Butterick 5211 or Duras Dress

Fabric: Border-print silk charmeuse from Fabric Mart
Lining: China silk
Pattern: Butterick 5211

Butterick 5211

Changes I Made: I lowered front neckline, omitted facings and center back seam, and added lining.

Construction Note: This pattern is simple and easy. Only difficulty I had was making a narrow hem to finish the sleeve opening. I am not really proud of what I had done because I ended up with ripples. I see the same problem at the neck opening also. It looks like the war between me and slippery silk continues… hahaha.          

Inspiration:

When I saw this pattern I immediately thought of The Lover written by Marguerite Duras. It was specifically this part of the book.  Please allow me to quote in Japanese first because I was thinking in Japanese at that time.

「わたしはずっと長いあいだ、わたしだけの服というものをもっていない。わたしの服とは言ってみれば袋のようなもので、母の古い服の仕立て直しだが、その母の服というのもまあ袋のようなものだ。(中略）わたしはこういう服を、袋をかぶるみたいに着て、ベルトを締めてかたちを崩す、と、これでおきまりのわたしのスタイルとなる。」

愛人　マルグリット　デュラス　著　清水　徹　訳

English translation of the same part:

 “For a long time I’ve had no dresses of my own. My dresses are all a sort of sack, made out of old dresses of my mother’s which themselves are all a sort of sack. … I wear these dresses as if they were sacks, with belts that take away their shape and make them timeless.  “

The Lover, Marguerite Duras, Translated by Barbara Bray

Of course the original book is written in French. It is a shame that I do not own it…

More view of Duras dress

"Sack" version:

Side:

Back:

*   *   *   *   *   *

Now, I want to take a moment to say thank you again to Mrs. Mole of fit for a queen for the One Lovely Blog Award nomination! It is truly amazing that a talented person like her (just look at her blog!) thinks my blog is worth the award. (I am trying to pick ten bloggers to pass the awards but, oh boy, it is too difficult!)

I also want to say thank you to Rhonda of Rhonda’s Creative Life for featuring my blog. As many of you probably checked it already, her recent Wednesday Showcase is a wonderful collection of so many talents. If you are new to browsing sewing blogs it is definitely a good place to start.  

Last but not least, thank you to all my readers and blog friends; Thank you so much for visiting and following my blog, kindly leaving your comments, and sharing your world through your blog.

Wishing everyone a wonderful year ahead!   

Love,

Yuki

Vogue 8784 Wrap Dress

Hello everyone! This week I made a cotton wrap dress to add to my everyday wardrobe. 

Vogue 8784 Front

Vogue 8784 Back

Vogue 8784 Side

Vogue 8784 Inside

Pattern: Vogue 8784 

I made View A (left) without cap sleeves.

Source: Vogue Patterns

Per my usual petite alteration, I shortened the bodice by 3/4" and the skirt by 4".
I usually need to do narrow-shoulder alteration as well, but I kept the shoulder length in order to achieve an X-shape as seen in some dresses sold at Saks this spring.  



Chloe
Cotton Wrap Dress
Source: Saks Fifth Avenue



Alice and Olivia
Josie Ruched Blouson Dress
Source: Saks Fifth Avenue

I changed the way the dress wrapped. If you follow the pattern instruction the right front should be on the left front. Well, when I was sewing the side seams, I just realized that proper kimono wrapped the opposite way and I suddenly wanted to make this dress that way. It is just my Japanese thing!


Fabric: Theory Cotton poplin from Fabric Mart. This fabric was very easy to handle.

Lining: Cotton voile from Denver Fabrics

Lastly, this is how I style my new dress.

Just kidding! Meet Perry, a corn snake who usually lives in my daughter's middle school classroom. She is taking care of him while school is out. I am no snake person, but I THINK I am slowly getting used to seeing him in my house.


Until next time, cheers to you all!