It’s a little early for me to jump in the spring clothing game, but holyyyyy mother the weather has been positively spring-like here! Well, except on Sunday – we had “snow” (you know, that weird slightly frozen rain that just makes a slush mess on your windshield? Yeah, ew) and it was so cold, I refused to get off the couch/out of my pajamas. But it’s back to the 60s today and I’m ready for this warm weather to stick around for good! Can’t hurt to make some springy clothes that could be layered to ward of a little chill, eh? Eh?
I got this pattern as a Christmas present from my baby brother (thank you, Matt! You are the best :D) – I really love wearing vintage slips around the house (and, er, sometimes out in public :B) in the warmer months. That’s some dainty shit! Unfortunately, vintage slips are difficult to find in my size… and I don’t care to pay the super marked up prices that resellers charge. I don’t mind makin’ em, though! Especially when it means I can use colors that aren’t pastel and fabrics that aren’t slippery nylon. Whee!
I’ve never sewn up a whole bias garment before – bias skirts, yes, and bias midriffs. Never the whole thing! So this was an interesting experience. The pattern has lots of information on working with bias – including what stitches to use & where. I was a little put off at the suggestion to use a small zig zag stitch to construct everything, but I ended up following the instructions to a T since I figure Sarai knows more about this stuff than I do 🙂 I do like the finished result!
I do have a couple small fitting concerns – the center point of the V is not flat against my body; it sticks up a little. And there are wrinkles across the top of the midriff. I’m guessing I need to cut my next one a size bigger – this is a 2, with a 4 bust, and it fits reeeally perfectly except for those wrinkles. It doesn’t look so bad in the photos but it is definitely noticeable in real life.
The fabric is a lovely cotton voile that I picked up for a steal last summer at my local fabric store – I think I paid like $3 a yard for this stuff! It’s totally NOT my style – I don’t care much for the super sweet florals, or lavender for that matter – but it was sooo soft, it just kind of leapt into my arms. I love how it looks & feels as a slip dress, though! And it made the whole bias experience much easier than if I had started out with a giant piece of slippery silk.
The print *is* a little busy, though, so I raided my stash for trim to highlight that pretty midriff detail. This lavender ribbon matches perfectly – no idea where it came from, or why it was in my stash, but yay for being a stash hoarder!
Here is some ribbon detail. It’s sewn on with a tiny zig zag stitch – amazingly, I had matching lavender thread on hand too! What are the odds?
I made this slip with the intention of it being for around-the-house wear, but I think it really looks like a casual sundress. I can totally see myself wearing this to the park with some flats and a light cardigan. What do y’all think? Strictly slip or approps for public wear as well?
As a side note, here’s a sneaky peaky at my next project – another summer dress!
It’s a Peony, in some gingham that’s been lurking in my stash for about a year (actually, I think I bought it at the same time/from the same sale rack as that floral voile lol). Not sure what I’m going to do with the petersham yet; I do want to incorporate some yellow so the dress isn’t so Dorothy 🙂
And check this out –
I underlined the pieces since they were so sheer. Pretty amazing how much of a different underlining makes! The blues & whites are much more vibrant now!
LLADYBIRD 
Adorable slip dress! Tell me, what are you using to underline the gingham? I’m just about to start a dress project…..
Just some lightweight cotton batiste 🙂 I wanted the garment to be soft & breathable- appropriate for summer!
Absolutely perfect for the park. Too adorable for words.
Hard to see any of your fitting concerns, It’s just so doll- like cute! I think you could wear it in public- first step is showing us, right ( something I wasn’t brave enough to model myself!) I like your lavender ribbon detail too.
And peony in big gingham- more adorableness!
Haha yeah, I noticed that with all the reviews I read about this pattern – no one is modeling it! I mean, it *is* underwear so I can’t say I really blame ’em 🙂 But I think it has some pretty decent coverage. For underwear, I mean. Ha!
It looks so different in the cotton material. I would have never thought outside the box with a slip (stupid I know) so thank you so much for the inspiration. You version is very cute. Love the fabric choice and everything else about it.
Now why didn’t I think of a voile version? In my head I just presumed that the law of slips meant they had to be slippery/satiny which totally put me off the pattern. This is a gorgeous version and I love the midriff ribbon and double straps. I think you could totally wear it out on a sunny day.
And oh my, that gingham Peony is making me almost pass out and it’s not even made yet! Can’t wait to see it. x
i thought, “i didn’t know she liked gingham”, and then i noticed the gingham background on your blog.
DUH.
i think definitely outerwear!
I love gingham! Looking like a picnic blanket is my FAVORITE 😀
This should be the tagline of your blog!!!!
