Thursday, August 09, 2012

Skulls & Roses Cambie

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Here is my second Cambie.  Well, it's really my first, but I just hadn't quite finished it before I started my second version.

I've now made both views.  I think the A-line version suits my figure better at the moment, probably because I made the full-skirted one a bit tight at the waist and midriff (not too tight to wear) and it makes the skirt stick out insanely in the hip area.  You won't have seen that in the photos.  I think I purposely may have put my hands on my hips (hehe!)  I think once I have lost a couple of pounds I have put on this year, the full skirt will look better.  I do still really really like the dress, but the hip area is really something I can't reckon with right now.
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Anyway, as I was saying, here is my A-line version.  I was looking for something to use this fabric for, and it had to be something quite sweet and girly, to balance out the gothic fabric.  I knew the Cambie was it right away.  I did want to make the full-skirted version but didn't have enough fabric.  I'm so glad it worked out that way.  No doubt (according to Hugh Everett's MWI) there are many more versions of me all inhabiting their own universe, lamenting the fact that they used this fabric for the full version...but that's a whole other issue - one that crosses my mind often - am I odd?  Gosh, I do love pop science!  You could say reading about stuff I don't understand is a hobby of mine.  Spacetime...don't even get me started on it (not that I know anything about it, but that doesn't stop me).
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But back to the dress.  For the bodice lining I used some relatively thin white cotton with red hearts, and for the skirt, some really lovely quality red lining from Iana Fabrics on ebay.  Oh, and as you will see, I used black lawn on the sleeves and pockets.
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I had bought some French ribbon, and had planned to use it inside the hem but couldn't bring myself to hide it, so I just bound the raw edges of the hem with it and it's there for all to see, and it pleases me.  Binding hems so it shows is becoming a fave of mine.  I also did it with my striped silk dupion skirt but haven't blogged it yet.
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I don't think there is much else to say about this dress.  We all know it's a great pattern, which is a delight to make.  And the dress was much admired at the Christening for which it was made (my mum did ask me if I was making some kind of point, wearing to a christening, but it was not the time to be answering that question!)
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How is that for a fabulously matching pattern?!

24 comments:

  1. WOW. That pattern matching is AWESOME! Do you have a technique you like to use? When it comes to a zipper... man, I can't make a pattern match to save my life. The dress looks wonderful, inside and out!

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  2. Thank you for your comment, Christina.

    Well, first I lay the fabrics side by side to match the pattern before cutting, taking into account the seam allowance (of course!) When I get to the zip bit, I sew the zip in on one side. Next, I match the zip and fabric on the other side as best I can, pin it, and hand baste it in. I then have a test run! I close the zip (actually, I tentatively do that after I have pinned the second side of the zip in place) and if it matches perfectly, then great! If not, take the basting out and adjust (and repeat!) It doesn't take long.

    I always do this to match waist seams, as well as patterns.

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  3. By the way, if you look at the photo with the ribbon, you'll see I cocked up on matching the skirt pieces. I forgot to bother!

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  4. Love the fabric!!! Where did you get it? I think it's perfect for the Cambie dress. Well done on the pattern matching at the bodice zip. Beautiful!

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    1. Thank you! I first saw this fabric in a small shop in Brighton, called Get Cutie, and I bought a skirt in it. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have noticed it when the fabric came up on ebay. It was from FavouriteFabrics1.

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  5. Wow, that's perfect pattern matching in the back. It's a really great dress, I love your fabric choice.

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  6. Where do you get fabric like this!??? It's fabulous!!!
    After seeing this I gave into an urge and purchased a lovely blue skulls fabric I had been in love with.
    It's nowhere near as fabulous as this! This dress is perfect. That back zipper and pattern matching is amazing!!

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    1. Thank you!

      I got the fabric from Favouritefabrics1 on ebay. It was a few months ago, though.

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  7. Wow! I love the fabric, and how the sweetness of the dress design is balanced out by the awesomeness of those cool skulls and roses... and your pattern matching is sheer perfection! Beautiful!

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  8. Wow. The little touches like the hem and the solid shoulders really make this super special. And as ever I want your shoes!

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  9. Thanks Catherine.

    I probably wouldn't have thought of the solid shoulder bits if I hadn't seen a couple of others do it, I have to admit.

    But the ribbon is all mine. Hehe!

    I love my red shoes (Miss KG).

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  10. Your dress is gorgeous. I love both your version of the Cambie dress, they look great on you. And your matching fabric in the back is just incredible, you're a great sewer !

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    1. Ah, thanks so much for your comment. Sometimes I get lucky and it all goes right with the sewing!

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  11. Waouh, Alice, this is such a cool dress! I mean skulls and roses, very rock'n roll! How amazing how one pattern can look so different. Your two versions are really beautiful. Congrats!

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    1. Thanks Pauline!

      I think I may make another, plainer, A-line version.

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  12. Hi Alice, I am back!! Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog. I am slowly getting my life back together now and here I am catching up in blog land for the first time in over five weeks! The skull cambie looks AMAZING absolutely brilliant...and as for those red shoes!! sigh, they look fantastic. I may make the A line skirt of the cambi before I move onto other things. When I wore my cambies to posh dinner nights on the cruise, I realised I need to concentrate a bit more on the fitting stuff. I felt they both gaped a little bit on the sweetheart neck (which I think you have mentioned somewhere too)and also squashed my boobs a bit...hmmm back to the drawing board on that one. I haven't donw any sewing for over a month but I have plans to start again soon. I'm looking forward to winter this year believe it or not...no gardening and more sewing time :o) xxxx

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  13. Great dress and fabric. Yeah I love binding on a hem, I did it once on my African fabric skirt, looked very cute. I will definitely be doing it again.

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  14. This is one of the best cabbies i seen! gorgeous

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  15. oh wow... I am left speechless, that is amazing and that pattern matching just blows me away...I have 2 metres of that material but I think I may just give it away as I know that anything I make with it will just look flat after that amazing dress

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