Diane on Whidbey Island

Sunday, October 3, 2021

"7-Year Itch" Dotted Dress

It's been over a year since I have posted. I started working part time last year and don't have as much time to sew. I also still have to be careful about how much sewing I do each day because of my neck and elbows. But I'm back! I have several things to blog about, but I wanted to start with my latest project.

In the 1955 film, "The 7-Year Itch" Marilyn Monroe wears three beautiful white dresses. Of course this is the iconic dress from the film.

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I love this dress too, and would like to make it in the future.

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But this is my favorite dress in the movie.

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I have made my interpretation of this dress many, many times.

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My first attempt in 2006, I had found a great piece of black and white rayon challis. I wish I had bought more of it.

My second attempt was a commission for the Franklin Mint Marilyn doll.

This is my 3rd and last attempt. I took me years to find the right fabric again. I needed a fabric that would drape for the skirt detail.

Of course, after I had cut out all the dresses I wanted to make, I found a better photo of the dress. Why didn't I find this photo years ago? Ugh! The dots are green and not black! And the skirt! I did the skirt so wrong! I had decided to omit the gathers at the bodice because they didn't lay right on the doll, so I was fine with that difference. For my dress, I sewed a drape/sash into the side seams of the dress and tied them in the front. After a closer inspection of the original dress, I decided it would have been impossible to replicate the detail of the skirt in miniature. I decided not to feel too bad about it.

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My dress is "loosely" inspired by the film.

I found a lot of great photos off the internet.

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The Franklin Mint Marilyn Monroe version

Tonner's version

Since I was going to make the patterns to sell, I wanted to see what the dress would look like in a cotton print without the skirt drape. It turned out really well.

I added a full skirt to the bodice for an adorable sundress.

Pattern Coming Soon!

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Balmain's 1953 Lace Dress

It was love at first sight when I saw this 1953 Pierre Balmain dress.

My attempt at recreating the pose.

I studied the original dress' photos and tried to figure out how the dress was made.

My biggest challenge was making the chiffon bodice.

I also wanted to try my hand at dying white nylon lace.

I didn't have to dye this pink lace, I was thrilled to find this lace at JoAnn Fabrics.

Nylon is a synthetic fiber, but it falls into the natural fiber category for dying. It picks up the dye quickly and it was tricky figuring out how long to leave the lace in the water. I used yellow and tan dye to get this color.

I loved the yellow dress so much, I kept a copy for myself.

This blue was a lot harder to dye. I ended up with a yard of a lovely blue lace that was nowhere near the color of the chiffon and satin. I plan on using it later for something else. The blue of this lace actually changes color depending on the lighting. Sometimes it looks spot on, other times it looks a little too green, and other times it looks a little too purple.

To make the lace hem, I rough cut out the lace flowers and Fray-Checked the edges and then cut the flowers out. The flowers were then hand sewn to the bottom of the lace skirt.

I also made an adorable white lace wedding dress.

While I was making the lace dresses, I started wondering what the dress would look like in a cotton print. I ended up loving this design in a floral.

To purchase this pattern, click here.

Sunday, May 3, 2020

"Something's Got to Give" Red and White Ensemble

The third and final costume from "Something's Got to Give"

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I love this simple sheath and coat ensemble.

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It took me a while to find the fabric to make the sheath.

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Owner of this outfit had the fabric hand painted to replicate the original dress. It is incredible! There was no way I would be able to paint flowers on fabric.