Friday, November 14, 2014

Help! Birthday/Thanksgiving Dress Decisions

Okay, so here's the deal. Every year for my birthday, I think to myself, "I'm going to sew an amazing birthday dress." Some years it has happened, but most years, not so much, or at least not in time for my actual birthday. This year is very special because my birthday happens to also be Thanksgiving and I was actually born on Thanksgiving. This only happens every so many years and this would mean that I would actually have somewhere to wear a special birthday dress for my birthday (my husband and I don't always get to go out for or on my birthday, kids you know).

This year I really have been thinking of late 1930s and 1940s dresses, but I also need something fast and easy and I want to use this crazy bright and patterned fabric if possible. No, I'm not asking too much, am I? Oh, and I want a pattern that's super cute and doesn't require a lot of modification to fit me, because, well, there's not much time left to make it. All this, hence the cry for.....HELP!

I know this looks like a bright and crazy print, and well, it is, but I really love it, what can I say?
This fabric was actually a birthday gift for me last year, so I would really like to use it. 
Some plainish black, red, and tan striped fabric. Very serviceable, but not very exciting. 
This kitschy kids picking apples print fabric just screams to become a 1940s dress,
but I'm not sure it's birthday-dress-exciting enough. 


This first option is literally the kind of dress I dream about wearing, but I'm not sure it's right for the pattern on this material or if I could wear it without a lot of modifying to make it breastfeeding friendly. (If you have any ideas how I could easily adapt it to nursing friendly, please let me know!)


This next one is super cute, too. I would have to size it up a little and I'm not sure how I would like it in the long-sleeved version, but I'm cool with making it short-sleeved. The only hesitation I have is that unbelievably long zipper, which would make it very nursing friendly, but oh, the logistics of finding such a zipper and then having to put it in! Hmmmm.....


This next one is a pretty straightforward 1940s shirtwaist. I'm not sure that the design of the dress wouldn't get lost in this print and all those button holes would take a while to sew. However I wouldn't have to do any sizing up or modifying to make this one work.


Logistically, I kinda know this one is probably the safest bet, because the design is simple enough for a busy print, the size is right, and I think it would be a fairly quick sew-up.

So, please help me! I will not promise to do what you say, but I will definitely take any advice into consideration before I cut any of the fabric. I'm open to short or long sleeves, but the big thing is it has to be easily accessible for breastfeeding. 

Which pattern would you choose? Which fabric? What should I do?

2 comments:

  1. Oh my stars, those parts are sublime. I'm always drawn to highly feminine styles, which they each are, and wish I could wave a magic wand and have one of each of those stunners land in my closet right now. Not being a sewer, I'll just have to daydream about it, but what a fun daydream that is! :)

    I really want to thank you for speaking so candidly and sharing so much about your past with me in your blog comment today. It truly sounds like your life has been a roller coaster of ups and downs in the last few years, honey. I think you're an incredibly brave, strong, resilient, smart, creative, ambitious, beautiful (inside and out), amazing woman and I have nothing but respect and admiration for you.

    ♥ Jessica

    ReplyDelete
  2. Seriously, if you find that magic wand wave it a couple of times for me, lol! I love sewing, but my time for keeps becoming less and less, especially sewing for me and especially this time of year.
    You are truly an inspiration to me for being such a strong person in spite of how you feel or your circumstances!
    I tend to be the kind of person who talks a lot, and I think my comments end up reflecting that, and I used to have a problem telling the truth, so mercifully the Lord has been changing me to see that sharing so openly who I am and what I've went through might not only glorify Him, but help encourage someone else. I am so weak, but I serve the truly all mighty and omnipotent God and He is my strength.
    Praying all is well with you and your husband and may God bless you both!
    Sarah

    ReplyDelete