Yep... made it LAST Summer and it's still on my dress form. I ended up taking out the facing and doing a self bias edge but still have a problem getting my rack in the dress even with the modifications I made.. I suspect it'a all about the attitude when you wear it.. try a cute little shrug, hair pulled up, little dangle earings and some flip-flops.. I think you will be totally grooving then :)

Maddie

[Zoe]

Such a cute dress!! I wish that I looked good in dress . . . and skirts for that matter. I just have these issues with my legs! LOL! Happy Spring!

[denice]

I would definitely not say "housecoat." The picture makes it look cute. I love summer skirts and dresses, and feel like my legs are looking old, dangit. Should legs look old this soon??

[lily boot]

Hi! This is the first time I've looked at your blog - and I just found myself nodding away at your comments on the dress. I think it looks fine - I would definitely try it again with a fabric you love - but I so hear you. I have done this a couple of times - made up a pattern I just adore - usually something folksy or retro looking and wind up feeling like a Mongolian wet nurse in it. :-) And then my mother purses her lips and pronounces it interesting but am I sure I followed the pattern correctly! (God, no wonder I feel like a Mongolian wet nurse!) Looking forward to to seeing Prairie Girl Mark II. Warm regards, Lily

[suziesews]

I am so loving this dress, one in every colour and fabric...stop the worry and get sewing....

[Cece Marie]

I love it! I think the cut is great and the fabric is too. We are our own toughest critics for sure, you look great!

[Amy]

I'm really impressed with your ability to alter patterns to fit you! I just sewed a dress with an empire waist and was too afraid to make any changes. Well, guess what, the seam line fell right across my bust. Not attractive at all ;) So, I tried to make it a little longer on top and now the armholes are too tight. It's so complicated! Anyway, you're a sewing superstar as far as I'm concerned!