Gathering My Thoughts

Carol, a little while back, sent me THREE BOXES of patterns. Just because. (I know, am I lucky, or what?)

The boxes were FULL of treasures, but this one in particular caught my eye, even though I'm not a huge devotee of this era. But look at those gathers, and the sweet curve of the neckline!

So the plan is to go ahead and make the bodice, slap it onto a plain circle skirt, and see what happens. I'll have to change the waistline gathers to small darts (I don't like blousiness at my waist), and there will be some fiddling involved with the sizing (this is a B32; I ... am not). However, I figure that the 1940s propensity for shoulderpads will work in my favor; by leaving them out I will get more room through the shoulder seam and the gathers should help with fullness over the bust. (And I have the "make the waist bigger" alteration down pat.)

I'm sure La BellaDonna could tell me why I want to put a circle skirt on this one -- I think this straight-skirt cut is probably fine for those shaped like Rulers and Vs, but I need more sweep in the skirt to balance out what I insist is an Hourglass (but may in fact be a Pear -- or perhaps just an Hourglass that needs to be flipped over?)

The only thing I can't decide is what fabric to use. I was thinking "huge floral!" (because I always think "huge floral!") but this might also be adorable in, say, gingham. Or seersucker. Or even eyelet. Ideas?

Oh, if you want to see the back of the pattern, it's here.

Comments

[Barbara Prime]

I wish I could get my hands on patterns like those, but they never pop up in my local thrift stores, and I'm not so much for ebay. I think the gingham and eyelet might be cuteness overkill, but sometimes that's what you want! I would go with seesucker - it's so summery.

[shannonstoney]

Wonderful. What era?

[Ms. D]

I like the red version of the dress, only I would do it with lemon yellow batiste the skirt boarder stitching would be green and yellow morning glory vines with white butterflies and teal dragonflies scattered about the flowers. Do I have a desire for an fancy machine? Absolutely! Show us what you do. I love your vintage finds.

[Myra]

An eyelet with a scalloped border so you don't have to hem?

[Nancy (nanflan)]

Cute! I like it just the way it is, but it would work with a circle skirt. I'm seeing a lot of that neck and shoulder styling these days, but everything comes around, doesn't it?

[Julie]

Gotta love the chance to show off a delightful border print!

[Sue]

I LOVE this pattern! I'm not a fan of buttons sadly, so the shirtdress is totally lost on me, but I love little gathers and dresses that are simple that can go from being put over jeans to being worn by themselves with a pair of bohemian suede boots. Are gathers like that a difficult element for a beginning dressmaker since the dress on the whole seems pretty basic.

[Elle's Niche]

I absolutely LOVE that pattern! I would revel in the chance to find one! I love this era so sophisticated. I agree, adore the bodice, not the skirt. I too would put it on a circle skirt. Hope your's is beautiful. Please post a picture for us to see. Love your blog!

[The J]

I'm seeing an embossed-type fabric, although I don't know if they exist light enough for the dress. That or tone-on-tone all over embroidery. But then I'm often more of a "quiet chic" chick than "large floral" - even if my latest projects beg to differ!

[cheekie]

What a gorgeous pattern! I love it!If it were me, I would do it in red, maybe silk (ish) or perhaps a sweet little lined voile? I think a big floral would make you lose the great line of it. Circle skirt, great idea too! I would do the same thing, or an a-line bias, those tummy gathers aren't the most flattering for me...yikes.oooh just thought of another one, how about a little polka dot? red/black or black/white? something flowy though...here I go, mind off on tangent...

[theresa]

shannonstoney- Early 40s late 30s *i think*

[Doris]

I LOVE this pattern, and now, thanks to you, Erin, I COVET this pattern. How cute for summer everyday wear! I would go with a lemony yellow border print that would play up the red version there. I...must...find...this....pattern....

[cindy]

I absolutely adore the top of the dress! Erin, I am partial to navy and white gingham. A certain crispness in summertime. Please post a pic when completed! And...I am about to do a search for the pattern in B40--wish me luck!

