Sophisticated Lavender Office Dress

Pattern: McCalls 6433 view B without sleeves.

Fabric: Lavender bedsheet from goodwill $2.49

Lining also a sheet.  White, of course.

Lavender

My new favorite color today!  I love wearing it and I imagine if I had actually used it as a bedsheets I would have loved it that way too.

[note to self: remember you were going to get into essential oils and get some Lavender?  Receipt acknowledged.]

(It looks like I'm holding a tissue, but it is just the ribbon. :-)

Pleats!  The straight lines in the pleats, darts, and neckline of this dress read sophistication to me.  It is a step closer to haute couture than I usually go and it felt like it!  I did everything right.  I took my time and ironed everything.   (who woulda thunk?  but it actually helps!  :-P ) 

Without   -   With

My only mod to this dress?  A removable lace insert.  I love the feminine look of lace but I also wanted to wear this dress with other colors beneath it and the lace just wasn't working so I made it optional!

It is attached with four sew on snaps in a trapezoidal shape

Without   -   With

Did anyone else inherit their mother's barbies that had clothes with closures like this?  I call them Barbie snaps.  So much better than "Sew on snaps" isn't it?

The Back - slightly wrinkled because I wore it to church Sunday morning

This was a rather time-consuming element.  I wanted the zipper to lay flat and line up perfectly so I hand-stitched it all.  Ugh.  Ah well, I saved time for later by stitching the lining inside down at the same time so it looks and feels neat inside.

These are the first darts I have been really happy with.  When helping a friend fix her very pointy (ugly) darts I was kinda wary but they turned out great.  DON'T backstitch at the end.  Leave tails and tie them twice or in a square knot.  It makes a big difference.

The Invisible Hem

Also hand done.  It looks spectacular.  I wouldn't do it any other way on this type of dress but definitely get something to listen to!  Multitasking is awesome.

Sewing down the lining on the inside...This is the first dress I haven't fully lined in a while.  This means I have to wear a slip but its not so bad really and I'm really happy with the light and airy feel it gives the pleats while I walk.

A very happy seamstress!

With the lace insert and this gorgeous satin ribbon I could totally wear this to a wedding!  I love the femininity of the whole thing.  However, without the insert, adding  a brown tank underneath and a neat brown belt looks great too and I think it would be a perfect office ensemble.