See It, Sew It, So What!: The Seaside Dress

Friends. I WANT this.

Seaside Dress (Brooklyn Industries)

It’s the Seaside Dress over at Brooklyn Industries. It’s kind of hard to tell from the photos, but the bulk of the dress is made from lightweight cotton shirting in a teeny tiny red and white stripe. The (front and back) yoke is ivory lace. It’s the perfect summer dress!

Here’s what I’m wondering: could I make this myself (and spend less than $78 while I’m at it)?? I’m trying to be a maker rather than a purchaser, so why not try to curb an impulse to spend by making something instead?

But, how do I make this happen?? My first thought was of this pattern, the Jersey dress with drawstring waist:

Burda Style 4/2010 Jersey dress with drawstring waist #122

I like the front waist/belt in this design, and the pattern wouldn’t require many changes to look like the Seaside Dress– there’s already a separate upper yoke, light gathers at the waist, and button closure. I could alter the pattern so the button placket is on the back rather than the front (that’s possible, right?), and I would just be careful that I can get into and out of the dress since I wouldn’t be using jersey. However, I’m sorta drawn to the idea of a more tailored version of this dress, so then I thought of the Angela Kane pinafore:

Denim Pinafore (Angela Kane for Burda Style)

This could be a cute variation on the Seaside Dress– I could easily draft an upper yoke for this pattern and omit the back patch pockets. I might leave the front pockets, although I think I would prefer invisible side pockets. Now I can’t decide which of the two dress styles would be cuter! Any thoughts?

This is so exciting! But I gotta confess… I kinda sorta still… just really want that dress. Eek!!

don’t buy it, you’ll kick yourself, it’s super cute, but its unlined and you could make it really easily. Go with the pinifore pattern and make these adjustments:

1. Bring the underarm opening up about an inch and a half (its already a little sketchy with side boob action and when you add a lace yoke, yikes!).

2. Bring the front kneckline down and inch or so and from that point measure down 5-6 inches, make that the center point of the lower part of your yoke. It will be most flatering if you do a gentle slope to below the arm. for the back yoke, measure up from the bottom hem to the below the arm point to match the front and go with a stright cut (no slope, you don’t want to look like a hunch back).

3. I would use a side invisible zipper that goes from about 2 inces below the arm opening to hip or so. It would mean no pockets, but it would also save you from having to install a zipper in lace, and pockets may show through an airy fabric.

4. I would line it with a voile or cotton blend to keep it from riding up when you walk also it makes putting it together super easy! Put your yoke together using french seams, if the lace is giving your machine fits, place some tissue paper between the layers. Finish the neck and arm openings with some lace bias tape or trip. put the bottom of your dress together but only baste the top 4-5 inches of one side (the side that the zipper will go). Sandwich the yoke between the layers of the dress (right sides together), stitch, turn, press and give it a couple layers of top stitch towards to dress. finish it off and be thrilled that you didn’t blow 80 bucks.

Hmmm….now that I’ve put all this thought into this, I think I might do this too. Haha, let me know if you want to do a sew-a-long.

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4 responses

Caralee says:

May 25, 2011 at 12:23 pm

don’t buy it, you’ll kick yourself, it’s super cute, but its unlined and you could make it really easily. Go with the pinifore pattern and make these adjustments:

1. Bring the underarm opening up about an inch and a half (its already a little sketchy with side boob action and when you add a lace yoke, yikes!).

2. Bring the front kneckline down and inch or so and from that point measure down 5-6 inches, make that the center point of the lower part of your yoke. It will be most flatering if you do a gentle slope to below the arm. for the back yoke, measure up from the bottom hem to the below the arm point to match the front and go with a stright cut (no slope, you don’t want to look like a hunch back).

3. I would use a side invisible zipper that goes from about 2 inces below the arm opening to hip or so. It would mean no pockets, but it would also save you from having to install a zipper in lace, and pockets may show through an airy fabric.

4. I would line it with a voile or cotton blend to keep it from riding up when you walk also it makes putting it together super easy! Put your yoke together using french seams, if the lace is giving your machine fits, place some tissue paper between the layers. Finish the neck and arm openings with some lace bias tape or trip. put the bottom of your dress together but only baste the top 4-5 inches of one side (the side that the zipper will go). Sandwich the yoke between the layers of the dress (right sides together), stitch, turn, press and give it a couple layers of top stitch towards to dress. finish it off and be thrilled that you didn’t blow 80 bucks.

Hmmm….now that I’ve put all this thought into this, I think I might do this too. Haha, let me know if you want to do a sew-a-long.

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- gingermakes says:
  
  May 25, 2011 at 12:28 pm
  
  Oh. My. Gosh. This is SO helpful!! Let’s do it! Thank you SO much!!
  
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molly says:

May 25, 2011 at 1:05 pm

I don’t think it would be too hard to move the button placket to the back, just copy what you see on the front pieces to the back and combine the front yoke into one piece. Very cute inspiration!

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- gingermakes says:
  
  May 25, 2011 at 1:48 pm
  
  That really is a cute dress, isn’t it? I’ve never sewed with jersey (and frankly, the thought really terrifies me), but I bet it would be really sweet in a nice, crisp cotton (maybe seersucker?)! I think I want to try both patterns now!
  
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