Dolly Clackett sewalong - Car Fest Simplicity 2444 dress

I have to admit I have been Blog-stalking Dolly Clackett since I took up sewing.She lives nearby in Leamington, her blog style is very engaging and she is both prolific and talented in the dress-making stakes. I do envy her ability to rock a quirky looking retro dress, even though the style doesn't particularly suit me. And the shoes! Man, I love the shoes.

So I was excited to see the sewalong her friend has organised for her forthcoming wedding. The perfect opportunity to finish and showcase my CarFest dress! This is truly a Dolly-inspired dress, from the retro print fabric to the use of her old favourite, Simplicity 2444.

I have made this dress in preparation for CarFest, which is, oh, 6 months away! I'm so excited about it though, as The Boy is a total petrol head. The fabric is from Ditto Fabrics in Brighton and I also bought some other car-related fabrics from Fabricland to make The Boy some funky shirts for the festival. That's the next project.

 

So, with this dress, I lengthened the bodice and graded it between a couple of sizes for a better fit (although it's actually a bit looser than I planned - I've had a stomach bug and I think I've lost weight - better get back on the cakes!). I also scooped out the neckline at the front and back to make it a bit more summery. I lined the bodice as the fabric is quite sheer, but I haven't got round to lining the skirt as I ran out of lining! I'm even toying with a proper petticoat to give the skirt a bit of oomph. I managed to insert an invisible zip between the lining and the main fabric, using this tutorial. Overall I am pretty happy, although I will need to insert some bra strap holders as the neckline is a bit wide across my scrawny upper chest and my straps keep poking out.



I've said before that I don't feel quite right in this style of dress as it feels a bit too girly and young for me. But at festivals anything goes, so I'm looking forward to wearing this. I just hope the sun shines!