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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The ‘Jumping in Puddles’ Dress



The Facts
Fabric: 3 yards of Japanese cotton print. On sale for $24
Pattern: Colette Parfait. Second use so $0
Year: 2009
Notions: 2 leftover buttons and red piping from stash, and red zipper $1.50
Time to Complete: 5 hours
First worn: January 21st, 2012. I paired it up with a cardigan so I wasn’t freezing.  I was indoors watching a dance competition all day.
Wear again: Yes!
Total Price: $25.50


Sometimes we do crazy things for sewing challenges.  Mainly, make a summer dress... in the middle of winter.  But I am in California and our idea of winter is most places idea of a cold summer day. Well, the Bay Area finally decided that it was going to do it's own take on winter!  We were having a wonderful warm spell when the rain finally started.  But that’s just in time for the this week’s theme - celebrating the opposite season in honor of our friends down under!  
It’s only fitting that the dress be Colette’s Parfait.  I made a version of this last year that was probably that dress that I wore the most last summer.  I thought I would save some time by having the pattern already cut out, but I probably used all of that saved time back up by the details.
I added a red piping to the middle of the dress and pockets.  I used Adey’s tutorial to insert the piping, and while it was time consuming, I totally love how it changes the look of the dress.  I also had two red buttons leftover from the last Parfait that I made, so I used them for the straps.  I left the buttons off of the pockets since I already had red piping on them.
It had just rained the morning of my photos and it was a tad chilly, but I put on my galoshes and ran outside to get some pictures.  I know, I know - California winters are wimpy and I have nothing to complain about.
I actually ended up wearing it for the rest of the day, but more sensibly paired with a cardigan and a jacket.  Luckily, I was indoors for most of the day so it was doable.  But I can’t wait for summer so I can wear this more often!

What I Watched: 
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Moulin Rouge (2001)
Sugar and Spice (2001)
Strictly Ballroom (1992)
The first two were more Oscars research. The third... I can't explain... it's a guilty pleasure. The fourth, I just love.



Creative Itch

13 comments:

  1. This dress is just tooooo cute!!! The red piping really tops it off beautifully.

    Strictly Ballroom is up high on my list of favourites too... along with The Princess Bride, While You Were Sleeping and Gone With The Wind. Could watch all 4 on rotation and never stop!

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    1. Ohhh the Princess Bride is on constant rotation in our house! I love While You Were Sleeping too. I hate to admit that I still don't think I've seen all of Gone with the Wind... eep! I may need to Netflix it for my next big project.

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  2. so cute and valentines appropriate.

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  3. Absolutely beautiful! I love the piping you added, it adds a lot of visual interest to the dress. You look lovely in it!

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  4. What a beautiful and feminine dress! :D

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  5. I love the piping! Great dress.

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  6. "TINA SPARKLE!" And now I've just started saying "Fran" for no reason at all. Love me some Strictly Ballroom. ANYWAY - back to the fabulousness that you have created for this week. I ADORE your dress! The piping is perfect and adds a fabulous touch of color to the dress - love the red buttons, too! Its a pretty fantastic ensemble all around :)

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    1. haha I love how they say 'Tina Sparkle!' That's now going to be in my head all day.'You must FEEL the music!'

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  7. Anonymous2:53 PM

    I love it! I have this pattern and must sew it up this year.

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  8. Four Weddings and a Funeral introduced the world to Hugh Grant, and I've enjoyed that film for years. Moulin Rouge, also excellent. Strictly Ballroom is good for what it was....I nothing for Sugar & Spice :-) And of course the dress is cute :)

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  9. I just fell in love with your blog and your amazing sewing skils <3 what a pretty dress! great work :)

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  10. Hanne Skeide6:58 AM

    Beautiful!!! I found your blog googling for pictures of parfait, and this blog is so incredible inspiring!
    I love the clothes, the food and the gorgeous pictures.

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