A Dress A Day

A dress.
Mostly every day.

April 04, 2008

But *this* one has a zipper!


McCalls 4118

Even though I now probably have enough shirtwaist patterns to paper my sewing room with them (not that I *would*, but I could), this one caught my eye ... it has a zipper! A center-front zipper, which you hardly ever see on non-athletic clothing any more.

If I made this I'd do it in some kind of fine black lawn with one of those fancy rhinestone zippers. Which reminds me: I really need to do a big online notions/zippers/etc. order: what sites do you all recommend? I should compile a list ...

And speaking of lists, yes, this marks the second Friday that has been bereft of linktasticness, but my wifi connection while traveling has been a bit ... unreliable. And linktasticity needs, above all, reliable internet, so I can follow all those links to their stunning conclusions. But keep those links coming; the next one is likely to be overwhelming. You'll need to set aside a whole morning just to click them all ...

(Oh, and in this picture, don't you think Flowered Dress has just said something completely inane to Green Dress? I think so, too, but I can't decide what it was. If you know, leave a comment, please!)

Labels: , , ,

posted by Erin @ 6:53 AM  

59 Comments:

  • At Apr 4, 2008 7:10:00 AM, Blogger robin said…

    i love the riri zippers with the colored teeth--though still haven't found the right project for one. maybe this would be it.

    http://www.zipperstop.com/id34.htm

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 7:29:00 AM, Blogger Myra said…

    I love this one, too. My problem is full skirts are too much fabric for me, my legs are thin, body is sometimes normal, but after being pregnant 6 times in 5.5 years (we have 1 adopted, 3 biological living and 3 miscarriages), it is not back down to a normal waist and I am 5'1". I look better in a slightly gathered A-line in a thinner fabric, which is ok since we live in south central Texas (our high was 90 on Tuesday). By the way, you could paper your room: scan the photos and use the printed version, but it might be messy. You could make a large picture/wallhanging instead! Myra

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 7:40:00 AM, Blogger Erin said…

    If you're compiling a list of favorite places for notions/zippers/etc., please post it! Your site is wonderful (and a bad influence - I have a vintage pattern that I just finished cutting up last night and will be sewing into a dress in the next week), but those of us who live without easy access to fabric stores would completely appreciate a list of places to go online. ~e

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 7:46:00 AM, Blogger Stephanie said…

    I've been stocking up at:
    http://www.homesew.com/
    (cheaper stuff)

    http://www.mjtrim.com/
    (fancier stuff)

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 8:08:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Flowered dress lady says, "Well I LIKE the way the breeze blows up the fuller skirt, so put that in your pipe and smoke it!"

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 8:10:00 AM, Blogger Erin Elizabeth said…

    Dear Erin,
    Please leave some patterns out there for the rest of us. Thank you,
    -Erin

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 8:34:00 AM, Blogger Vixx said…

    Flowered Dress Says: Yes Esmerelda we ARE going to "National Notions" before lunch!

    She then pokes green dress in eyes with raised fingers in a 3 stooges move.

    Yello dress in background is leaving the scene to take the streetcar home and avoid Flowered Dress' abuse.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 8:39:00 AM, Blogger Theresa said…

    Flowered dress: "your eybrows are to dark." Green dress is gettign ready to burn flowered dress to a crisp with her hot stare. (I love green dress's dress, especially the sleeves.)

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 8:40:00 AM, Blogger What-I-Found said…

    Miss Flowered Dress;
    "Really, Wearing only one glove is going to become huge. Huge, I tell you!"

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 8:46:00 AM, Blogger Allison said…

    Flowered Dress: "Well, you may have the better sleeves, but at least *my* hair is still intact. What happened to your hat?"

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 8:59:00 AM, Anonymous k. said…

    I'm fairly certain Flowered Dress is midway through her interpretation of "I'm a Little Teapot."

    Do post the notions links! Us knitwear designers can use 'em, too.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 9:05:00 AM, Blogger colour by number said…

    Flower dress to the green dress, "tomorrow maybe a little less severe with your eyebrow pencil...like mine"(Ha!)

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 9:10:00 AM, Blogger Jennifer said…

    Flowered dress: "I find that if I stir my coffee with the tip of my finger, I can burn an extra five calories!"

    Though I don't think that trumps the little teapot comment.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 9:14:00 AM, Blogger Allison said…

    And here I thought that she was imparting the secrets of how to hide pockets in the extra fullness of her skirt (which explains where her other glove is, too).

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 9:44:00 AM, Anonymous xstpenguin said…

    Miss FD "I don't want to alarm you, but I think I can see a grey hair."

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 10:24:00 AM, Blogger geogrrl said…

    Totally different. I LOVE this one.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 10:58:00 AM, Anonymous Stevy said…

    Judging by the way FloweredDress is pointing coyly upwards, I think she's just asked GreenDress what she thinks that cloud is thinking.

