Colourful drapey dress | Fashion with Fabric GBSB 3 book

Drapey Dress Header2

March was so productive I’m struggling to keep up photographing and blogging all the garments I’ve made. So here I am in April already posting about the first project I completed in March, the drapey dress from the now famous Fashion with Fabric GBSB book, by the wonderful CL Hardie. When I first saw the book being reviewed all over the blogsphere, this was the one pattern I got the most excited about. See here CL’s own version and a fab stripy one from Karen at Did You Make That? This dress is so unusual and versatile, plus a very interesting and challenging build, I couldn’t wait for my copy of the book to arrive! (Disclaimer: I used my complementary copy from Quadrille Publishing, as a Sewing Bee contestant on Series 3).

GBSB Book Drapey Dress

I was impatient to make it anyway, but the added incentive was the Sewing Bees 3 meet-up at the Knit and Stitch Show at the Olympia, on the 7th March. When the Bees get together, I have this compulsion of always making something new to wear (and show off a bit), and I was going to see CL as well, so wanted to tell her how much I loved the book through a finished project :).

So as soon as the book arrived, I started tracing the dress. I always feel that it takes longer to trace and place the pattern than to actually make the dress itself. I was so excited to start this project that I didn’t want to wait until i bought the recommended fabric (ponte stretch), so I used some jersey stretch from my stash that had been very inexpensive and I knew I wasn’t going to be sorry if it didn’t turn out ok. Plus the busy pattern would not actually require any pattern matching (*shudders*), so I could plough right ahead.

RELATED  Favourite makes from the early days (2009-2011)

No issues tracing the pattern, and thank goodness for included seam allowances! I traced a size S and graded to M in the hips area, to accommodate my pear shaped silhouette. In hindsight, it was a bit tricky to figure out what to grade (i.e. which sides needed increasing), and I think I must have made some mistakes somewhere, as not everything ended up matching in the end and I had to shoe-horn bits here and there.

The fun and games began however when I had to place the pattern on the fabric, as I had slightly less fabric than required. It had been a ‘by weight’ purchase in a Manchester shopping trip with the Bees in September, so I wasn’t sure how much yardage I got.

I managed to squeeze the pieces onto the fabric in the end, though I had to cheat a bit on the grainline of one piece, which I think came back to bite me. But hey ho, live and learn!

On the construction side, I started by overlocking all the seams, just to make sure they are nice and neat. The instructions are quite clear, but make sure you follow the diagrams, and don’t ignore with which front pieces to start first. I can tell you a lot of head scratching will ensue if you mix them up.  Also, make sure you tailor-tack (or mark) the fold-line and centre-front, it will help loads when constructing the dress.

GBSB Book Drapey Dress

The one issue I had which I don’t think it was my fault, was matching the pockets with the pocket sacks. For some reason, it felt that the seam allowances were skipped on the pocket sacks, and next time I will make sure to add them on. I saw someone on Twitter mention this as well, I’ll ask CL next time I see her if this is how it was actually meant to be.

RELATED  DIY SATIN JUMPSUIT | SIMPLICITY 2401

EDIT: It turns out it is my fault! As usual, I don’t read the instructions properly!! When stitching the pocket to the main front piece, the seam allowance is not 5/8s!! It’s 1/4, which makes up for the difference with the pocket sack.

GBSB Book Drapey Dress

As to finishing, I turned the hems inside once and topstitched using a double needle. It was the first time I have actually attempted this and it went very smoothly, except for breaking one needle, still can’t figure out how I managed that.

GBSB Book Drapey DressSo overall, it’s a cute, comfy dress and I got many compliments when I wore it at the Knit and Stitch Show at the Olympia. BUT there are a few issues with it that stop me from loving it forever. The front pleat is not working, not sure why. I tried reducing the bulk, ironing, reducing the seam allowance, but still close, but no cigar. So I wear a nice purple scarf over it, cheating, I know, but at least it didn’t go to the charity pile straight away.GBSB Book Drapey Dress

Also, I think I might have to take 2-3 cm out of the centre-back, feels a bit loose around the back neckline and it pulls the shoulder seams towards the back. I’m really itching to make another one, but I really have to stick to the spring sewing plans, I really really need new trousers. And a pair of Gingers!!

