Purple Passion Flower

The only problem with having a closet packed full of clothes is that you can easily forget about wonderful dresses hiding back in the far corners – sometimes for years at a time!  Today I rediscovered this dress I finished back in 2008 using Butterick 4512 (one of their vintage reproduction patterns).

This is not the first vintage reproduction from the McCall pattern company that I have made, and it will surely not be the last.  Try as I might, I cannot resist the adorable vintage pattern sketches on each envelope, no matter how simple the silhouette. 

It is actually a brilliant marketing ploy – everything looks better on an elongated fashion sketch with an impossibly small waistline!  I wish I had become aware of these sooner - through internet searches, I have come across quite a few that I wish were still in print.  Not only is the envelope artwork fun to look at, the patterns generally have wonderful details that many contemporary ones seem to lack.

The fabric print is not something I would normally wear, however, it called out to me from the bolt as I walked by the quilting section at JoAnn Fabrics one day, and I could not resist.  If only it came in a silk satin – can you imagine?! 

Because I have had issues with halter-topped reproduction patterns in the past, I was a good girl, and mocked-up a quick muslin of the bodice.  Sure enough, there was some serious gaping from the upper bust area to the neck.  I thought I had fixed my problem using the muslin, but after putting the dress together, the neckline was still not laying flat.  To fix the problem, I added another dart.  Unfortunately, the dress was already lined, so it is not the prettiest fix in the world, but it does make the dress wearable.

I knew I wanted to use a contrasting fabric to break up the busy print.  My first inclination was yellow, even though I usually avoid the color.  However, I found a fun striped quilting cotton that I liked and purchased enough to use it for the cummerbund and bodice lining.

If I ever make this up again, I would add a bit of boning at the center back bodice. 

The back has a tendency to pull downward over the day.  It is not a huge problem, just something that could be improved on.

Boy am I glad I caught site of this fun frock hiding in my closet before the weather precludes me from wearing it!  I even got quite a few compliments from strangers.

Dress:  Butterick 4512, Made by Me!

Cardigan: Banana Republic

Shoes: Franco Sarto Foe Brandy Capra Botalato