Here are the two full finished dresses from my no-flip facing tutorial post. They’re both very simple loose smock shapes in some fun prints, ideal for autumn and winter with tights and a cardi.
The first and most recent is another Megan Nielsen Sudley dress made from a lovely new season Liberty tana lawn print called Moon Dust. (I’m going gaga over quite a lot of the AW prints this year – constellations and clouds and tigers, oh my.)
It’s funny to compare it to my first Sudley and see how the use of a very fluid viscose vs a slightly more crisp lawn affects the silhouette. The skirt stands away from the body more in this one, making it rather more loose and bell-shaped.
I did the above-elbow sleeve length option this time and also dipped the front neckline lower, omitting the keyhole detail from the back. and of course, instead of self-lining the bodice I did a no-flip facing !
For this dress I used the bodice from McCall 7080. I was attracted to the cute waistline tuck in the pattern, however it turned out really weird-looking – bulky and unflattering – so I unpicked it and got left with a much more simple silhouette that’s basically the same as the Sudley.
The fit on the bodice and sleeve is really quite nice though so I may use it as a block again. I cut the skirt midi length originally which was a bit overwhelming in the print, so I hacked some off. I might go a tiny bit shorter still.
This fabric is particularly special to me because I bought it on my birthday back in January, when I took myself off on a solo daytrip to Brighton. I had an amazing lunch at Silo, trudged the chilly beach from pier to pier, and of course popped into one of my very favourite fabric shops, Ditto, where I bought this stuff. It’s a silk poplin and the print is so beautiful, weird and unique – the very definition of a conversational print. It’s long out of stock but Ditto has another silk poplin in a monochrome globe print which I’m tempted to snap up too as this stuff sews and wears like a dream.
What are you sewing this weekend? I’m feeling quite uninspired at the moment, perhaps because I hate winter and cold-weather dressing, but I might dig out some knits and make a couple of turtleneck sweaters.
Fab dresses Katie and I agree that the A/W Liberty collection is scrumptious!
The dresses look very comfy and stylish too x
These are both lovely Katie. Sorry to hear you don’t like this time of year and cold weather dressing. Isn’t it strange, I’m much happier when I can put on my thick tights and cardi’s! I’ve started working on a coat this afternoon but haven’t got any further than tracing the pattern and converting the one piece sleeve to a 2 piece one.
Oh no, I can’t stand it – give me throwing on a summer dress and calling it an outfit any day! Your coat plans look amazing…
Both great dresses! Really need to take a trip to Brighton and check Ditto fabrics out.. I’m wrecking my brains at the moment on how to make a swirly skirt from some really tricky Ombré velour… more details on my blog, would really appreciate advice from more experience sewists actually!
I highly recommend the trip. I haven’t worked with velour, but that’s a beautiful looking fabric!
Both of these are lovely, The silk poplin is special though.
I agree, it’s very cool!
Katie, thank you for once again inspiring me.
Thanks for the kind comment :)
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I love both of these Katie!! You are the queen of pattern hacking and making the best dresses! I am in love with both of those prints too.