Musings of a Lady

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Le Modiste: Summer Frock in the planning

A couple of weekends ago one of my best friends and her husband came up to the Bay Area to attend an Art Deco Society of California event.  The day after the event we got up early - an amazing accomplishment after a night of Art Deco partying - and went off to the Alameda Flea Market.  alamedapointantiquesfaire.com.  Not planning to buy anything, I scored at the last minute 7 yards of fabric for...wait for it!  $7.00!  It is a narrow width fabric - cotton/linen blend and printed.  I couldn't believe my luck!  Here is the fabric:
34" width
The fabric doesn't have any manufacturing information on the salvages which I understand only came into recent habit after 1979 or there about.  However, I would probably date this to be 40's to early 50's.  What do you think?  In any case, I immediately thought a nice summer frock would be a great idea for this fabric. I came home and started rummaging through my pattern stash and came up with a few possibilities:

I have made this one before and I like the fit and look.  But perhaps this is a little too tailored?  How about something very feminine?
 I like the one on the right  but if I made the one on the left I would want to make a matching bolero to go over it.
 I like this one especially the back detail.  However, I am not sure I will have enough fabric for the skirt which is a circle skirt - that would be a great deal of piecing that I am not sure I am up for that.  Could I use the bodice and put a slimmer skirt on it?  Or would that kill the over all look?

I like this one but I worry about the gathers across the bust.  Not always a good idea for busty ladies.

Still trying to figure out what to do,  I went to the fabric store and found that Vogue has released two more vintage patterns that might actually work with this fabric. I didn't get them as I wanted to wait till I got to Joanne Fabrics where I can get them discounted.  As soon as I get them I will add them to the next post.  So if any of you want to weigh in on the conundrum of what do with this fabulous fabric, please post a comment! 

Oh, Happy Mothers Day to all you ladies out there!  Not a Mom yet?  No worries, cheers to you any way, we all mother in our own ways either as an aunt, sister, cousin or godmother.  So enjoy a beautiful day and share the art of living with someone you love.

2 comments:

Rowenna said...

Cute fabric! I like the Butterick '56--I think it could be done with a slimmer skirt, and I love the peekaboo back detail. I've made the Butterick '47 and it would be very cute as a summer sundress--I hope to make it again as a sundress (I made it as a cocktail dress).

Angela said...

Rowenna, Your input is great. Yeah, I think I am going for the 56' one for sure. I just like the back so much. I will just make a 1/2 circle skirt or make it as full an A-line as I can. Cheers.