Your cinnamon is definitely wearable as a dress. It looks super-cute! I know what you mean about the print not being 100% you, but sometimes we all need a bit of floral girliness in the summer. 🙂
Funnily enough I was looking for vintage slip patterns the other day and was horrified by the prices (what is with that?!). I don’t know why I didn’t think of the cinnamon, but thanks for the reminder!
Oh wowee, really nice. I think you could get away with wearing it as outerwear in warm weather too – it doesn’t scream ‘underwear’.
Oh, man, I love this. Do I have to break down and buy another flipping pattern now? Of course I do, because I am a copy cat. Sigh. I think as long as this isn’t sheer, which it doesn’t look to be, in these photos, you should wear this out and show it to the world. No reason not to, it’s a-fricking-dorable.
I have bought and/or downloaded like four slip patterns to try and get around buying this pattern. I should have just bought the damn pattern when I first saw it and said the hell with it. Sigh.
Thats too cute to not wear on a frollic! I vote outside-wear!
Although you said you would not normally go for that fabric. It looks fab on you. Go Girrrl.
Very park-worthy I think. There’s a fabulous park somewhere in Nashville that I went to with friends. It would be a great bocce playing afternoon dress.
Nashville has a few great parks! There is Centennial park (with a full-sized replica of the Parthenon & lots of flower gardens), Bicentennial Mall, and Dragon park 😀 I love parks hahaha!
It looks lovely and your fabric makes it totally outside appropriate! I’m making the Ruby slip myself now (version with fabric over bust not lace) and because it’s slippery charmeuse and trimmed with lace, I think it’s probably NOT appropriate for outside wear… though I may wear it for a blog post!
Your slip is totally cute and I can’t see ANY wrinkles in the pictures at all! I think you can definitely get away with wearing it in public in the summer ;o) Ooooh, and your Peony is looking great already, can’t believe how much the lining has made the colours pop!
I think it’s great outerwear. But then again, it’s not nylon, it’s not sheer, everything is covered, so how is this much different than a little summer dress? It looks adorable to me. Two thumbs up.
I think it does look very wearable as a going-out dress 🙂 I have to say, you are a MACHINE- you pump out garments so fast! I’m jealous!
Waaaayyyy cute!! Totally appropriate for public outings. I need more dresses that I can wear out and then conveniently come home and fall asleep in. You inspire me. …you’re my sewspiration.
I would wear it in public as long as the sun doesn’t it make see-through, but perhaps I can just wear a slip under it. ^_^
Ah super cute and perfect for summer! Go for it. I am loving the Peony already. Can’t wait to see it – great idea to introduce a splash of colour too. Gingham rocks!
What are the sewing drugs you are taking and where can I get some? You are sewing up a STORM, lady! And so,so beautiful. No fitting issues that I can see.
Um – definitely works as a casual sundress! You look fabulous in it
It definitely works as a sundress. I bought the pattern with plans to make camisoles for layering. I really love the midriff and doubled strap design elements. You really must use that pop of yellow on the gingham. Very, very cute.
Great pattern! I love this fabric print with this shape.
Yep, wear this outside, inside, wherever. Its not at all cutsie and not too floral and the colours suit you very well. Isn’t it funny how we think certain colours are not great on us but they work, shade depending Kristin (http://line4line.blogspot.com) says from time to time. Oh, and the style is perfect for summer climes.
I haven’t tried a collette pattern yet and am not curvy so maybe this is one to try? Hmmm, thought provoking. :o))
Cute! This is totally appropriate as a dress! Definitely non-harlot. I like the lavender ribbon trim, too… floral and any kind of purple are usually not my thing, but I really like this!
The floral slip looks really lovely and feminine on you although it is not your normal style. The peony looks really promising I love how you are going to add a pop of yellow in it
I think you can totally get away with wearing this in public. They say the 90’s are coming back in style (or maybe that’s all I see because I live in Portland), just smear your eyeliner and you can channel Courtney Love when she was still relevant.
You’re stealing my pattern dreams out of my brain! I bought this ages ago but haven’t sewn it up yet, do you find the straps fall off your shoulders?
Totally safe for outside in summer, I agree with Cynthia, 90s are back! Though I wish bodies with crotch snaps weren’t…
I haven’t had a problem with the straps, although I pulled them pretty tight (and cut off something like 8″ of excess strap when all was said & done!).
I don’t know how I feel about the 90s being back, although I guess I can now actually buy those Doc Martens I wanted so badly when I was a kid 🙂
Oh! Oh! Oh! That is so very pretty. You look so adorable and I think you should wear it everywhere as long as you keep your hair like that. I love those pigtails.
Yet again, it looks awesome. I love it made up in cotton.
Wow, lovely dress 🙂 And it fits great.
I love your Cinnamon! I would def wear it out and about not just around the house and I don’t think people would think it was a slip. I also love the look of the gingham and yellow together.