Darling dancers

Darling Dancer dress

You might have noticed (us Brits do tend to stay pretty quiet and non-hysterical about such things) but it’s been PRETTY HOT in London this week. Like, the hottest it’s been for a decade, hotter than Barbados, trains melting off their tracks, etc. Turns out my wardrobe was quite unprepared for this. When I did my Konmari clear-out I threw out a lot of strictly summery clothing since it’s barely ever hot enough here and I don’t go on enough tropical holidays to justify them. But then a heatwave happens where wearing anything remotely heavy or close-fitting isn’t an option, and after wearing both my Alders I was a bit stuck. So I made this dress over two evenings and wore it the next day: sewing fast fashion, ha.

Darling Dancer dress

I wasn’t going to blog it since it’s yet another Darling Ranges hack, but then I snapped some photos this morning anyway. I don’t know – is it boring to see basically the same pattern over and over, or interesting to see how little variations can create a new look?

Darling Dancer dress

So for this Darling Ranges I used the round-neck alteration, scooping it out a bit more both in depth and width to give skinnier shoulder straps. I simply left off the sleeves, though next time I will nip off half an inch around the armsyces as they’re a bit snug. The edges are all finished with self-bias. Truth be told I only make self bias when I don’t have any suitable ready-made stuff to hand, but it’s really worth it.

Darling Dancer dress

I scooped out the back neckline, too, for maximum breeziness. The skirt’s a gathered rectangle at my current knee-grazing length preference.

Darling Dancer dress

The fabric is Liberty tana lawn in Tiny Dancer print, which I got from Plush Addict during a 20% off sale so it was a bargainous £11.60 a metre. Tana lawn is perfect for a heatwave, so light and breathable. It was the first day I felt comfortable all week! The buttons were in my stash and pick out the chalky blue in the print nicely. All in all a nice easy to wear, easy to sew frock that should get plenty more wear before summer’s out.

30 thoughts on “Darling dancers

  1. Inder

    I love this!!! Are you able to get it over your head with the buttons only going to the waist? I totally want to copy your Darling/Alders hacks. :-)

    1. Katie Post author

      Yes, it’s quite loose at the waist and cinched with elastic. I rarely need to undo many of my button-down dresses to get in and out of them (which makes me wonder why I always make real buttonholes…)

  2. Sarah

    It’s great! Enjoy that heat! I’ve had the purple colour way of this in my stash for 2 years, I will absolutely be making something with it this summer! And no, it’s not boring to see repeat makes – I like to keep a record for myself too, to refer back to if I make any changes.

    1. Katie Post author

      I do like to be completist, but that would make my blog REALLY boring!
      I like the purple version too! And I think there’s a brighter coloured black one too.. #collectemall

  3. Sandra

    It looks gorgeous and yay for only two nights of sewing!
    And I hear you, same weather here (Holland), they are expecting 40C here on Saturday

  4. SaSa

    I love your dress out of this adorable print! I have made a Deer and Doe Sureau out of it, and I love to wear it. The lawn surely is wonderful to wear at this hot weather!

    1. Katie Post author

      I just found it on your blog, so pretty! It’s such great fabric – I love when you only see a print detail from up close.

  5. Bella

    Ooh, I really like that colour way of Tiny Dancer! I’ve always been drawn to the pinky purple version, but the one you’ve used looks lovely too. I don’t think it’s boring at all to see repeat garments, I always enjoy reading about what you’ve made. Hope you manage to stay cool.

  6. Jennie

    I love it, its not boring to see your repeat makes, well for me anyway.

    I too have very little hot weather clothing and I’ve decided
    Not to buy any more clothes this year but to try and make my needs, I got. Bit stuck this week as I lost my fabric scissors I’ll be whipping up some breezy dresses this weekend though as the monkeys know as my children have now found them!

  7. Kerry

    A lovely dress – I was just looking at some of that Tiny Dancer fabric online, very tempted to invest. Though I have a few Liberty tana lawns I should use. I take it you didn’t line this dress? I am in two minds whether a tana lawn dress should be lined or not

    1. Katie Post author

      No I didn’t line it. It’s just about opaque enough to be OK, I’m not really a fan of lining anything though to be honest.

  8. Veronica Darling

    As I mentioned on Instagram, this is totally my favourite thing you’ve sewn and watch out, when summer ends I might come a knocking to get it! So pleased you blogged it too… Maybe it’s the print, as Tiny Dancers are my favourite kinds of dancers (my friend dances with tiny tiny dance moves, and we call him Tiny Dancer/Tony Danza) but it’s great all round and I love unique clothes! YAY

  9. Viri

    I’ve just listened to the Konmari audiobook, and planning the decluttering for the weekend. However the criteria is very strict/ scary. I mean I’m pretty frugal and I would hate to purchase the same item 3 months later / having to buy a new somthing just becasue I threw out the old one… But very messy, and tend to stash up all type of junk so I need to take actios. Did this method work for you on the long run? How did you feel when your old frocks could had been handy? Did you regret throwing awy so many things? Did the method make you a tidier person?

    1. Katie Post author

      Hi Viri. Yes, it’s strict. But I don’t miss *anything* I’ve discarded. It’s funny how quickly you forget when you throw, and hence there’s no need to replace anything because they clearly weren’t needed in the first place. Yes, overall it has made me tidier because I appreciate space and having less now. It’s an ongoing process though.

      1. Viri

        Thank you Katie for the encouragment. Yesterday evening I Konmaied my stash, and one of my closets and have filled up 3 ikea bags with my unwanted stuff. I feel incraedibly realifed allready. Let’s see how it goes on the long run.

  10. Alessa

    Honestly, I love seeing the little vatiations. Love that dress, the print is just the right balance between interesting and a-neutral-colour and it looks just perfect for those hotter-than-average days. :)

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