Good morning, everyone! It’s the last day of July, which means the deadline to finish + share your OAL garments! Today, I’m going to show y’all my finished dress – because my sweater actually isn’t done yet! LOL for being the worst host ever. Whatever! It’s been a crazy last few months, I’m not even going to apologize. Instead, I am going to celebrate actually FINISHING something! Yay!
Another thing worth celebrating – actually going outside to take photos! Another yay! Now that I’m in a house with a semi-private yard (I share the space with my upstairs neighbor, and we are on the corner of a somewhat busy street. Also, there is no privacy fence!), I feel more comfortable going outside to take my photos. The lighting is certainly better, and the background a bit prettier than a white wall 🙂 I still go outside really early so that it limits the amount of people rubbernecking as they drive by, but, you know… baby steps. haha. For someone who doesn’t give a fuck about a lot of things, I DO give a fuck about my neighbors watching me take ~fashun photos~ with a fucking tripod in my backyard hahahaha.
Not too much to say about this one, since I covered all the construction in previous OAL posts. To summarize – the pattern is By Hand London‘s Kim Dress, modified to include tie straps and a facing (no lining). I used polka dot rayon challis from Mood Fabrics – both for the outer and the facing – and added an invisible zipper and pleats at the hem. All seams except the gathered waist are finished with French seams (you can totally French seam a gathered waist seam, FYI, but I just didn’t feel like unnecessarily torturing myself haha).
Here are all the tutorials from the OAL, in case you missed them!
- Modifying the pattern for tie straps and a facing
- Assembling the bodice
- Sewing pintucks and gathers
- Invisible zipper and hemming
This is a great dress for summer – it’s a bit more loose fitting than what I would wear in the past, and the rayon is nice and breathable. So it’s super cool in this humid heat we’re going through right now, and the navy + white polka dots is the perfect print + color combination! Black bra straps aren’t necessarily the best choice for this look, but I’m hoping to make a strapless (currently creeping SO HARD on the Esplanade bra pattern! Soon!) before summer ends! Navy bra straps would also work, which I need to get on making. I have several tops that would benefit from a bra with navy straps!
Considering I talked a LOT about this dress during the OAL, there’s not much else to say! One thing I will point out is that this particular project was going on while I was in a big funk earlier this summer – I completely, 100% lost my sewing mojo and pretty much all creative energy (I continued knitting, but mostly because it was something to do with my hands while I watched tv -so that I didn’t feel like a complete lazy loaf). Knowing that I had to finish this dress due to my commitment to the OAL was the only reason why I even started it – and it’s also what eventually reignited my creative energy. I may talk about that more in detail in a future post, but basically – I’m back! I feel good and I’m sewing up a storm again! It’s pretty amazing!
How is your summer sewing going? Did you participate in the OAL this year? LET ME SEE YOUR PROJECTS please and thank you!
* Note: The fabrics used in this post were provided to me by Mood Fabrics, in exchange for my participation in the Mood Sewing Network.
LLADYBIRD 
Great job! I was so inspired by your OAL that I made a Kim too, which you saw on my insta. The back straps are still bowing a bit even when tied tight, so I have to rethink them. It’s currently in Brooklyn since it was a present for my daughter, so when I see her again I’ll figure out a fix. Thank for your inspiration and glad the mojo has returned – I’m a knitter too and it’s funny how knitting just happens even when you have no interest in the making of anything. Guess EZ was accurate when she said “Knit on, with confidence and hope, through all crisis.”
Thank you! Yeah, I totally agree- I like that I can still knit even when I don’t feel like doing anything else; it keeps the hands busy so I feel like I’m accomplishing something, but I can choose a pattern that doesn’t require creative energy if I’m in a slump. Knitting has been so therapeutic for me, and I’m so happy that I know how to do it.
This is very pretty and flattering on you Lauren!
I wouldn’t have picked you as being self-conscious taking photos ever lol! I generally don’t give a toss now, it is my photographer that needs pacifying!
haha OMG yes, I hate taking photos in public! I imagine I look pretty fucking dorky just standing around looking at a tripod, and POSING. hahaha! Like, I don’t know how people do it in public places, but I wish I was that brazen! Maybe someday haha!
Love everything about this dress, especially the shoulder ties. I didn’t participate in the OAL because my sewing comes to a screeching halt during the summer (kids), but seeing your dress makes me want to make a Kim right now.
I don’t know what part of the world you are in, but school just started here this week soooo you probably still have time to make a Kim! 🙂 Do it! haha!
Love the dress and fabric. Have missed your posts lately. I trust that all is well?
It is all well now 🙂 I had a rough few months during the spring and early summer, but I have been taking good care of myself and I am finally back on track.
This is a totally beautiful dress — and a poster for a 21st century Southern Belle! 🙂 Glad to hear your creative mojo is no longer AWOL!
Ooh, thank you! And yes, so happy to have my creative energy back!!
Beautiful! I finished the Kim dress on Sunday and love wearing it except for a very uncomfortable strapless bra. I’ve got my eyes on the Esplanade bra pattern, too. It sure would be nice with this dress. I’m proud of my Kim dress sewing although it isn’t quite your perfection. Your tutorials helped. I sure did learn a lot. I’m comparing my dress to yours (used similar fabric) so I know I will learn more. My sweater isn’t finished either, but it will be. Thanks for doing the OAL, especially during your “funk time”. We’ve had lots of rain and dreary weather so I haven’t taken pictures yet. I’ll let you know when we have some sunshine again in Florida so you can see your “copycat” dress.
I am going to make that bra! I even bought a special hook and eye with it in mind… just haven’t had the will to make, well, anything lately. But it’s coming back, and a comfortable (and beautiful!) strapless bra is high on my list.
I’m so happy to hear that you found my tutorials helpful, and yes, I want to see the copycat dress!!
Haha, I try and avoid my neighbours when I’m taking blog pics outside too. Which is weird because usually I wouldn’t care. But they have teenage boys that make me feels awks. The dress looks gorgeous, I like the pin tucks 🙂
Teenagers are the worst! Just one look and they make me feel like the biggest dork hahahaha. Did I do that when I was a teenager? Probably haha
Me too! And I most certainly did do that as a teenager. LOL.
I’m not done with my sweater yet either! I did get a dress done though. That’s a victory for me.
Yay!!!
Looks great – I like the hem area detail! Glad you are in the swing again. You’ve had quite a stressful year.
Yeah, it’s been a bit rough! I’m happy to finally be back on track.
Fantastic!!!!
Thank you!
beautiful dress. especially the shoulder ties. This is absolutely a timely post for me as summer is arriving here.
Thank you!
Lost my sewing mojo sometime last year and have been struggling to get it back. No dice. It coincided with my receipt of a Kaffe Fasset fat quarter pack. Somehow I think if I got rid of the KFFQP, my mojo would return.
How tough to host a sew a long while not feeling like sewing at all! I’ve kind of been there too lately, and just finishing a ton of forced costume sewing for work has not helped. I’m so thankful for knitting, though, I’m never too tired/uninspired/grumpy to knit in front of the tv!
It’s a lovely shape and fabric!
Very pretty dress, congratulations. Lovely looking garden too.