An urban jungle
This family of giraffes have found their way into an urban jungle. Me too…
My second Jungle January make for 2015 is another woven Aeolian Dress. Yes, my obsession with this pattern continues and isn’t over yet. I think this will be a lasting love affair!
Let’s talk fabric.
This awesome fabric came from Sew Busy Lizzy’s stash to mine stash a while ago. From memory, Lizzy brought it from Spotlight with a skirt for herself in mind, but she later realised it was more me than her… lucky lucky me! Thanks Lizzy. I love this fabric and our wonderful online sewing community.
The cotton voile was sheer so I decided to line the body of the dress. I’m a novice liner. In fact, I’ve never successfully lined or underlined a garment in my life. Let’s not talk about the failed liberty Laurel Dress or I might cry.
To line the dress I made some changes to the order of construction. The process went something like this:
- Cut the front, back, sleeves and binding from the main fabric, ignoring the back facing
- Apply fusible stay tape to the wrong side of all the neck edges of the main fabric
- Cut the front and back from the lining fabric (I cut mine a little shorter than the main fabric)
- Sew the side seams of the main fabric and finish the raw edges
- Sew the side seams of the lining and finish the raw edges
- Place the main dress inside the lining with wrong sides together.
- Pin at armholes and neckline to hold in place
- Sew the underarm seams of both sleeves and finish the raw edges
- Attach the sleeves to the body of the dress and finish the raw edges
- Bind the neckline as a facing
- Double fold the hem on the main dress… remember it has a lovely deep hem!
- Hem the lining so it’s approximately 1/2″ shorter than the main dress
Pattern: Pattern Fantastique’s Aeolian T-shirt/Dress (knee length)
Size: M
Fabric: Main fabric: cotton voile from Spotlight. Lining: cotton voile from GJs Discount Fabric
Alterations: Sewn in woven fabric rather than a knit. The body of the dress was lined (see details above). I removed 2″ from the hem for an above the knee hemline
Accessories: Necklaces from Elk & shoes recently purchased online from Yoox.
You have done a beautiful job with this fabric, I’m so glad I gifted it xox
I’m so pleased you did too Lizzy. It was just waiting for the right pattern to make it shine. I feel as I’ve done those birds justice. Now if Melbourne’s weather would just warm up so I can wear it!
Oh my gosh, I love this dress! The fabric is just gorgeous and perfectly paired with such a good simple shape. And that green on you is perfect. Total dress jealousy!
Thanks. I love it when my vision for an item I’m making matches the finished object!
This is so very lovely Anna! I’ve never seen that fabric at Spotlight, but probably overlooked it if it is a voile. I never think to line anything, it seems such a hassle. But this makes it look worth it. You’re nuts by the way, but I love that you’ve basically got one of these for everyday of the week… almost 🙂
I am nuts… and happily nuts! I did a recount hast night & realised this is Aeolian number FIVE & six has already been made… The birds voile was probably 2+ years ago. Also worth noting that different Spotty stores stock different fabrics.
1-Abbey Road giraffes for the win!
2- total fabric envyyyyyyy
3- that underlining technique is the cats spats! Got to try that since I keep buying semi sheers with no plan!?
1. The giraffes were just for you!
2. Are you jungle green with envy?
3. Cats spat… you’re hilarious. Let’s line & tame those sheers together
Fabulously bold! I think I need one of these dresses in my summer wardrobe.
Bold is an excellent description. I’ve never worn such a large scale print. Look what Jungje January & that shade of green did to me… pushed me out of my comfort zone resulting in a fun easy to wear dress!
Such a cute pattern and fabulous fabric!
The Aeolian & I are having a lasting love affair…
That is a beautiful fabric! You are very lucky to have it.
I’m very blessed Linda.
Beautiful fabric, absolutely the right choice for the dress.
Thanks Jay. I’m really happy with how things turned out.
[…] in folks- we have much to see! Lots of friends to visit- some familiar and some new! Anna- take it away! While that giraffe distracts you, can I just rifle thru your stash and maybe sneak […]
Gorgeous fabric! You certainly have done it justice with this dress. And what a gorgeous sewing community we have. That Lizzy is a sweetie!
Thanks Kat. And yes, that Lizzy is a gem and we are blessed with our lovely sewing community.
Really lovely dress! I especially love the giraffes. My middle girl has a fondness for giraffes. He best friend is a softie called Boris…yes, actually, Boris. And how did I not know that you weren’t actually *blogless*! 😉
My Miss B went through a giraffe loving stage. We even had a giraffe dress up from the Melbourne Zoo. That blogless name does cause troubles at times! And you probably didn’t know I exist because even though I been a reader of your lovely blog for a long time blogspot hates me and won’t let me comment on any of it’s blogs (sigh) unless Disqus has been installed. Technology wiz I am not!
Great dress. I don’t think you can make enough of these dresses – just love the pattern on you.
I’m pleased you say that as I’m eyeing off the wool crepe at Tessuti and thinking of a winter version of this dress!
Gorgeous fabric and beautiful stitching! I am soO keen to make this pattern up – looks fantastic!
Thanks Emma. Such a quick and satisfying sew and easy to wear dress.
You have so many fabulous dresses and this one is beautiful. I love the colour.
Thanks Louise. The great news is that the weather is warming up (hello summer) and all my summer dresses are going to get a workout…
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