    For the fifth time in six minutes. And two of those were the same cloud.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 11:03:00 AM, Blogger Beth H said…

    FloweredDress: My de-ah, if you had only secured your hat--a pin right the-ah--you might not have lost the front half.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 11:19:00 AM, Blogger PhantomMinuet said…

    Flowered dress: Wheee! I'm so tipsy that I have to prop my chin up with my hand, or my head falls down.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 11:39:00 AM, Anonymous Melanie said…

    Flower Dress...and then we put our right legs in, and then we took our right legs out, and then we shook them all about. I think it's called the 'Hodey Podey...'

    Green Dress"Hokey Pokey, you simpleton"

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 11:43:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Flower girl to green girl: "*Love* your dress. . . where'd you get the pattern?"

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 11:47:00 AM, Blogger Cookie said…

    Flowered Dress is saying, "No, no. It's the easiest procedure in the world! See, no scars!"

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 11:56:00 AM, Anonymous daisyfairbanks said…

    "Sometimes I put my fingers under my arms. And then I SMELL them. Like THIS!"

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 12:48:00 PM, Blogger wundermary said…

    Flowered dress is a few syllables into a catty remark about green dress' recent chin implant. Yellow dress is hurriedly exiting to avoid being rumpled in the cat fight that will surely follow.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 1:00:00 PM, Blogger 'nora said…

    For zippers and stuff I hear good things about http://www.zipperstop.com/ though I haven't shopped with them myself.

    Venus Ribbon (http://www.venusribbon.com/) is grosgrain heaven.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 1:08:00 PM, Blogger thebookof said…

    whatever flowered dress is saying to green dress, orange dress has turned away and is trying desperately not to laugh.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 1:12:00 PM, Blogger Cookie said…

    Speaking of zippers, I had success putting a hidden zipper up the front of a fitted vintage suit that was just THAT much too small. Since I had to cover the existing button holes, I put fancy beaded frog closures over them, running up and down both sides of the zipper. It looked really sharp.

    Then I outgrew it again.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 1:32:00 PM, Blogger katana said…

    Flowers: "I can tell John likes me so much."

    Green, thinking, I saw him snogging yellow just before you walked in.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 2:13:00 PM, Blogger Marnie said…

    Obviously, flower dress just said, "Why yes, the subject of youth in Asia is very important, that's why I always tell my children to eat all their broccoli."

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 2:22:00 PM, Blogger lorrwill said…

    oo! oo! I like this one too. But I just shot the budget again at Lanetz so I have to be good for awhile.

    "zipper"? You all speak such strange words. I think you mean non-separable slide fastener. :-)

    So just exactly how did it come to be called a zipper anyway?

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 2:37:00 PM, Blogger Theresa said…

    How the slide clasp became thezipper: http://www.apparelsearch.com/zipper_history.htm

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 2:51:00 PM, Blogger Deirdre said…

    "Those squirrels over there are talking about me. I love melted chocolate."

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 2:59:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    For notions try Atlanta Thread Supply. They have a great selection of thread and the prices on zippers are great.

    Janet from Alabama

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 4:55:00 PM, Blogger Canuck said…

    She said: "Puffy sleeves are so over, you know".

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 5:07:00 PM, Blogger Cookie said…

    It's also possible, of course, that Green Dress is a drag queen (notice all the eyebrow pencil) and Flowered Dress is handing out pointers. ("Now, when you lead your walk with the chin, like this, it looks SUPER feminine.") Yellow Dress off in the background is another drag queen, practicing her walk before they head out to the clubs.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 5:30:00 PM, Blogger Elle said…

    Flowered dress, a widdow three times over, is giving relationship advice to aqua dress who is having a bit of trouble with her philandering husband.

    "If you add just a wee bit of arsenic to the icing sugar, he'll never taste it. Honest."

    Yellow dress is an undercover FBI agent who has been assigned to the "Case of the Blue Dress Murders". She is speaking into one of those newfangled microphones that she finds to be a cumbersome but necessary accessory.

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 5:36:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Flowered dress is Italian. Green dress has just made a disparaging remark about "garlic-eaters." Flowered dress is making a hand-to-chin gesture well-known to Italians as green dress looks on condescendingly. Yellow dress has her hand on her heart, saying a little prayer for both of them.

    Cammy

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 5:45:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Actually, yellow dress has just turned away in shame, realizing she should never have introduced her new friend from charm school to her old friend from the neighborhood.

    Cammy

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 6:05:00 PM, Blogger Gidget Bananas said…

    Oooh, make the straight-skirted version but with short sleeves. Or if you don't like that style for yourself -- make it for me! ;-)

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 7:10:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Flowered: Darling, this is the most FANTASTIC news-
    Sleeves: Oh yeah?
    Yellow: Good god in heaven, please don't let them push each other out into the great big void of whiteness!

