Looking for a dress pattern

[bridgetreilly]

I have a wedding to go to later in the summer. Have found a stunning dress, way put of my price range which I am hoping to use as inspiration. The duvet cover from M&S is an excellent dupe for the fabric, but I am really stumped for a pattern. I especially love the skirt, which I think is more or less a circle skirt, cut with the stripes horizontally.

Any suggestions of patterns welcome! Happy to try and combine more than one if needed!

Have you checked the weave and fabric composition on the duvet cover? They can be quite stiff and hard to sew and I don't know about the drape either. I remember making dungarees out of a duvet cover when I was a student (as you do) and they were very hard to sew.

Yes. It’s M&S cotton sateen and I definitely need a fabric with some weight to it for the kind of drape I want.

The Cashmerette Upton dress pattern has pretty much exactly what you want. Not a cheap pattern but it has so many options.

Also, the sew over it bettie dress
Betty Dress - 1950s Inspired Sewing Pattern - Sew Over It https://share.google/4pS9coxoap0HhblZb

Thank you! The top looks right, but I’m not sure about the skirt. Will investigate further.

Ok, I've just looked up the dress. It's polyester satin so would hang completely differently to the duvet cover. I really wouldn't do it.

This seller on Etsy has quite a few satins.

For a pattern this website has quite a few bias cut ideas. The top isn't bias cut but you could either go with a bias top or combine with a camisole that isn't bias.

Neither of the dresses linked above have a bias skirt.
You need loads of fabric for bias items. I really don't think you'll save much over buying it.

I think its closer to the Betty pattern with the higher neck

I reckon i'd do it with a 3/4 circle skirt; not exactly the same but pretty good - maybe adding a few asymetric pleats

Is the duvet 2 sided (it looks it) with careful cutting of the pillowcases i reckon it could fit but the stripes wont be the same

Yes. I reckon with a double duvet you get nearly 4m of 2m wide fabric. Which will be helpful in cutting a circle skirt.

I think this might be it! It does have a circle skirt, and I like a boat neck. Thank you!

It's not entirely a circle skirt. It looks like 2 quarter circles, if that, widened to add room for pleats. I've found a link as the pic wasn't very clear on my phone.

The back isn't what I was expecting!

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/kiria-stripe-satin-midi-dress-100206030008.html

I expect the Gertie books go into that sort of thing.

I’m much less bothered about trying to copy the back. Very happy with the v-neck back of the Betty.

I might experiment a bit with the skirt to see how much of the circle I need. I should have plenty of fabric to play with.

Absolutely right! My mum does this and a double duvet will do an adult one outfit of their choice 😂

Ah! It's not a bias skirt.
I just clicked on that and got a 15% off offer taking it down to £170. I then checked Quidco which is 20% off plus 4.5% cashback so that's £150 approx. Can you afford that?

No.

It's a fab dress to recreate and an amazing colour match - dont forget to add pockets xx

Absolutely!

Less than two weeks to the wedding, and so I have finally begun. I have made the bodice and lining and am super happy with it. The fabric looks great. I started with the simple v-neck back of the Betty, then separated the two panels. I used elasticated straps, for the allowance of a lot of wedding food! I haven’t gathered in the back panels as on the original, but instead, draped a large sort of bow across the top strap. I think it looks really good, and it fits beautifully.

Next is the skirt. I am going to stick with the circle skirt, so it won’t have the pleats. I need to add in pockets, but that’s easy. I am planning to add a waist stay, and some horsehair braid at the hem.

Here’s the progress so far:

This is the back on the inspiration dress:

OMG this is amazing, you have smashed it!

Can't wait to see it all

Thank you! I am pretty pleased with it.

Brilliant! Can't wait to see the finished thing.