Bold Rose Print Fabric

Painting by Johann Jensen  1800-1856, Danish

Hello Ladies,

It is, as they say, a very blowy day, and the umbrella kept escaping from what was supposed to be a sophisticated fashion photo shoot--you know, with my great professional fashion photographer and the wonderful studio and all that!

This is another easy care, wear and tear dress for  home because it makes me laugh. You are probably laughing, too, but after I sewed it, I checked out Hobbs of London, clicked on dresses, and noticed several very bold rose print dresses for $300. I posted two of them here. I doubt those are wear-at-home dresses.

The cotton was very thin, and I thought I could get away with using this 2018 pattern that actually was made for crepe, challis, charmeuse, double Georgette, and silk.  

However, it required quite an adjustment to make it work with the woven fabrics, so remember that if you think you want to buy this pattern. 

I got this pattern because it was in the $2.97 category of New Look.

 If you ever attempt to make a woven garment from a pattern that was made for silk or crepe, remember you can't make it your normal size. You have to go up. While I usually wear a 10, I had to cut an 18 on this pattern.  So, pay attention the fabric suggestions on the back of the pattern envelope before you buy a pattern. Even then, it won't drape the same way if it's a woven and the pattern is made for non woven.

I quite liked the line drawings on this pattern, but I found that poufiness in the upper back where the gathers are, hard to get used to. 

I've noticed this fullness also in some of the Time and True dresses I bought last year.  Not sure I like it that much.   I'll be taking tucks in the upper back sections to smooth that out.

I will post a photo at the end to show what the dress looks like with a jacket when I wear this "home dress" out in public.

While I made it to wear at home to suit my mood and the weather, but also enjoy the fact that I am free to wear any bold, bright, interesting fabric I like at home, under the freedom of clothing act of my  private Constitution. ☺

One reason I wanted to try this pattern was because the sleeves were not the set-in type that are so difficult.  I didn't care for all the extra work on this pattern, required by the collar piece, but the result was "okay."

I had seen these floral umbrellas on Amazon and Victorian Trading Co. but did not want to pay the cost plus postage, resulting in $50, so I took an old umbrella and ironed on the fabric on the inside with something called Wonder Web:

  With wonder web or any iron-on interfacing, you have to be careful not to get it on your iron, so I suggest using a piece of cotton fabric, called a pressing cloth, or a thin dish towel made of muslin cotton. That way the sticky stuff won't end up on your iron board cover or your iron.

Here is the project being laid out. I've had it sitting here for days just trying to carve out the time to finish it. 

At last I got this lady to model the dress.  She said if the pictures don't look good, she won't be coming back:

You know how to view the pictures.

Ominous clouds above and the freezing temp drove her back inside, (model doesn't get double pay for posing under a black cloud) but we got a few more photos:

I know this seems like an outrageously bold print for a dress at home, but after I finished it, I thought I would check around the web and see if there were any designs using huge flowers and I found these recent designs which are over $300 apiece. 

There were also some super large rose print dresses on Pinterest. 

Thanks for tuning in, and hopefully you will see me here again soon, with the next project I am now working on.

Details:

4 yards fabric, David Textiles from Walmart @$5.00 a yard = $20

Black Thread $3

Pattern  $3

Zipper $2

Approximate total $28

This is more than I usually pay for sewing supplies but it was a better quality fabric and thread.

This dress is as smooth as silk and very comfortable, and although I might not use this pattern again, I'm glad to have something different to wear at home and it is quite a mood-lifter (it makes me laugh)!

 Hmmm...I think props are a pain in a photoshoot, especially in a strong wind when they won't stay near you. This umbrella made itself into a sail and the model had an awful time of it.

Close ups to show you how large this rose print  by David Textiles is:

 Mr. S. says he likes it because there won't be any pressure to buy roses since I'm wearing them. 

Added: Picture of the dress with black corduroy jacket and wool hat:

I am amazed at this hat. I got it at Walmart for about $6.00 and it is 100% wool. Later I attached half a yard of this feather trim.  I had seen this sort of hat in a gift shop for $150 and I was able to do it for about $7.00.

I assume you know how to view the photos so I'll just post them here as small. And please notice how I dressed up this outrageous print by toning it down with the jacket and hat accessories, to wear to market today. I don't think the hat will survive in this wind though, so I'll leave it home. It is just a prop for the fashion thing.

I wish you could see the back of this jacket. It has a little peplum pleat on it that is so pretty.

 Trying to hold on to that hat!!

I got the hat several years ago when it was pouring rain, when I noticed Mr. S. never uses an umbrella. He wears a hat, which he says does a good job of keeping him dry. 

Here's another version of the dress with an bright pink jacket and umbrella:

Do you see that stream of water beyond the road, in the background? That's the creek I keep saying I hope won't rise!

Added:

And now for a treat, here are some bright bold roses from an Eastern European designer, which I have on my Pinterest board of dresses. You can click on my Pinterest account from the left side of this blog.

Katarina Dorokhova designs

This is the one most similar to mine. It must take about 7 yards. Since all I could get that was on the bolt was 4 yards, I had to piece it in the back, but it turned out to be a very good dress for home. I do' not want them really full, catching on things, or too fussy. However I get some inspiration from these dresses!!

Would be nice to have historical buildings like this to go with the dresses, but I have my front porch ruins from 1952. There are not many historical buildings out in farm land or the forests, but there are plenty of old barns in this area.

Lovely!! Do you wish we could wear these here?  I don't.  I never wish anymore!!  I quit wishing a long time ago and began making it happen. Making a dress puts the whole matter in my own hands, and I can wear one of these dresses at home if I like. We aren't limited to sewing though, ladies, because things like this can often be found, in skirts or jackets, if you are on the lookout for them. 

To wear them elsewhere, they look great with a jacket, as shown in one of these pictures. If I were to make the one with the jacket, it would be a lot more roomy, not so small, but it is the idea I use, not the exact picture.