a Toile de Jouy Dress - NewLook Pattern 6370

I have made a new dress out of a favored Toile de Jouy fabric using NewLook Pattern 6370.

A dress that began as a dress for my daughter, Melissa.  Um, yes, you are seeing me here....

.....because she needs dresses and she likes the NEWLOOK 6370 style of dress.  Princess seams front and back, V-neck variation, gathered skirt, sleeves.  She liked this pattern when I brought it home with her in mind..... she seemed to like the fabric on the bolt...

.....but as the construction process was progressing, it was clear she was not in love with this dress.  She was maybe tolerating it because her mother was making it for her.... but not loving it.

As her mother, that was sweet, but I don't want to put a guilt trip on my daughter to 'like' or 'wear' an outfit simply because I made it for her.  I, on the other hand, LOVED this fabric.... always have ever since I purchased it a few years ago from the Home Dec fabric department of I can't remember where.  ;) 

I only knew the fabric as a 'toile'..... and thanks ever so much to SaSa from Alles neu macht der Mai! via an Instagram conversation, she told me my fabric is called Toile de Jouy.  Ever interested in learning new things, toile de jouy was immediately googled to read about this beautiful fabric at wikipedia and learn the correct pronunciation at merriam-webster dictionary.   DesignSponge also wrote an article on its history you can read here.

So, this dress was not made with myself in mind and to be honestly truthful, I've not been sure how I feel about this style of dress for me.  On me. 

It's not the pattern's fault, nor the fabric's fault..... just this particular style always seemed more suited for the younger set? 

Not my age?  Thoughts?!!!

So many, many mistakes were made making this dress that it shall be counted as a grand learning experience in lining and underlining and what not to do.

Made size 14, view A (with no lace overlay) because that's where Melissa's measurements fell.  No modifications to the pattern were made with the exception that I cut the sleeves where I ran out of fabric and they turned out perfect.  Took 1/2" off center back of bodice and skirt and also sewed a 1" seam allowance at center back with the zipper application because at that point I was beginning to realize this dress would probably be mine and it was the only way I could think to alter it a little smaller at that time.  For some reason I went with a regular zipper and am pleased with the topstitching.

Lined... or rather underlined..... with the softest 100% cotton from le stash.  It was meant to be 'lined', but instead ended up as underlining and that was the biggest mistake in making this dress.  The toile fabric and cotton were treated as one at the bodice waist gathering, so it makes the skirt a little stiff.  Treated each separately at the hem and the hem is the barest of hems simply serged and turned up and straight stitched.  At that point I wasn't sure if this dress would be wearable but I still wanted it 'complete'. Below, you can see where I finally made do with the way I put the zipper in.  All wrong.... but from the outside who knows?!

Front and back inside out.  Did not line the sleeves.  Wanting a nice clean finish on the sleeves, machine hemmed with the blind hem stitch feature on my machine.  The more I use that feature, the more I like it.  It is so easy and so fast and produces an almost invisible hem.

In the photo below we'll talk first about the positive..... I was stupendously happy with the fabric's pattern placement.  I got the shepherd and the sheep perfectly centered on the front bodice piece.  The negative.... it seems a little large.  If I ever make this again specifically for myself, I think a 12 would be about right.

Here, below, showing the beautiful princess seams.  I happen to really like princess seams and feel it is a universal flattering look.  You can see where this princess seam is a little 'off' my bust line and not filled out correctly.  Am very pleased with the length of the sleeves though. 

Sooooooo, what have I done with this dress so far?  I've worn it to The Peace Center for the Performing Arts to see a matinee performance of the Broadway play 'Sound of Music' with my family as part of my recent birthday celebration.  Below, I'm standing in front of the Concert Hall entrance.  I took along my coral Burda Jacket and wore little flat shoes because there's always lots of walking in downtown Greenville, South Carolina.

A really nice lady offered to take my family's picture for us.  As I was prepping this photo to incorporate in today's blog post..... taking the time to really 'look' at the three of us..... maybe I can now understand why Melissa did not like this dress.  She has her own unique style that I haven't quite figured out how to help her in that category yet.  ;)

I do like this dress MUCH better with my heeled pumps!  Methinks it is a keeper.

Speaking of my shoes..... love, love, love my LifeStride Parigis!!!  First pair of pumps that look stylish and are so comfortable to wear.

And my carefully tended and planted wildflower garden seems to be doing well this year.  :)

Happy Sewing Everyone!