Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Abstract Garden Maxi Dress


So what does a 5'9"  girl do when she wants a maxi dress and she cannot find one in a store long enough?  In my house, you ask Mom to
make one.




Meredith's request was for a simple maxi dress out of some fabulous fabric.  I sent her right to Mood Fabrics and she set-up a Moodboard just for her, appropriately named Meredith Maxi Dress.  the Moodboard is such a convenient way to gather virtual swatches for a pattern, garment type or fabric type.  Once Meredith had thoroughly searched the Mood site, she decided on Mood Fabrics'  jersey print, which reminds me of an abstract garden painting.  A mixture of  blooms with the leaves and other green vegetation, a gorgeous color combination.




Next Meredith had to decide on a pattern, she went with Vogue 8241, a pattern for woven fabric but easily changed.

The first thing I did was to lower the front neckline.  As shown on the pattern, it is a very high neckline and not a look Meredith wanted.  I used one of her favorite tops and we made the maxi-dress neckline to match.





With the neckline lowered and the fabric a knit, I could eliminate the keyhole back opening.  I  redrew the back so I could place the back bodice on the fold. 

I was limited on the fabric yardage but I did add a bit of flare to the bottom of the skirt, from the knees down.  With this flare, I added enough for  walking ease and cut the back on the fold also. No back slit necessary with the flare and stretch of a knit.


This fabric is so soft with the most excellent drape, Meredith couldn't have done a better job with matching fabric to pattern.


I think she looks beautiful in her new maxi dress, a mix of elegance in the style of the dress and the fabric is the perfect touch to add a bit of fun and color.


A look from the side with a strong wind pushing the dress into her legs!  If you are looking for a maxi dress pattern to sew up quickly for the end of summer, check this one out.  Only four pattern pieces make sewing and cutting quite easy and for fabric, head over to Mood Fabrics' rayon knits for a wide selection.  Oh, and don't forget to set up a Moodboard to help you with your decision making process.


One thing about Meredith, she really thinks long and hard on any decision, unlike her mom who is quick to a decision.  In the past, this tendency would  annoy me a bit  but now I appreciate this quality in Meredith.  This almost always results in a great decision, after all, just look at this fabric-pattern combination.  Meredith has a dress she will enjoy for years to come.

You can go Mood Sewing Network and check out my post there and all the other great garments from the other bloggers.  Inspiration galore!

46 comments:

  1. Gorgeous! Great choice of fabric and pattern.

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    1. Thank you, Deb, I think it looks wonderful on her.

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  2. This is such a great dress! I used this pattern to make my best friend a mother of the bride dress. It is made from robin's egg blue silk crepe with a silk satin lining. A guest at the wedding told her she looked absolutely regal! What a great compliment!

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    1. I bet that dress was stunning. The pattern has such classic styling.

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  3. Gorgeous dress for a beautiful young woman!

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  4. Oooh - that's a great pattern/fabric combination! And the dress really shows off your daughter's height. As a 5'9" woman, I understand RTW maxi frustrations!

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    1. Thank you, Clio, she was thrilled not to have ankles showing!

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  5. Your daughter looks beautiful! And you two are the opposite of my daughter (who is also 5'9") and me -- I'm the slow agonizing decision-maker and she is the quick one:)

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    1. Thanks, Angela, that is funny about being opposite to us.

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  6. What a gorgeous dress on her! Great job to both you and Meredith for a the pattern and fabric combination.

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    1. Thank you, Stacy, she does good design work.

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  7. Great fabric choice Meredith!! You look beautiful! I loved having a mom who sewed too, because then I could always get that special outfit that was in my mind but nowhere to be found in a store.

    Lori, the work and love you've put into your home makes it such a gorgeous setting for photos. It must be so nice to actually live there. :-)

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    1. Thank you, Debbie, for Meredith and me. Thanks so much for the compliments on my house, I enjoy my flowers so much and living here.

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  8. Anonymous2:40 PM

    It is a beautiful dress.

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  9. Mmm, beautiful dress! The maxi suits her slender figure so well. How lucky that she has a mom who sews, right? (What does a tall girl without a sewing mother do?!)

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    1. Thank you, June, being tall myself, I sure grew tired of wearing short pants! lol

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  10. You and your lovely daughter are a sewing dynamo! She looks lovely in that dress; she made an excellent fabric choice. (I think that prints are especially challenging to select when you can't see them in person.) Lovely lovely!

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    1. Thank you so much. She loves clothes, that is for sure!

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  11. Meredith looks beautiful, such a pretty fabric choice.

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  12. Very nice! Such a colorful print she picked out!

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    1. Thank you, Steph, it is a gorgeous fabric.

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  13. She will love wearing that dress to parties at college. Yes, they do still dress up at least once a semester! But she could also do the flip-flops and cardigan to wear to class. It looks so comfortable. Great job!

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    1. You are so right, she will love wearing this at college. I have a feeling she will be wearing it to class a bit. Maybe the first week.

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  14. It looks like the perfect combination for her! I love that pattern and made it for myself but it looked terrible. Maybe if I were thinking more clearly I should have saved the pattern and lowered the neckline because it really changes the look...in a good way!

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    1. Thank you, Dana, the neckline did make a difference.

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  15. Love the dress and the fabric. So nice you can sew for your girls. Your property is a great back drop as well.

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    1. Thank you, Amy, it is wonderful to sew for them. Like everyone, I need more time.

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  16. Fits in perfectly with the garden. Lovely.

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    1. Thank, Vicki, it was the perfect backdrop

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  17. What a lovely dress -- and daughter. The fabric is gorgeous and the simple style is perfect on Meredith. She is doubly blessed -- to be so tall and willowy and to have a mother to sew for her!!

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    1. Thank you, Cissie. She is a good model for all I make.

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  18. Beautiful dress Lori! Keep up the sewing for Meredith as you're giving me all kinds of ideas, LOL.

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  19. Thanks, Levone, I think it might be turn next!

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  20. What a beautiful dress for a beautiful young lady. It looks absolutely perfect on Meredith - and probably not only because she made great decisions on fabric and design, but her talented mom custom fit and made it to her wishes and needs. Your flowers make such a pretty photo back-drop too.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa, she is a good designer and boss! LOL This has been a good year for flowers, some nice rains and cooler temps.

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  21. Cute maxi! Your daughter looks lovely! My daughters are tall also so it isn't always easy to find the right length is pants or dresses! Great job momma.

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    1. Thanks, Joen, tall is a good thing until maxi dresses are involved. :)

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  22. She looks like a Grecian goddess. Lovely.

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  23. Lori, Meredith looks lovely in the creation that you made for her and I love her sandals too, or what I can see of them. Great job as usual mom.

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    1. Thanks Andrea, I think the sandals came from The Buckle and they were quite reasonable for the store.

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