Little Bitty Pretty One

Date: Author: Category: "Dress" it up Frocktober Tags: , , ,

 

 

 

Presenting my first frock for Frocktober!    The pattern is Simplicity 2971 from 1959.  There are two skirt options, I went with the pencil.  I am very tempted to make a full skirt, but they do take a lot of fabric.

 

The fabric we used for this gorgeous little number is a red & off white polka dot cotton.  For a little added va-va-voom, Belle decided to have the contrasting colourway for the large protrait collar.

 

 

I really love this dress!  The fit on Belle is amazing, all I’ve done is shorten it by about 10cm (and still turned up a 6cm hem!).

 

And I put in a longer zip.  The first time I made this dress we struggled with her broad shoulders to get it on comfortably, so this time I lengthened the zip-opening by 7cm, and what a difference it’s made!  I may just do the same with all the dresses with side zip openings.  I wonder if that’s why they’re called wiggle dresses, ’cause there sure was a lot of that going on the first time around!  :D

 

 

 

 

So, construction notes.  Normal seams, all stitched & pinked.

I used an invisible zip, instead of a normal one because I’m tight & didn’t want to go out & buy something when I had one here in my box!

The hem (once I had turned up the 6cm) is taped with an off-white seam tape & hand stitched into place.

 

 

 

One thing we have yet to settle though.  What to wear over the top when the weather gets chilly?

With that collar, normal jackets are out of the question.  So what did they wear in the 50s?  Any suggestions?

 

 

 

 

 

 

47 thoughts on “Little Bitty Pretty One”

  1. P.S. I think the onset of a cool breeze meant the gentleman offered his jacket for your shoulders. I’m wondering about a stoal (what we now call a pashmina) -which you can sit off the shoullders and still show off the amazing collar and then wear as a rug on your knees at dinner!. Merina camisoles are also an invisible way to keep warm. My suggestions for the mix.

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  4. What a beautiful dress – you are an amazing sewist, everything about this dress looks so perfect! I think this could be layered with one of those loose little jackets, hanging from shoulder-padded shoulders… actually now I’m reading the comment above mine – that’s exactly what I mean!

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  5. Your daughters are so lucky to have a Mum like you, this dress is breathtakingly gorgeous! As to the coat question, my Mother had a blue linen swing coat in the fifties, it had a huge, structured collar and the shoulder line extended way past the natural shoulder, maybe it was the kind of thing they wore back then?

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    • Thanks very much! I have suggested a shawl, but a wrinkled up nose greeted that suggestion! I guess shawls are not cool enough for 17 year olds. *shrugs*

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  10. This is so so cute! I love that the collar is the opposite colors of the main fabric.
    I have a dress with a similarly large collar, and the best I’ve been able to come up with for wearing with it is a light cardigan, either V-necked or unbuttoned, worn underneath the collar.

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  11. Gorgeous dress.Love the polka dots.
    I have quite a few 50’s wiggle dress patterns and a few have a short cape type of thing that just finishes at about/around the elbow.

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  14. That is absolutly precious! Great choice of fabric too. I have that patten but I haven’t made it yet. I think I’ll move it up on my to do list! I made a 50’s chapelet that might work. Look back in August TMS.

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  17. What a wonderful creation! I love that you chose the slimmer skirt, it makes it modern looking while retaining the vintage style. My daughter, Stef, would love this. I am definitely going to have to find this pattern to add to my collection. Your choice of fabric really shows off your garment wonderfully. GREAT DRESS!

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  23. That dress is delightful and the color swap on the collar is genius. Thanks for the tip on the zip, I will keep that in mind.

    Shrugs, boleros and fichus would all work with that collar, I think. Or shawls, as suggested above. Although, the style of the dress is so pretty, I wonder if it was designed as a ‘purely summer’ option? It’s beautiful, though.

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    • Thanks! I think you may have a point, but it seems such a shame to have it now & not be able to get some use out of it before the weather really closes in! On the otherhand, at least it will still be fresh for summer if we pack it away now. Decisions!! 🙂

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  26. oh this is soooo nice !
    the contrast spots for the collar work really well , and it makes sense to put in a longer zip for ease of wear. i’ll do this myself for future makes , helpful tip , thank you.
    I have seen fashion pictures of lovely ladies from this era , with shawls draped around them , so maybe this could be the answer to what to wear over the collar.
    : )

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