No mending this Monday, so I thought I’d share a make instead.
Last autumn, when we could travel and see friends in the same room, rather than only electronically, I went to London. The main purpose was lunch with an old friend, but I slotted in a bit of fabric shopping and bought a lovely piece of Japanese cotton. I chose it to go with a specific dress pattern and intended to make it almost straight away. However, the need for a cotton dress in the winter is limited and so other projects took precedence. Now, however, it’s spring and the time was right for this piece of sewing.
It’s a simple garment, with raglan sleeves and a zip at the back. The idea was to choose a fabric that would take centre stage. It turned out to be a fairly simple make, although I did have to adjust the shoulder darts a little and may revisit them, as I think the shaping could be better.
So, I give you the Raglan dress (a pattern from the Avid Seamstress):
Now, I just need to be allowed out in order to show it off.
The Snail of Happiness 
crawcraftsbeasties
/ May 18, 2020Oooh, it’s beautiful! Lovely shape, and that fabric is gorgeous. I hope you get a chance to show it off outside soon!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 18, 2020I suspect that dog-walking is the only trip out it’s going to get for a while… here in Wales (unlike England) none of our lockdown restrictions have been lifted, apart from being allowed to exercise more than once a day.
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ May 19, 2020Ah, that’s a shame for the dress… But probably better on every other front! I’d rather have tighter restrictions now than months and months of on-again-off-again lockdowns. The dress will keep until normality resumes!
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Kim
/ May 18, 2020Very pretty fabric, and a lovely simple shaped dress to let it shine. I hope the other dog walkers will appreciate it 😉
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 18, 2020I’d quite like to make the same pattern in something a bit more drapey – perhaps a soft linen… might have to have look at one or two online fabric stores, since I can’t visit any for real.
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tialys
/ May 18, 2020The simple shape of the dress showcases that gorgeous fabric perfectly. I lost my dressmaking mojo with the current situation but it’s slowly coming back. Dresses will be a good idea while I try to get back into my pre-lockdown jeans. 😉
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 18, 2020I’ve almost completely given up wearing trousers (and I’ve only ever owned two pairs of jeans in my life), so dresses like this are my go-to garment most days and have been for several years now.
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katechiconi
/ May 18, 2020Lovely! It’s a simple but flattering style and the fabric is totally the star, so you’ve ticked all the boxes and met your own brief very nicely. I hope you’ve kept some nice scraps so you can accessorise with a coordinating bag?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 18, 2020I do have some spare bits… a Japanese knot bag might be the way to go, considering the fabric.
I’ve got a bit of a hankering to make this dress again in a soft linen. In fact I have my eye on some beautiful stuff from Merchant and Mills and I might just be tempted.
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katechiconi
/ May 18, 2020If it’s comfy and becoming, I’d be making multiple variants.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 18, 2020I’m wearing it today and thinking about a few modifications before I buy any more fabric.
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Judith Howard
/ May 18, 2020We will have to make a special expedition to fabric shops went we are let out nothing like seeing and feeling the fabric for a project. I have been hunting for fine linen for dress making for a while. Seems trendy means dress makers don’t get much look in. Seasalt has some lovely red at the moment (if you wear it) but most of the rest it too heavy for summer frocks!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 18, 2020What do you think about some of the Merchant and Mills ones? Too heavy?
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Going Batty in Wales
/ May 18, 2020Very nice Mrs S! I think you need to go for cocktails!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 18, 2020Funny you should say that!
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Going Batty in Wales
/ May 19, 2020🙂
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Laurie Graves
/ May 18, 2020How very very beautiful! Hope you get to wear it soon and go out and about.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 18, 2020Just been out walking the dogs wearing it!
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Laurie Graves
/ May 18, 2020All right!!!
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thecontentedcrafter
/ May 18, 2020I just saw the comment about you wearing it while walking the dogs – fabulous! I like the simplicity of the design and the fabric is so pretty. I only wear dresses on those long hot summer days, though I would love to wear them more often. I tend to feel ‘dressed up’ in one and so stick to my trousers or leggings and long tops…. You’ve made me want to take another look at my wardrobe 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 18, 2020I almost always wear leggings and a dress these days – and it’s so much more comfortable for me than trousers (I especially dislike jeans). Plus, when it’s raining it’s much easier to slip wellington boots on and off with a knee-length dress and leggings.
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thecontentedcrafter
/ May 19, 2020I might just have to have a rethink about my wardrobe 🙂
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lifebyacompassnotaclock
/ May 18, 2020What a lovely colour & beautifully made 😍
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 18, 2020thank you-I’m pleased with it and planning future versions now.
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arlingwoman
/ May 19, 2020I remember that trip and this fabric. What a nice looking dress for it. You need to model it for us, perhaps at the Greasy Spaniel.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 19, 2020Mr Snail has suggested we find a seafood restaurant to go to…. Legal Seafoods in Boston is out, but perhaps we can find somewhere closer to home.
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Nice Piece of Work
/ May 19, 2020Wow, that is gorgeous. You are GOOD at this – I don’t think I have what it takes to make a dress like that any more!
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tinaor
/ May 19, 2020Very nice choice of fabric.
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polesparadise
/ May 20, 2020Ooh, that’s lovely!
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