Whenever I am given fabric as a gift I experience a kind of paralysis. What will I make that pays homage to both the fabric and the giver? How can I avoid a disaster? How can I highlight the fabric? These are just some of the doubts and questions that go through my mind.
This fabric is a case in point. It was given to me by my lovely friend Hélène when she joined me for breakfast in New York City having come all the way from Montréal, and I’ve had it on my cutting table with some regularity ever since whilst I dithered about what to make.
I finished up making the Esme dress from Lotta Jansdotter’s book “Everyday Style”, which is full of simple, functional garments, and which I thought would showcase this lovely, gossamer light cotton/silk blend. This is a dress I have been wearing every few days through our warm summer.
However, I didn’t just cut straight into it. I made a wearable toile from some cotton that’s been in my stash for eons. I added pockets (of course), and somehow, this one finished up longer than my “proper” one. I used the extended shoulder for the blue dress, and it’s much cooler than this dress with the longer sleeves.
Apart from the fact that this dress will bring me wonderful memories every time I wear it, I love the fact that it goes with so many of my shoes!
Back view wearing my blue XSA sandals
and front view
I love the dress with my purple pumps
Orange flat sandals (Merrills)
Orange Neo shoes
And of course, my all time Louboutin favourites that go with almost everything I own.
Now, the pattern. This is a simple make. There is a facing pattern, and I used it for the first Esme dress, but I felt that this fabric was too fine and that it would show through, so I made bias binding for all raw edges. I used self-fabric for the neck and sleeves, and some fabric left over from a pair of Mark’s trousers for the hem. I used the origami method to make the plain blue binding as I needed a fair amount, but pieced together the floral binding from the tiniest scraps. I didn’t want to topstitch, so hand stitched all bindings.
I added in-seam pockets for both dresses. The pattern has large patch pockets, but I couldn’t conceive of using them on either of these fabrics, hence the in-seam style. I made them a bit small in the first dress, and perhaps a little high, but remedied that for the blue dress and they are perfect.
The preview photo and this one shows the dress teamed with Missoni sandals. I quite like these shoes but struggle to find things that they go with – this dress is the answer!
I have worn and worn this dress, enjoying the selection of shoes to go with it. I haven’t yet exhausted all the possibilities, and they may keep me going for the rest of the summer! I still have a small piece of this fabric left, so it’s not the last you’ve seen of it.
As for Hélène? We have our next meetup planned for spring. I cannot wait!
Lovely material, cute dress, terrific shoes, what more could I say. Thanks also for the origami bias binding tip, I had not heard of that before but just watched it on youtube. Keep up the good work
Oh good luck with the bias binding, it’s an excellent method.
What a great dress! And your thoughtful decisions about bindings and hand stitching were just right!
And the shoes! Imelda Marcos would be proud!
Haha, I have been called Imelda!
Lovely outfits with all the different shoes – wow, what a collection!
I wasn’t very successful the first time I tried origami bias binding but it’s on the cards again. I think your decisions about pockets and about hand sewing were perfect
Once you master the bias binding you will never go back to the old ways!
I love both dresses. What a bonus that you were gifted such a pretty fabric and one that goes with ALL the shoes. Lucky lady!
I love the fact that it goes with almost my entire shoe collection, which is quite vast!
Beautiful dresses! And gorgeous shoe collection.
I am a big fan of wearable toiles, you get such a good idea of what will be perfect for you and you get something you can wear (usually!)
Usually :), I quite like my wearable toile, but it’s too hot now for those sleeves.
What fabulous fabric. You’ve picked an excellent style to highlight it. Did you need to iine it?
And all those shoes! Swoon!
I didn’t line it – I just wear a slip underneath. BTW – in my house he cooks and I sew too!!
Beautiful dresses. I particularly like the blue one and all those wonderful shoes to wear with it. What a bonus.
I know, it’s so nice to choose a pair of shoes and have the perfect dress to go with them. I haven’t explored all the possibilities yet!
Love the blue floral and the dress is very cute.
Thanks Tania. We need to catch up soon!
Such a delight to read this special post, Sue! This fabric is even more pretty than I remembered. Both dresses are lovely, for sure, and you look just fantastic on every pictures. And these shoes!? Oh Lord, I kept wondering which ones I shall steal from you when you come in Montréal (too bad I have big feet!!)
Haha Hélène, you won’t want to steal my walking boots, trust me!!
Love the dress – particularly the blue floral…and those legs!!! toned, tanned and terrific!!
Thanks Rachel! Time for a catchup…
What a gorgeous dress Sue! and how lucky you are to have such a generous friend!! That’s a nice pattern too, very good for our summer. I made this as a top for my Mum and she’s gone on to make it herself twice more as a dress with different length sleeves, just like yours, I think it’s her favourite dress pattern at the mo 🙂
It’s my favourite atm too! About to make a top…
What a Lovely flattering dress. I like the cap sleeves version – looks light and airy with that beautiful fabric.
Thank you Nicola, this is my favourite one too.
So nice that you have a chance to meet up! And so nice that you received a gift of fabric! Your dress is lovely. The blue is a favourite colour of mine and the flowers remind me of spring – which hasn’t come to us here yet!
I adore this fabric and look forward to seeing the little piece that I managed to save!
It’s so cute and cool looking! I love it with all the different color shoes but my favorites are the Missoni sandals.
Those sandals are lovely but so hard to coordinate with clothes! It is a cool dress and needs to be today – it’s 40 degrees Celsius!
Gorgeous dress! I love the colour and it looks so nice and cool 🙂
It really is cool. I love it!
I adore this! What a chic dress! It really suits you.
Oh the possibilities with the shoes, this dress is lovely and a wonderful way to use your special fabric.
I love both the dresses but I am particularly impresssd with your shoe collection. Those Missoni sandles were made for the blue floral dress…fab outfit for your hot summer.
oh my – LOVE your style! I’m about to sew my first Esme (the top, with cap sleeves) and I’m looking around for tips and such. The self-binding is a great idea – is it 1/2″ or 3/4″? Thanks!
Thank you! I tend to use 1/2” binding but either is good.