Tuesday 29 March 2016

V1353 in batik printed cotton.

Badmomgoodmom raised the question of whether it was better for souvenir fabric to turn in to a wadder, or to remain languishing in the fabric collection, which I find a very pertinent issue. Personally, I feel that, provided there was effort involved in the wadder, not simple carelessness for which it is just to blame oneself, it is better for the fabric to be used, even unsuccessfully. I like to expand my skills, and this is not possible without the occasional less than successful project. As I often buy souvenir fabric, there is enough of it in my collection to allow me to risk it!
  However. I believe that some fabrics do a better job as stimulus for the sewing imagination than they could ever do as a mere garment.

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 This particular fabric does not fall into that category. I can date precisely to my 2011 trip to Wellington, NA, but although it has pleasant associations, its not fabric that I am at all concerned about using. Its a pleasingly crisp cotton, printed using a batik technique,  but its not at all traditional in print. I admit that it it has been several imaginary dresses during its time spent the fabric cupboard stage, but they were all everyday garments (a blouse, a sundress...). Now it is an even more successful version of V1353 than the last one, having slightly deeper armscyes, a very pleasing teal green minipiping and a better invisible zip insertion.

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I've been wearing it a lot, and it co-ordinates with all my shoes, which is one great advantage of a print with so many colours included.

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I do not have much to say about the construction, having written about this in my last post. Its a useful pattern, having a pleasing shape,  relatively easy fitting, and requiring no adjustments to cover regular underwear.
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10 comments:

Raquel from J.C. said...

beautiful dress!I just got two meters of batik fabric from Indonesia (a gift from my darling husband!) and I'm thinking what to sew with it. It's intended to be used as a pareo, but i live in the middle of USA with no intentions on going to the beach heheheh.

Summer Flies said...

This is really lovely and so nice to have success with this pattern. It's the sort of great pattern that the fabrics will make it look different every time. I agree underwear friendly clothing is a bonus.

Miss Smith said...

Lovely dress and I really like the piping detail around the neck. I agree it's better to use fabric than let it languish. I seem to lose interest in a fabric if I have it lying around too long- it's like a dead good idea.

colesworth said...

So lovely - they are great colours and I love the minipiping. Fabric is the best souvenir. I'm in the middle of making a dress with some poplin I got in Thailand a couple of years ago. I could only imagine it in one pattern and when the first muslin didn't fit I put it aside for over a year until I could work through the changes I needed! Trying to get it done for high tea on Saturday - you're not joining us this year?

Janine said...

Love the fabric and pattern. I think your batik would have been one of my scared to use pieces it looks so lovely.

Bunny said...

Really lovely dress!

Sew, Jean Margaret said...

Beautiful dress!

Paola said...

I really like this version of this dress, and the colours look great on you.

Gail said...

You are making some lovely versions of this dress. It is becoming too cool for sleeveless dresses here in Sydney.

poppykettle said...

Gorgeous dress - your fabric is really stunning!