——————————————————-

So that’s my first experience with the new GBSB book and I can only say I throughly recommend it. So many great patterns really well explained, with clear diagrams and great hacks included. I am looking forward to making the capri trousers, in my Trouser April spirit.

RELATED  Asymmetrical poplin summer dress | Vogue 9186

Happy sewing!

Follow:

19 Comments

    • Alex
      Author
      6 April 2015 / 8:41 AM

      Thank you! Did the book make it to the US already?

      • 6 April 2015 / 3:31 PM

        Nope, not available here yet, but I may have to order it from the UK! 🙂

  1. 6 April 2015 / 7:38 AM

    Wow this really suits you! I have to admit I wasn’t that enthusiastic about this pattern but yours is nicer than the plain blue one in the book!

    • Alex
      Author
      6 April 2015 / 8:42 AM

      Thanks! I can’t wait to make another one. I’m not a fan of prints, so I have some gold scuba lined up.

  2. 6 April 2015 / 7:43 AM

    Lovely dress, I shouldn’t over think the fit at the back, it looks great as it is

  3. Alex
    Author
    6 April 2015 / 8:43 AM

    Thanks! I think it might make me feel a bit more comfortable if I took a few cms out, but glad you think I can get away with it as it is.

  4. 6 April 2015 / 9:21 AM

    It’s cute in a way! If I end up making something myself, I’d treasure it for years! Charity begins at home 🙂

  5. 6 April 2015 / 1:19 PM

    I absolutely love this dress: the structure/design and the fabric you’ve chosen. Thanks also for answering the one thing I’ve been wondering about: I don’t want to make it in ponte (too hot for summer) but I didn’t know if jersey stretch would hold the same shape, or whether the design features would be lost in a ‘floppier’ fabric. What’s your view? also, thanks for the details on pocket matching etc.

    • Alex
      Author
      6 April 2015 / 1:45 PM

      Thanks Claire! I know it’s meant for knits, but I would give it a go in wovens too, provided you grade in the hip area, as it’s quite tight there. Might also need to add a sort of a zip/loop closure, to make sure you can pull it over. I will try it in scuba next. Maybe a very crisp linen? I’m imagining it almost starched :). Or a mid denim?

  6. 7 April 2015 / 7:23 AM

    Hey Alex, the dress looked great whem you wore it at the show. The issues were not noticeacle at all due to the choice of fabric. I love it! Nee x

    • Alex
      Author
      11 April 2015 / 9:38 AM

      Thanks Nee! I think I figured out what I did wrong, so next time even better!!

  7. camelia
    12 April 2015 / 2:49 PM

    Hi Alex, nice to find your blog! I really like how your dress turned up. I ‘ finished mine last week in a blue ponte and I love it . I still try to imagine this pattern in a print…yours looks great. I’ ve also missed that part on the pockets SA so I also did my thing there:).

    • Alex
      Author
      13 April 2015 / 7:05 AM

      Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m glad CL (AKA the Thrifty stitcher) pointed that bit out, I now know not to make the same mistake next time.

  8. 16 April 2015 / 8:55 PM

    I love the fab colours in this striking print which really suits the design of the dress and it suits you too. It came out well considering you did not use a Ponte knit. Thanks for the tip to grade up in the hip area as I am planning to make this dress myself but not until the Autumn as I want to use a double knit fabric. I have made the Slouchy Cardigan from the same book though.

    • Alex
      Author
      17 April 2015 / 2:20 PM

      Thank you, I wasn’t sure how it was going to work. But it’s not too shabby!

  9. 22 June 2015 / 10:29 AM

    Hi Alex, just catching up with your blog (we met at Lladybirds meetup in November). I love this dress! I have just got this book for my birthday and was thinking about doing the stripey version sometime soon.

    • Alex
      Author
      22 June 2015 / 10:32 AM

      Hey Tamsin, how are things? I love the book, so many great projects! It’s a really great dress, I wore mine loads! Let me know how it comes out.

  10. Holly Parr
    1 January 2016 / 2:22 PM

    This is definitely my favourite make of yours – I love the colours of the fabric! 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.