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 8:10:00 PM, Blogger monquee said…

    online store - www.fabricdepot.com

    they are having a special - 30% off online purchases.

    Good Notions Selection

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 9:11:00 PM, Blogger RachelMM said…

    "Honey, I don't think you plucked your eye-brows evenly."

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 9:11:00 PM, Anonymous Evalyn said…

    "Emerald, I see that you and Goldie are both having back troubles again," said Flora. "Let me give you one of these wonderful pills my doctor perscribed for me. For nerves, you know, but after a couple, you won't care. Now where did I put them? I just know there's a pocket in this dress somewhere. (Giggle) Maybe I should have taken just one."

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 10:07:00 PM, Blogger lorrwill said…

    Thanks for the info Theresa!

    OMG you all are so funny.
    This is way better than i can has a cheezburger!

     

  • At Apr 4, 2008 11:23:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Flower Dress is singing " I'm too sexy for my shirt-dress"
    Yellow Dress turns in disgust " oh please! "

     

  • At Apr 5, 2008 2:04:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Flowered dress: If I tilt my head just so, and swish my skirt back with a gloved hand, I can tune in Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra. With my eyes closed, I even see the bubbles from the bubble machine. Can you hear it too? They're playing a polka!

    Green dress is thinking: How did yellow dress get away? Oh No! I think she's about to throw up!

    Saidee

     

  • At Apr 5, 2008 6:12:00 AM, Blogger Purl Buttons said…

    Flower Dress: I think the shoes look GREAT with my dress, flowers and all. Besides, who are YOU to talk, you magic markered one of your eyebrows higher than the other.

     

  • At Apr 5, 2008 6:53:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Green is wondering if Flower even notices the missing glove.

     

  • At Apr 5, 2008 10:18:00 AM, Blogger Maddy said…

    Oooh, I just LOVE front zipper wiggle dresses, but have yet to make or buy one. They are a tad bit daring for me.

     

  • At Apr 5, 2008 10:27:00 AM, Blogger Maddy said…

    Oh, and Mrs. FD is obviously jealous of Mrs. GD's sleeves, so she is trying to hurt her feelings by commenting on her absent hat. You know the type.

     

  • At Apr 5, 2008 10:29:00 AM, Blogger Libby said…

    I like this odd-ball little eBay store called birdcishop56
    I found it doing a zipper search but ended up spending a bunch of time looking through their quirky, seemingly random, off the wall, and delightfully cheap trims and notions. Now I have a huge bag full of inspiration. Check it out.

    Flower dress (quoting Oscar Wilde) "They're wearing the chins quite high this year."
    Green dress: "Oh, give me a break!"

     

  • At Apr 5, 2008 12:41:00 PM, Blogger Mika said…

    LOVE vintage patterns, and your site is always awesome for inspiration!

    For notions, I buy 99% of mine through an online coop, I do have a retail license too though when I need to do MAJOR purchasing! LOL!

     

  • At Apr 5, 2008 6:22:00 PM, Anonymous phyllis said…

    Zipperstop is on Ebay and they have everything you could ever want in zippers (Riri, rhinestone). Although I have to warn you that cotton lawn is a thin fabric and it will need to be reinforced if you want to use a rhinestone zipper, they're pretty heavy.

     

  • At Apr 6, 2008 7:38:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Flowered dress: "No really, the hair was sticking straight out of her nose!"

    Green dress is thinking: "She is one to talk!"

    YD is turned away to do a quick booger check.

     

  • At Apr 6, 2008 9:33:00 AM, Blogger Pratishtha Durga said…

    I love it that you actually managed to give a story to the picture!

    Here goes: Flowered dress to green dress. "Honey, is your boyfriend still two-timing you with yellow dress?"

     

  • At Apr 6, 2008 7:35:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I'm sorry, I just can't get past how green dress's wasp waist makes her hips look like towel hooks. Flower dress has no room to point fingers, though.
    And thanks for all the info on zippers; I had no idea all these options existed online!

    Dawn

     

  • At Apr 7, 2008 12:40:00 PM, Blogger Jenlyn said…

    FD to GD: Can you believe her? Using the same pattern as us and wearing it to the same party?

    GD: Really, the nerve.

    YD: (thought bubble) They're just jealous that I have the best assets of both their dresses: sleeves and full skirt.

     

  • At Apr 7, 2008 10:20:00 PM, Anonymous KC said…

    Sigh! I just wish you were named Several Dresses A Day. I love reading your posts!

     

  • At Apr 8, 2008 4:14:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Double sigh....I agree with you KC, I wish too it was Several Dresses A Day. I love the dresse, they are so intoxicatngly feminine and pretty....I would love to own them all (planning midnight raid of Erin's stash). If only time machines could take us back ....sigh. I love it all.

     

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