Monday, July 9, 2012

The Lisette Passport Dress



I've been itching to make the Lisette Passport Dress ever since the finish of the Continental Sew-Along.

I just so happened to take a trip to Spotty on Friday and found the Lisette Cotton Sateen on the clearance table for $5 per metre (must have been divine intervention).

The Passport is a bit more tricky, as it has a side zipper, and front and back darts and pleats.

I decided upon the Size 16 (as that's the size I should have cut for the Continental) and cut out all of my fabric Friday night.




I've never made a dress with darts before, so I must admit that I was ever so slightly confused!

Thankfully, I remembered to try the bodice and the skirt on, separately, before I attached them together, or finished any of the side seams with the overlocker.

Turns out that the size 16 was too small...

I had to reduce the side seams to 1/4 inch, and completely remove the rear bodice darts, and the rear skirt pleats to make it fit.


But, thankfully after lots of stops and starts, I actually managed to finish it.


Here's a closer look at the finished front darts and front pleats. I'm not quite sure that I finished the darts properly as per the instructions. I'd show the back darts and pleats but there aren't any!



Oh, and of course I had to add the obligatory pocket on the opposite side to the zipper!



It's freezing today but I teamed it with my Flox tights and a cardi and wore it to work (I did actually have shoes on too).

I'll definitely make this dress again, but next time, I'll re-draft the bodice to combine the 16 (at the top) and the 18 (at the bottom), with a size 18 skirt, and reduce the size of the armholes underneath the arm as they're a bit gapey.

I think I only ended up using 1.5 metres of fabric so it's not a bad investment!

23 comments:

Jody Pearl said...

Someone in class had a similar problem with their pattern - disaster avoided because of the large front darts.

Yours looks gorgeous - love the fabric!

Melissa said...

Looks lovely! You are very clever :)

Marina said...

That looks brilliant on you! And well done on getting a bargain on the fabric...

yardage girl said...

Looking good Ms Cam! The sizing of those patterns is a bit of a worry ~ who on earth wants to be several sizes more than they actually are, and why don't they just get it right??

simplestitches said...

very nice Cam!

bec said...

I want to see the side zip! Havent done mine yet :) Love it! And yes, we could on about the sizing but....

Cass said...

Very nice Cam, you look great in it

Tas said...

Wow, Cam. That fabric is just beautiful. I love a good red. It looks really cute on you too.

I am finding that a lot of the US patterns run small at the moment. Very depressing though I don't tend to get hung up on sizes- they are just numbers lol.

Fiona said...

Great dress - love the style, colour, fabric design ... everything!

Jodie said...

Cam, that frock is delicious...(and darts ARE scary)

Finki said...

This looks sooo good on you Cam. Awesome fabric.

Anonymous said...

That is a really lovely frock and the style and colour really suit you. I wish I could look that good!
Nadene

Cat from Raspberry Rainbow said...

It's gorgeous Cam! So annoying about the sizing (again!) but you will now know for next time. I will be making it again too, after we have been away on holidays (no spare time now. Boo)

willywagtail said...

That looks really good! Doesn't it make you mad when patterns insult you by being far too small and requiring that you use sizes way bigger than you know you really are?!!! Cherrie

Megan said...

You look so pretty! Great choice of fabric and cut for you I think. I particularly like it with the tights and the cardi. Just what's needed for winter, a nice pop of colour.

Jennifer Rose said...

the dress turned out great and looks really good on you :)

5Bent Needles said...

Well done on your innovative sewing. It looks fantastic

gardenglut said...

Very nice and lovely fabric!

Carly Findlay said...

This is wonderful - I love it, and you look great!
There is something in the mail for you - should arrive next week x

Carly Findlay said...

This is wonderful - I love it, and you look great!
There is something in the mail for you - should arrive next week x

Michelle said...

There is no way, having met you, that I would say you should be cutting anything bigger than a size 16 in paper patterns. What's going on with the sizing for the Lisette patterns? that's just crazy.

But having said that, I think this dress looks so good on you! The fabric is perfect and I love that double pleating at the front and the triangular bodice. Great pattern! (except for the sizing issues!)

gemma @ loz and dinny said...

Oooo! It's a good un! It looks lovely on you! Nice rejigging ...I can dart but I can't rejig ... you on the other hand have rejigged to perfection x

Anonymous said...

So lovely - the fabric is delicious and suits your dark colouring. No one wears red like we brunettes!

Your blog is inspring. Thank you!