Saturday, February 26, 2011

"The Chuck Dress"

What a week! I am only finally starting to feel relief from a terrible cold I've had all week. So glad, too, so that I can share my dress! 



Overall, I'm really pleased with how it came out. It was rather easy to put together, although there were a couple of fitting snags in the beginning. I used two pattern pieces to help me map it all out. The top half of the dress was roughly taken from this pattern, from Burdastyle
The pattern was originally for a basic high-waisted slim skirt that included variations, including the dress that I used. Halfway through drafting it out, I realized that this pattern piece was not at all what I needed.  In fact, the only detail that remained the same was the overlap in the front. 


The skirt portion of the dress was taken from this vintage 60s pattern. 
I made the sleeveless variation of this dress last summer, and I loved the way the skirt turned out. It is basically gathered from the front and back of the hip, with "soft pleats" that  match the front and back darts. 

A matching fabric-covered belt always makes me happy. I could always trade it out for a solid colored belt if I wanted to accentuate the waist a little bit more, but I love this retro look. Nearly every vintage dress pattern that I have has the instructions to make a fabric covered belt. At one time, apparently, "belt and buckle kits" were sold beside every other sewing notion. I haven't had any luck in finding one locally, but they are pretty easy to find online. I found mine on Ebay. I was so excited to make the eyelets, too, and I bought a special plier to poke the holes and smash them. (Do you sense how much fun I had?) :)

I did a center lapped zipper, and I hand-picked it rather than sewing it on with the machine. You can't see so well how this effect looks (sorry!), but here is a great article on it- http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/5135/a-hand-picked-zipper-is-worth-the-effort

While I was sitting around, lousy sick and sniffly, I made a daisy hair clip. I wanted to hold a daisy like the one that Chuck holds in the photo...but I thought that it might be a tad cheesy. I'm so glad that I sided with the daisies in my hair...

 

Now if I could get that matching yellow coat!

10 comments:

  1. Your dress is adorable and I too have enjoyed Pushing Daisies and the vintage fashions. i look forward to reading more of your sewing and stitching adventures!

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  2. Thank you! You've got some great photos of projects yourself!

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  3. that dress is so cute. i especially love the belt. i've never made a fabric covered belt before and it looks so professional!
    amazing job!

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  4. Looks great! Good inspiration for my not yet (!) existing wardrobe of selfmade dresses!

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  5. I love the dress, I commented on your burda page. (fellwo chuck fan) but i'm very intrigued by the "belt and buckle kit". I have always wanted to make matching belts, but don't know how to cover the buckle! were there alot available on ebay? let me know, thanks! x

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  6. Molly- Upon further research, I could only find two currently listed on Ebay-

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Belt-up-40-Buckle-Kit-Cover-a-Buckle-/160550138625?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item256188b301.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-VTG-Lace-Seam-Binding-Zippers-Belt-Kit-/200578945659?pt=Sewing_Trims&hash=item2eb36fd27b

    It just depends when you search, I guess. There is also one on Etsy right now that comes with some other pretty sweet vintage notions-
    http://www.etsy.com/listing/66637623/vintage-sewing-sundries-covered-snaps

    The kit comes with instructions on how to cover the belt, and it's so easy. Let me know if you end up getting one!

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  7. I'm sure you've probably been told this before, but you even kind of look like Chuck. :)

    I love your dress. You sew beautifully!

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  8. I think that it's just the hair :) Thank you so much for the nice compliments!

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  9. this is lovely! i just found your blog, by looking for chuck dresses, and yours is so wonderfully done! i'm going to have to try to make one for myself!

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  10. Thank you so much! Chuck has the best wardrobe. I want all of her dresses!

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