Pages

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Marian Martin 9279: The Krazy Klown dress!!

Pattern: from the 1950s, Marian Martin 9279 featuring cuffed sleeves, gathered yoke on front and back, a-line skirt and buttoned front. 
 Fabric: the magical un-wrinkleable polka dot poly from Jo-Ann. While I bought 2 yards of this on a whim a few months ago, they still have a lot at the store. 2 yards was just enough.
 While it says for a 34 bust, it fits rather nicely and didn't turn out too big. This is a case where the harsh sunlight is a plus, to show off the details that otherwise disappear in the busy fabric.

Cost: pattern and buttons were a gift, fabric was maybe 10 bucks?
 Time: This has features that are similar to other dresses I have made recently, so I didn't need the instructions and I whipped it together in a few hours. The fabric is quite awful, and I had to hem it by hand because the machine hem made it so stiff that it stood out awkwardly and lost all of its drape. Maybe 4 hours in all. Buttons took part of Murder on the Orient Express and the hem was an episode of Project Runway.
 Notions: white thread, 8 red vintage buttons
I actually made no changes to this pattern and it fits great! Oh, other than my usual shortening of the bodice, sleeves and skirt. I ran out of fusible interfacing, so I decided to sew in white muslin instead. It worked so WELL! I think I am a convert! It also prevented teh dots from showing through on the facings and cuffs and collar. 
 And look! I called it the Krazy Klown dress and as we were leaving California Park, there was a birthday party with 2 DJ-ing clowns! How fortuitous!

Tomorrow I am dragging Andrew to the Randolph St Market so that should be fun. No dog beach for T-Rex this weekend; there is a triathlon going on along the lake.

New dress pictures tomorrow- and I am super proud of my work on it!

5 comments:

  1. What a fun dress, I love it! I particularly love the yoke detail and gathered back bodice oh and the fabric and buttons! Not clown-like at all, just fun and breezy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very cute. I was a little worried when you showed the fabric that it would be too clown-like. But it is super cute on you. Good job.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love it but then again I am a total fiend for polka dots. Muslin or cotton is such a good alternative to interfacing. It never goes all bubbly and weird like fusible can.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Super cute and it looks very vintage! Did you think of a thin belt? You have a small waist and a belt would accent that! Very fun dress!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I was kind of thinking the dot fabric wasn't going to work, but it does...great job!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your thoughts and feedback!