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!