[Nora]

I was thinking a handkerchief linen, though I'm also loving seersucker lately. I'd be interested to see a circle skirt in seersucker. And it could make the gathered area look kind of ombre, very cool...

[cpeep]

This was one of my favorites from the whole lot. They all belonged to my mother-in-law and I thought Erin would provide a much better home than the black plastic garbage bag in my spare bedroom.All evidence points to the 1940s on this one.Carol Extreme Cards and PapercraftingP.S. So glad they arrived okay!

[lorraine]

Great pattern! I have a blouse pattern from the same era that's almost the dupicate of this bodice. The angled shoulder seams are killer. I think that a circle skirt on this one might look a little too square-dancey, especially in gingham. I'd keep it true, even with an hourglass figure. I think I'd also keep the shoulder pads, because that's what's making the sleeves stand out nice and perky. And then I'd pair it with strong-looking 40s heels, authentic or repro, such as these:http://tinyurl.com/5mysny

[lorrwill]

I love it just the way it is (LOVE this era) but I could easily see and make this with a half circle skirt. I couldn't wear this though cos I need sleeves.You are soooooooooooooooo lucky!

[Anonymous]

I vote eyelet with a pale green ribbon trim. Or embroidered linen. Or seersucker. Not too full a skirt, maybe 1/2 or 1/4 circle...

[selvedge]

Large floral border print. Hey, I have the fabric, and the daughter that's the pattern size..

[Theresa]

Question for La belladonna. I consider myself an upside down V with apple tendencies. My Measurements are 44-37-41.(My bra 38DD) Usually a 40B pattern is fine on me with a little taking in on the hips. Do you think I am a V, or an apple? Even when I am thin (which I haven't been in years.) I still have a 38DD bra size and my hips drop to a 39. I never have had any waist definition even when my stomach is flat.

[geogrrl]

Be careful to choose a fabric with some drape--nothing too crisp--for this pattern. Too much crispness and those bustline gathers at the neck will stand out from the body and make you look like the Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man.You don't necessarily have to go to a full circle skirt. A half circle skirt would do the job very well (I'm a pear, so I know) but would keep the "long" line of the overall pattern better than a full skirt.Keep the print small for this one. A huge floral will look weird with all those bust gathers. And the flowers may wind up in uh, strange places on the bust.

[barbie2be]

that is So so cute! i would make it exactly as it is. a nice small pattern, perhaps even eyelet.

[Cookie]

You know, I was imagining a dress like this just yesterday! A white peasant blouse with a bias-cut white circle skirt in a soft fabric, and a bright belt! Hem should be mid calf. And yes, it could look square dance-ish, so keep it simple.I think the border could have applique diamonds, in a blue and white print. Sort of like this: http://www.carolharrisco.com/MB-nancyblaine.html (the one called "Nancy Blaine") These baby clothes are horrific, BTW, and the baby would be in college before you finished them. But I like the "Nancy Blaine" idea for a decorated hem, if it were simplified.

[Latter-Day Flapper]

My comment got eaten! Try again:Normally, as a definite pear-shape, I advocate circular skirts, but I think in this case I'd stick with the A-line and some *very small* gathers across the front only (no gathers across the butt. Never, ever), because I like the tie-in with the bodice. Pick soft, drapey fabric, though. I used to have a dress made out of a rayon that would have worked well for something like this.I normally go for PATTERN, too, but I'd be afraid in this case it might swallow up that pretty bodice detail. I like the orange dress--pattern, but not too much pattern. The green one looks unfinished to me, but I think a big, all-over pattern might compete too much with the gathers.

[paisleyapron]

I completely agree with geogrrl--you absolutely MUST choose something with drape or your bust will be much larger than expected in all the wrong places. Choose something thin, too. I had the fortune of making a dress exactly as you are imagining last summer out of a bright blue floral challis. The only difference is I left the gathers at the waist and added a wide cummerbund above a circle skirt. Turned out to be the best dress of the summer and I can't wait for it to stop being sweater weather so I can wear it again!