Green Cotton Print Day Dress
I made this dress from a green and white printed cotton from Wal Marts bargain table. What can I say. I'm not overly rich. I haunt Wal Marts bargain fabric table. This dress cost about $15 to make. I can't go wrong with that.
It is a basic mid-19th century style cotton dress. The bodice is flat lined and the lining darted with the fashion fabric taken up in tucks (instead of darts) on the outside layer. The neck is cut in a slight V, which is a nice, yet accurate variation from the ubiquitous jewel neckline. The V neck shape is much more flattering on many figure types than the jewel neckline. The sleeves are one piece coat sleeves with a pleated sleeve cap and trimmed with black cotton. The armscyes and neckline are piped. The dress has a narrow piped waistband and a full pleated skirt, whipped directly to the edge of the waistband as per originals. The hem is finished with a hem facing from scrap cotton fabric. Closes down the front of the bodice with hook and eyes and a dogleg closure for the skirt. 
Since these pictures were taken, I have added another row of black trim to the sleeves and black decorative buttons down the front. A comfortable, easy-to-wear every day dress! In these pictures I am wearing a black bow at the neckline and a black belt that hooks closed in the back. This dress is also the one I wore when David and I had our tintype done in September of 2009.
5 comments:
I love the fabric! I'm such a sucker for green! And yes, sometimes you can find perfectly good historical fabric at places like walmart!
What a BEAUTIFUL dress! You look wonderful in it!
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who gets my fabric for WalMart, LOL! :-D
I haunt the Walmart fabric tables too! lol No, you can't beat their deals. I especially love the $1.50 a yard fabric!!! The dress is lovely and I especially love the colour! You are so talented!
Dear Sarah,
This is a handsome dress on you! I know that you're not overfond of the Civil War era, but the styles become you more than you think.
Do you have any hints on how I could recut a jewel neckline to a vee neckline on an existing dress?
Thanks kindly,
Natalie in Kentucky
Thank you! This dress is probably my least favorite of all the ones I have, so your kind words make me feel more charitable towards it. :)
Natalie, I have converted several jewel necks to a v kind. Put on your dress and hook up the front, leaving the top two hooks or so undone. Fold the top of the neckline to the inside until you get the look you desire. Mark directly on the fold of fabric the new neckline, with pins or a fabric pencil.
Take off the dress and fold the neckline back to how it normally looks. If you have pin-marked the folded line for the new V neck, remove the pins and make a good visible line exactly where you want the V neck to be with chalk or a pencil. Remove the piping or binding from the original neckline. Cutting in 1/4" in from the edge of the new lines you have drawn on your front bodice, tapering to the original neckline at the shoulder seam, cut the new V shape. Finishing with narrow piping or binding, using a 1/4" seam allowance. You will probably have to take off the top few hooks and perhaps resew one back on at the new center front top point of the bodice. Finish with a collar and enjoy the flattering lines of a new V neckline! :)
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