Minerva Blogger Network - Branson Dress

This month’s Minerva project is another dress, and my second this year with buttons and buttonholes!  That must be a record for me.





It’s not actually the dress I had intended to make.  When I ordered my fabric – this black washed linen and rayon  – I ordered a Vogue pattern, V1447  to be precise.  I thought the black linen/rayon would make a lovely summer sun dress, and I’m sure it would have done if I could have got the pattern to fit. 

I muslined the dress but wasn’t happy with the fit of the bodice at all, mainly how low the back was.  Recently I’ve had quite limited sewing time and I just couldn’t work out how I could alter the bodice so I’d be happy with it.  I decided to put the pattern aside to hopefully be revisited at a later date and try something else.

I’d recently been part of the pattern testing process for Lily Sage & Co.’s new Branson top  and while making my test version I thought how nice it would look as a dress.  So... without making a muslin this time I turned it into a dress.  I’m not the only person to have thought of this – Debbie Iles, the designer has mentioned that she may well make a dress version, and Reyna Lay has shared a tutorial for how she made the alterations here    I did almost exactly the same as Reyna Lay, except I also added the curved hem to the back of the skirt.

 
 


The only other alteration I made was to make a full belt and belt loops, rather than the ties that are sewn into the side seams on the original pattern. 



I haven’t worn this yet, as since I finished it the weather hasn’t really been warm enough, but fingers crossed it won’t be long before I am able to wear it.  It feels lovely on, I’m sure the fabric will be perfect for the nice warm weather I’m sure is just around the corner.  I think this could be my perfect summer dress!
 

20 comments

  1. It looks lovely. I have a black drop waist dress in linen that has become one of my favourite summer items, year in year out - despite me not being someone who wears much black, if ever. It surprised me! I bet you will get a lot of wear out of this dress. And the other thing I like about black linen is that when it fades, you can easily re-dye it black in the washing machine to make it look brand new again.

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    1. Thank you Debbie. I'm hoping the weather turns nice enough that I can get a lot of wear out of it certainly!

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  2. This looks fab! Great shape on you and I bet it feels lovely to wear.

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    1. Thanks Manju, it does feel lovely on.

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  3. I like it too! Sometimes it's the simplest looks that work so well. I should remember to make more with solid colours, as this really looks so elegantly wearable.

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    1. Thanks Winnie. I'm trying to make more with solid colours too, but nice solid coloured fabric does seem harder to come by than lovely prints.

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  4. This dress looks really pretty, Sam. I think the pattern looks even better as a dress, rather than the top. I'm sure it will become your perfect go-to summer dress.

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    1. Thanks Jen. I agree, I think for me it works better as a dress, although I do want to make a top without sleeves because I think that will look pretty good too.

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  5. I like your version a thousand times more than all the other top versions I've seen.

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  6. Yours is the very nicest version I've seen - so smart and summery 😊

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    1. Thank you Jacq, lets hope we get plenty of summery weather soon so I can wear it lots!

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  7. Mmmm, black linen! I love it. Love it lengthened to a dress.

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    1. The linen is gorgeous, I want to make another one in a different colour!

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  8. Love it..Looks so pretty on you.. Hope your weather turns warm for you , real soon.

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  9. You know, I think I prefer this pattern as a dress. It really is lovely Sam. Hopefully the summer will cooperate so you get a lot of wear out it.

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  10. Love it as a dress! I might need this pattern after all....

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