The winter clothes are folded and packed away in the attic and last year’s summer stuff is scattered around the house – some for ironing, some for washing, some for giving away and some for wearing. I counted 13 dresses! I seem to make a lot of dresses but rarely wear them so……
This week for Me Made May, I set myself the challenge of wearing dresses. A different dress a day.
MONDAY Marfy 0303 free pattern with their catalogue, made in quilting cotton and worn with summer boots and I had a cardi on
TUESDAY: Vogue 8870 without the mullet hem, made in blue flowery chiffon, leather belt, summer boots and a denim jacket was worn on top
WEDNESDAY: Camera battery failing so sorry about the focus – Pattern Company (German), made in pink flowery chiffon with pink slip underneath for decency. Summer boots and denim jacket
THURSDAY: Brazilia dress made in polka dot cotton worn with long cotton jacket and scarf, summer boots
THURSDAY Brazillia Dress in polka dot cotton
FRIDAY Marfy 0303 in blue cotton and pale blue linen contrast. Worn with green cardi and sandals!
Some mornings I just wanted to reach for trousers and a shirt but I stuck to my promise and can now say, without guilt, that I have worn these dresses at least once! The weather has improved considerably since Monday, hence the removal of the boots and on with the sandals!
Here’s some extra details and links if you want to check out the patterns and fabric.
Marfy 0303: New this year. I actually made the blue one (Friday) first and loved it so much I made the other one (Monday). The pattern comes free with the Marfy catalogue and as I’ve never made a Marfy before, this is a good way of testing the drafting and fit without having to purchase. Of course, you have to pay for the catalogue, but at €20 plus €9 postage, and 20 free patterns – it’s a bargain – and you get to look at all the pretty pictures. The main blue fabric is a robust brushed cotton from Croftmill and the pale blue contrast is a bit of shirt linen bought years ago from the now defunct Ulster Weavers. I made a drop down hem in the linen to sort of make it look like I had another dress underneath and to balance out the collar. Lined in blue china silk
The quilting cotton version is much the same, with a contrasting but matching pattern for the collar and drop down hem and lined in cream cotton. The extra hem also adds a little length. Marfy patterns don’t come with instructions so there is a little bit of figuring out to do but I love the results.
Vogue 8870: Tuesday – Made last year. I straightened out the mullet hem but should have lengthened the bodice by a couple of inches. I always wear this with a belt as I didn’t tighten the elasticated waist enough, and it covers the ‘high’ waist on the dress. It’s an Easy rated pattern but watch that bodice length! Fabric came from Tessu last year too, but I think they still have some.
Pattern Company: Wednesday – Made last year. Same fabric as Tuesday except in a different colour-way. I made a pink satin slip to wear underneath which reflected the flash – it doesn’t look that shiny in real life and adds an extra layer and makes the dress decent for public consumption. I can also wear the pink slip under Tuesday’s dress. I can’t find the pattern this year, so it may have been withdrawn from the collection.
Check out Pattern Company patterns – they’re lovely. While the Italians don’t include instructions, the Germans do but they are in German (fair enough) so you either need to read German, translate them or make it up as you go along.
Brasilia Dress: Thursday – New this year. This is a free downloadable pattern from House of Pinheiro – thank you! I wasn’t too sure about the size and the seam allowances so there was a lot of ‘fitting’ involved to get this dress to wearable status. I altered the neckline to include a sort of V thing similar to the Ralph Rucci in Vogue. It’s pretty when I’m standing upright with my shoulders back but as soon as I sit down there’s a wonderful view of everything at bust level – hence the scarf!
The fabric is a study cotton from Chrysalis, a lovely soft pink with creamy/ivory polka dots. On me it looks like the dress that wasn’t there – a little too similar to my own skin tones and so requires a stronger colour on top so I don’t look naked!
As for the Summer boots – these are the best invention ever!!! No need to wax or shave or apply tanning potion. The boots are usually unlined, perforated or punched with a design and made from thin suede. Look at these ones for some ideas – Gido and Jessica Buurman for sandal/boots.
But the week is not over yet……..
More dresses to come. And just before I sign off for today – here’s a reminder of my Giveaway of your choice of uncut patterns. Entry closes on May 20th GMT. Good luck!
corecouture 
May 16, 2014 at 5:18 pm
What a great collection of dresses! I love your versions of the Marfy dress. Where DO you find the time to sew so much?
May 18, 2014 at 9:11 pm
No really Tia, some of these were made last year and the new ones are quite straightforward. As long as I have the right coloured thread in the machine 30 mins at a time soon adds up to a finished item. Thanks so much
May 16, 2014 at 7:23 pm
Love dresses! You look so great in all of them and all combinations! One dress has lot’s of looks 🙂
May 18, 2014 at 9:09 pm
Thanks Beata.
May 16, 2014 at 9:00 pm
You are so lucky to be wearing summer sandals and bare legs. It’s 38 degrees here in Chicago and it snowed today! You look great in each and every dress 🙂
May 18, 2014 at 9:06 pm
One day only Rhonda and then the rain came back
May 17, 2014 at 3:10 pm
Spring is certainly there and you look adorable!
May 18, 2014 at 9:09 pm
It didn’t last long Mrs Mole, a day or two and we’re back to grey skies. Ah well, I made the most of the few good days
May 18, 2014 at 1:22 pm
What a great challenge you set yourself Ruth, to wear a dress every day. And even better that you followed through with it. I love Tuesday’s dress but they are all lovely.
May 18, 2014 at 9:07 pm
It was surprising how hard this was Jean – to wear a dress everyday. We are spoiled because we can wear what we want nowadays. Still, it was a bit of fun.
October 24, 2014 at 9:43 am
Making Marfy 0303 – it is good to see the finished dress on you – again! One questions – I see you have no center front seam. Looking at the drawing it looks like there is a seam there. How was your experience with it? Center front is a strait line so it can be cut on fold.