Dress to wrapper

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

I think I have a winter sewing bug. While I am waiting to get going on the stack of sheer dresses, I am antsy to sew something. After the past few nights I have ruched several yards of 1" trim, starting my wool corset experiment and changing the sleeves on my white sheer, I am now pondering redoing a cotton dress into a wrapper. I like the dress well enough but rarely wear it. I may get a little more use out of it as a wrapper.

The skirt is gathered. The bodice is plain, gathered, 3-piece back. The sleeves are coat sleeves. I am not fond of my first try button holes though.

Any thoughts on what could be done?

Anna

[Elizabeth]

Have you additional fabric, or is it a "what's in the dress only" remake?

[Carolann Schmitt]

Another option is to add a panel of contrasting fabric down the center, then tie it in by also using it for trim on the sleeves? K. Krewer displayed several original "converted" wrappers at the Conference a few years ago, and had photos of many more.

Carolann

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

It is a what's in the dress remake. I don't think I have any extra fabric laying around. The hem is backed. So, nothing there either.

This is the one I want to redo: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v95/Deliagodric/Dress%20pictures/015_11.jpg  This picture was several years back. I already got rid of those vertical panels shortly after taking this picture. The darts are now gathers and the pleats gathers.

What could I use for an additional fabric with this color and print? Black would be easy. But, black cotton will fade making it a waste. Black silk or wool would be to rich for the cotton. It would be neat if I could find a great border print or a print I could do in strips. I like the look of the strong border/strip prints on wrappers. Many of those seem to be on solid or small print backgrounds. Would a strong print be to much against another print?

Anna

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

Back to Anna's site.... What about something like this? http://www.thegracefullady.com/civilwargowns/images/originalgarments/underpinnings_wrappers/paisley.jpg What is the black material? Is that to nice for the cotton I have?

Anna

[Elizabeth]

That black absorbs light like a wool, to my eyes.

Oooh--what about a really bold border print for yours, with a base color of, say, scarlet, with some peacock-ish greens and blues?  You might have to haunt quilt fabric sites to find something, but it could be really gorgeous.  The print of the dress is fairly muted, so I'd be tempted to treat it as a "solid" and get bold with a print addition.

[Carolann Schmitt]

Oooh--what about a really bold border print for yours, with a base color of, say, scarlet, with some peacock-ish greens and blues?  You might have to haunt quilt fabric sites to find something, but it could be really gorgeous.  The print of the dress is fairly muted, so I'd be tempted to treat it as a "solid" and get bold with a print addition.

I like that idea! And if you can't find a border print you may be able to find a floral stripe that would work. I agree with Elizabeth; go with a bold, dramatic color. That's a typical "wrapper" combination.

Carolann

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

I like that idea too. Previously, I had pictured a really loud wrapper with a paisley cone in there somewhere. I will keep my eye open at the store this weekend for something that will make a border print. Thinking Wide.

I can do the basic reconstruction prior to adding the border print since it will likely go on the edges of the front. Right?

Let's see.... take the skirt off. Take the pleats out of the bodice and front of the skirt. Set the skirt and bodice to be gathered through the front. What else?

Anna

[BarbaraSmith]

What a great idea to remake the old calico you're tired of! I'll have to share this with some girls I know who have some old gowns they are sick of!

This might also work for those of us who are continuing to "mature" in our figures... 

Thanks for bringing it up!
B.

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

It is actually less being tired of the dress and more bad timeing for the dress. This dress was created when I made a big switch in my waredrobe. I wore it once like it is in the picture. Once as it is now. It has been worn more on loan to others than by me. It is such a waste to have it sit around not being worn. Add in my sewing bug..... make over.

Anna