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Sweet Retro Valentine's Day Dress from 2021 (Simplicity 8979)

 
I am pleased to return from my blog hiatus with my Valentine's Day dress from 2021. I didn't blog about it at that time, but I did post pictures on Instagram. It turned out adorable, in my opinion. It's simply scrumptious. I especially love the way light reflects and dances across the satin fabric. A lovely shade of pink, gentle gathers, and a beaded net overlay combine for a soft and romantic look. In real life, I don’t wear dresses to work or church often. But I love sewing and wearing them for photos! These photos are from last year.


One of my favorite past-times is refashioning dresses from the thrift store. Sometimes, the dress doesn't fit and I have to figure out a solution. I used a pink satin bridesmaid gown for the main dress. The gown was long, so I had plenty of material to cut the bodice and skirt panels. The beaded net overlay is from another bridesmaid dress. I love the combination. The pink satin and the embroidered and beaded flowers on the net go so well together. The skirt is just the satin, and the bodice is a layer of satin and a layer of the net. The yoke and sleeves are just made of the net. I think I used a white net underneath the pink net, for stability. The pink binding on the neckline and sleeve hems is just bias tape I made out of the pink satin. When I had it together, I saw plenty of open spaces in the net without embroidery, which did not please me. I painstakingly cut out lots of the embroidered motifs out of the scraps of the net. Then, I hand sewed them on, one by one. This took forever, but I love the results. 


I used Simplicity 8979 and made a straight size 16. This pattern has a standard princess seam bodice and a gathered skirt. It was easy to sew, except for the beaded net overlay.  I definitely need a small bust adjustment next time. But otherwise, it fits me pretty well. I love it, so I will be taking the time to alter this pattern. It has potential to be a TNT (tried and true pattern). I have 2 separate TNT that I've made three times each, with different fabrics and different detailing each time. Once I’ve made a few versions, it's easy to switch it up. Maybe borrow a skirt from another pattern, or shorten or lengthen the sleeves. Endless opportunities for customization. The bodice is lined, but the skirt is not. And it really doesn’t need a lining. It’s nice and full, and a nice length for me. I need to find some shoes for this ensemble next time. But really, the way my bra strap shows is the only issue with it. When sewing it, I didn’t think about the bra strap showing through the sheer yoke in the bodice. But it doesn’t bother me too much. All in all, it’s super cute and I love it.

Yours in hard work, creativity, and a dash of Pixie Dust


Sarah
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