. . . is the pattern number of my new dress. It is an ‘easy’ vogue pattern, and, having worked myself up (or perhaps down?) into the the zen-like state that I must be in to cut out fabric and sew at the machine, I knocked it up over a few hours yesterday. I used some remnants of hedgehog fabric, the remainder of the liberty tana lawn I used to line these ties with a while ago, and just over a metre of linen for the dress’s main section. I was pleased I actually managed to get a front and two backs out of that length of fabric, as it was touch and go when laying out the pattern pieces. In this instance, it is clearly good to be short. I didn’t include the pattern’s pocket-flaps (without pockets!), but added my own patch pockets instead.
. . .with buttons from Duttons. I think the fabric of the dress is brown, but Tom and my knitting buddies say it is green. I’ve always had a bit of an issue with colours on that olive-grey-brown boundary. Anyway, I’ve been wanting to experiment with some home-sewn summer clothes that are good for walking in, and this was the prototype garment. This dress seems designed for maximum ease of movement. There’s enough space in it for striding along at speed, but, it does not flap about. I can happily confirm this last, as, to test its walk-ability this morning, I ascended a small hill.
Here I am at the top of North Berwick Law. That white blob behind me out at sea is the Bass Rock, home to seventeenth-century prisoners and twenty-first century gannets. Tom had to move about a bit to get the right angle, as on a few earlier shots I appeared to be wearing the bass rock like a jolly hat. And in this next pic, the wall and I seem to have more or less the same palate.
interesting.
Anyway, I would recommend this pattern both for straightforward sewing and ease of movement. I like the cut and fit and it has some neat, simple finishing details (yoke facing catches all edges &c). And whatever colour that linen actually is, I like it too. And very lucky that I already had a cardigan in exactly the same indeterminate shade . . .
KDD & Co 
I love the pattern and the dress looks fab on you!
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Super cute! I am inspired to fire up my own machine now. I also want to know more about the shoes, too. Please do tell!
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Girl – You’ve got nice pins! All that walking is working. I love love the dress. And, it is brown.
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So this is what it looks like on top of North Berwick Law! We drove by last summer, it was raining horizontally and we could barely make out Bass rock. We passed the sign for North Berwick Law, and being Norwegian we didn’t quite understand what “law” had to do with the hill. We weren’t too keen on getting out of the car that day, but seeing your pictures I would absolutely climb up if I had the chance again – and the weather was on my side.
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Such a pretty dress pattern and I love the hedgehogs! gorgeous.
I am always intrigued by finding skirts and dresses I can do active things thing, my friend Jane only wears skirts/dresses (i don’t think she owns any trousers) and I’ve often been amazed at how practical she can find skirts for gardening and things….
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Today is wear your own clothes day at my children’s school and released from the constraints of uniform my seven year old daughter is wearing McCall’s M5613 made up in Amy Butler Kaleidoscope Dots fabric (largely green and turquoise). She did some of the sewing herself and spent a good while in John Lewis choosing the fabrics and notions. The hem is, admittedly machined a bit wonkily and while that offends my perfectionist heart I’m having to learn to let her take control of the machine and allow mistakes to happen. She has gone off to school undeniably proud but what made me post was a link with your previous post about fashion disasters. I fear that Marcella has channelled Bananarama, or Cyndi Lauper for she has combined the dress with black leggings (with all important zips), black and pink monkey design socks, some geox sandals from the boys’ range and a blue and white checked bandana. I know she is only seven but I am looking forward to having the sorts of reminiscences with her about her fashion choices that you and your mother clearly enjoy.
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This is the most awesome outfit! I hope this doesn’t come off wrong, but that’s the sort of thing I want when I see a well dressed toddler and say “I wish they made that in grown up sizes” but you don’t look childish, you just look stylish. Excellent! Do tell us where you found the shoes?
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Love the hedgehogs! And the shoes! And the dress itself looks so practical – I would wear it over jeans.
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Thank you! I too try to walk everywhere possible and have a real issue about what to wear if I am doing something at the other end where I need or want to look more presentable than I do in my well-travelled walking trousers and trainers! Am very encouraged by the fact that you refer to this as the start of home-sewn clothes that are good for walking in. Look forward to more! And can you help us with shoes, too, please?!
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This dress needs a name, don’t you think.
The Hotchifrock, perhaps.
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I’d never have imagined that pattern becoming such a gorgeous dress. The illustrated examples are so dull! You clearly have a gift for seeing potential.
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Very cute, great idea with the walkable dress. That is defiantly a requirement when a mom. And the shoes, how do I get me a pair of those? Cute and you can still take long walks in them, perfect as far as I am concerned.
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awesome work and great pictures.
Ciao!
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It’s about time there’s a crafting blog on the WP front page!
Love this dress! Great work girl!
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The color is olive. Go get a jar and hold them up next to one another and you’ll see what I mean. But, in your defense anything from nature, like olives will often have the tendency to vary in color. So, you and your freinds are both right.
I LOVE the dress. I think I’ll try one for myself.
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Splendid! So beautiful. Mazel tov.
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It’s a beautiful dress. I struggle to get into a calm sewing state (although that has quite a bit to do with having small children and then being too tired to face getting the machine out once they’re in bed).
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That’s such a pretty dress! *wonders about buying herself a sewing machine*
Also, I love your shoes!
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Lovely dress – and super shoes!
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So freakin cute…you must have been the snazziest hiker on the hill!!Love it!
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When I used to sew, using Vogue patterns was almost a guarantee of success — my favorite pattern brand! It’s nice to hear someone else having success with them. You look very cute in your outfit!
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The dress is darling on you, I really like the pockets. Also love the shoes – wish I could find a pair like that – they would be great for all the socks I knit.
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So pretty! More and more, I realize that I must get to this store, Duttons. Someday? I wish I had a similar store around here.
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I love it! I think I will buy it now, seems like it will fit me too :) Love the fabric choices!
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So cute! Lovely pockets!(^^)
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I have the same green/brown issues, I thought your dress was brown at first but now can see the green. Whatever colour it is, it’s gorgeous! We were at North Berwick today too, although not climbing small hills.
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I love this dress. It is fun, functional, and flattering. I also, evidently, love alliteration.
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