The Sewing Place
The Emporia => A bit of a 'do' => Topic started by: Samantha on March 29, 2017, 16:35:20 PM
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We've been invited to a dinner dance (in September) and I would like to make my own dress. I have a large amount of two tone taffeta (freecycle!) It's a very dark blue/green colour (similar to the photo below)
Of course I could buy some more fabric but it would be good to use up the stash a little!
Any dress pattern suggestions? I don't want it to look too bridsmaid-y which I worry if it's made from taffeta it could? (I'm aged 40 and dress size 12/14, pear shape)
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We need more info. :) Long, short, inbetween? Fitted, semi-fitted, loose? Questions, questions.
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Pretty open to all suggestions really!! Not sure what the form is for a dinner dance?
I'm thinking not too short, knee length. Not strapless don't mind straps or sleeves. Fitted top half, fitted or flared skirt. Not halter neck as I don't think that's very flattering on me.
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(https://butterick.mccall.com/sites/default/files/styles/p_l/public/products/b5850/B5850_a.jpg)
(https://www.sewessential.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1800x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/b/u/bu_5850_b5_la.jpg)
Tafetta is one of the suggested fabrics. Vogue 5850 (https://www.sewessential.co.uk/misses-dress-butterick-sewing-pattern-5850).
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Nice suggestion Utta , I would do a wrinkle test on the taffeta before I opted for a straight dress it might well crease badly
wrinkle test... grab a handful and squeeze ( not something I say to many people :*)
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Tafetta is one of the suggested fabrics. Vogue 5850 (https://www.sewessential.co.uk/misses-dress-butterick-sewing-pattern-5850).
Thanks for the suggestion - I really liked the look of this from the illustrations but when I googled it to see if there were any reviews/made up dresses I wasn't so keen on it.
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I have just had a look myself and only this blogger (http://mysticotala.typepad.com/blog/2013/03/sewing-projects-ms-pinstripe-suit.html) seems to have made a decent fist of it. I am surprised. I'll keep looking.
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How about this one?
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Ooooh, that one is lovely!
Jessie
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Is it worth checking the dress code for the do. Dinner Dance still tends to be Evening Dress which means long evening gowns for women and Dinner Suits for men. However if it's a Dance function with a meal like a works Christmas outing type do, then often it's more casual than a Dinner Dance and party wear/cocktail dresses for women and lounge suits/smart casual for men may be the standard.
Good point I will check. It's for the Community First Responders (I'm not one, a friend is) so I would imagine it's probably less formal.
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I have just had a look myself and only this blogger (http://mysticotala.typepad.com/blog/2013/03/sewing-projects-ms-pinstripe-suit.html) seems to have made a decent fist of it. I am surprised. I'll keep looking.
Yep that is the only decent one I've seen of that pattern, the reviews of the instructions aren't great either but thank you for looking!
suzied - I like the b version but can't find any reviews or actual makes on the 'tinternet
Thanks for your suggestions so far!
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(https://www.sewessential.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1800x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/v/8/v8470_front.jpg)
(https://voguepatterns.mccall.com/sites/default/files/products/v8470/V8470.gif)
Vogue 8470 (https://www.sewessential.co.uk/misses-dress-vogue-sewing-pattern-8470). Tafeffa is not one of the suggested fabrics, but the skirt is nice and swishy.
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Great minds UttatRetch! Just been admiring option B!
I also really like this one https://www.sewessential.co.uk/misses-pleated-ruched-dress-attached-cape-vogue-pattern-1535 (https://www.sewessential.co.uk/misses-pleated-ruched-dress-attached-cape-vogue-pattern-1535)
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And this https://thefoldline.com/patterns/b5919/ (https://thefoldline.com/patterns/b5919/) (version A with the full skirt)
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Another idea
(http://sewoverit.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Betty.jpg)
Details here (http://sewoverit.co.uk/product/betty-dress-sewing-pattern/). It's a very popular make and this blogger (http://dollyclackett.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/you-cant-say-your-favorite-kind-of-cake.html) made a particularly neat version.
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It's a very popular make and this blogger (http://dollyclackett.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/you-cant-say-your-favorite-kind-of-cake.html) made a particularly neat version.
Love the fabric she's used! I may have to get some more interesting fabric to make a dress rather than using something in my stash :ninja: - shame!!
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I made V8470 to wear to a 90th birthday party in October last year. It looks great made up but it is a pig to get the front neck right.
There is a small modesty insert inside the front neckline which goes right across the front. I found it was very difficult to understand how it fitted in and when I did get it right it was pulling tight. In the end I gave up on it, but the vee neck is very low so I pinned a brooch onto the dress.
If I were to make it again I would cut the front neck a bit higher.
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I made V8470 to wear to a 90th birthday party in October last year. It looks great made up but it is a pig to get the front neck right.
There is a small modesty insert inside the front neckline which goes right across the front. I found it was very difficult to understand how it fitted in and when I did get it right it was pulling tight. In the end I gave up on it, but the vee neck is very low so I pinned a brooch onto the dress.
If I were to make it again I would cut the front neck a bit higher.
Thanks Brenda - the dress looks lovely on you. Thanks for the info on the neck line - very useful to know.
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I made this dress https://butterick.mccall.com/b6094 (https://butterick.mccall.com/b6094) in November to go to a dance and was delighted with it. I can thoroughly recommend it. I will see if I have a photo.
PS - and Butterick are half price at the mo! :)
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I made this dress https://butterick.mccall.com/b6094 (https://butterick.mccall.com/b6094) in November to go to a dance and was delighted with it. I can thoroughly recommend it. I will see if I have a photo.
PS - and Butterick are half price at the mo! :)
Ooh I've seen that pattern before and admired it! Yes please I would love to see a photo of a real make of it.
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The two Butterick patterns people have mentioned would be lovely in taffeta as they'd make great use of its "sticky outy" properties. (As you can see my command of the English language needs as much work on it as my stash!) The Vogue one is too drapey for taffeta in my humble opinion. Whatever you do I'm sure it will be beautiful.
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I made this dress https://butterick.mccall.com/b6094 (https://butterick.mccall.com/b6094) in November to go to a dance and was delighted with it. I can thoroughly recommend it. I will see if I have a photo.
PS - and Butterick are half price at the mo! :)
Had trouble finding these - so frustrating when you know you have them somewhere.
I love this dress, I made it in georgette for the skirt which was lined, and a sort of satin-backed dupion for the bodice. The fold back lapel pieces at the back were made with the satin as a contrast. I wore a full petticoat (actually bought that on the Internet due to lack of time! :devil:) but it made the skirt "swish" when I danced. Lots of compliments! :)
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Anne - lovely! The spotty fabric is fab
Good point HMV - I'm thing the butterick that Anne made in the taffeta and have the fold back in a lace? Or make the bodice in lace lined with taffeta and then the fold back would show the taffeta. Lots to think about thank you all for your help and suggestions.
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As someone else has said, dinner dance usually means long and when I was wee the dinner part also mean covered shoulders, but you could do that with a wrap. But i doubt any of that matters any more, really. What about Vogue 1534? A halter bodice and simple long full skirt. Use the taffeta for the skirt and something sparkly for the bodice?
https://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v1534
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That's a very glamourous pattern, but Samantha said on the first page.
Not strapless ... Not halter neck as I don't think that's very flattering on me.
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Well i don't think the halter neck top would work on me but seeing the two fabrics has given me ideas! I love the blingy bodice and I'm sure I have a dress pattern that I could make up like that one.