Pattern for tartan/plaid

[BrendaP]

I fancy a tartan dress and have just ordered 3m of this.

Now I'm looking for a suitable pattern; or patterns as it could be a hack between two.  I want sleeves and a flared skirt, but can't decide whether it would be best to go for circular/semi circle or to keep the hemline straight.

Suggestions please - the piccies are just a few pulled from 'tinterweb

[Madame Cholet]

Middle top photo sleeves and neckline reminded me of this:



(Edited for better pic).

[BrendaP]

I have made that pattern a couple of times, and I do like it, but the skirt is in six sections and I'm not sure how it would look with tartan, even with all the vertical seams matched.

I might use the bodice pattern, take it down to natural waist level and hack on a different skirt.

[UttaRetch]

First in the botton row.  Suggested pattern



the bias layout would work with a curved hem.  I would leave off the silly pockets, though.

[BrendaP]

That's one I've been looking at on Jaycott's website.  Oh to have anything aproaching the tiny waist one was supposed to have had in the '50s.

[Bodgeitandscarper]

Ooh, love the material.  I must not order any more, I need a break from sewing soon.  Sorry I can't really help with the pattern, dresses aren't my thing 

[BrendaP]

I've extended the bodice of B6018 down to natural waistline and B6055, along with some other bits and bobs to get free postage, has arrived from Jaycots.  The B6028 bodice will fit exactly onto the skirt of  B6055   

Still waiting for the fabric to arrive.  I haven't even had an email to say it's been despatched

I think I like the diagonal/bias bodice; lower left on first piccie but can't decide whether to have the front and back seams on the bias and side seams on grain as in that image or front and back seams on grain with the side seams on the bias as in the upper left image. 

[UttaRetch]

   Brenda, you've lost me.  My brain has not woken up yet.

[BrendaP]

I like the top of the green one, but not sure whether the skirt should be the same direction as that one with the diagonals front and back, or like the red one with the pattern straight at the front.
 

[Acorn]

I would say the green one - I love the lines of the skirt with the fabric cut that way.   

[Bodgeitandscarper]

I love the direction of the tartan in both the bodice and the skirt of the green one - I wish I was the right shape for that dress.

[BrendaP]

Well the fabric was ordered 5th November late evening.  It still hadn't arrived by this morning so I emailed the company, had a prompt response from them saying that it had been despatched on 7th November, but give them until 2pm today and then they would chase Royal Mail.

At 1:45 the postman knocked and gave me the parcel!  No date anywhere on it, but it was clearly marked 24 hour delivery.

So at last I have the fabric, and it does look nice.  I ordered 3m and received 3.95m   I've overlocked the ends and chucked in through the washing machine so maybe I'll get it cut out tomorrow.  I think I will have enough to do the diagonal bodice, long sleeves and probably the skirt with diagonal CB and CF seams.

[Tamnymore]

Gorgeous fabric, Brenda. Looking forward to seeing the finished product. 

[BrendaP]

The dress is finished

I used the bodice of Butterick 6018, lengthened to natural waistline and the skirt of Butterick 6055.
Sorry about the quality of the photo, no-ne else around to take it.  The hem was unfinished, just overlocked to stop it fraying.  I have since levelled it and shortened slightly.

Despite pattern matching and cutting the cuffs twice because I screwed up on the pattern placement I still had enough fabric  left over to make a shirt; McCalls 6035 with the sleeves lengthened slightly and regular cuffs.  It's ages since I've done cuff plackets but they went OK.  In fact I think I'm more pleased with the shirt than with the dress!

[Acorn]

Both are lovely, but the shirt is a particularly nice shape.