It was not planned this way. Not much so far this year has been planned in the way it is going, truth be told. Which makes my most recent make both tinged with nostalgia and hopeful. Mostly hopeful, I think.
For over thirty years I have had this length of Liberty Lawn surface time and again from its storage basket in my fabric closet. I never had the right pattern for it, not when I purchased it on the island of Bermuda back in the 1980s, nor over the ensuing years – that is, until this year. After making my wool challis shirtdress earlier in the year, I realized that same pattern was how I had subconsciously – for years – envisioned this fabric being used.
It has been satisfying to use this fabric, finally, as it deserves to be used. Liberty is one of the world’s famous manufacturers of cotton. Did you know it has its own entry in Fairchild’s Dictionary of Fashion? Actually two entries – one under Liberty and another under Liberty Print. Here is the latter entry: “Trademark of Liberty, London, for wide range of printed fabrics. The best known are small multicolored floral designs.” (The Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion, by Charlotte Mankey Calasibetta and Phyllis Tortora, Third Edition, Fairchild Publications, Inc, New York, New York, c2003.) I wrote about Liberty cotton way back in 2012 when I was still pondering the use of this red and green floral print. But voila! Now I have used it!
Enough of the blah, blah, blah, here are the details: I underlined the fabric with a very lightweight white cotton batiste, purchased from Farmhouse Fabrics. Then I finished the raw edges of the seams with Hug Snug rayon seam binding. I love this finish for garments which are underlined, but not lined.
Here is a detail of the cuff. I did not underline the sleeves.
As I mentioned in my post on the wool challis shirtdress, I added shoulder darts to the back of the bodice, and instead of using an eased-in sleeve, I converted the necessary fullness into a dart at the very top of the sleeve. The button placement guide for this pattern indicates using 8 buttons. I think next time I make this pattern (and I’m sure there will be a next time), I am going to increase that number to nine. I think the distance between buttons on the bodice is just a bit too much, now that I have it finished.
Speaking of buttons, I found white pearl, metal shank buttons in my collection, and they seemed just perfect for this fabric, which has such a fresh appearance. The only substitution I made was the button on the collar band, where I used a button which was 3/8” rather than 1/2”. Fortunately I had a card of 4 buttons in this size which mimics the appearance of the other buttons.
A detail of one button on the bodice.
For the belt/sash, I got my inspiration from RTW which I detailed back in January. My first thought was to use a red grosgrain ribbon sash. But it just didn’t look right. Fortuitously, in looking in Promenade Fabrics Etsy store for ribbons that might work, I came across a white Seersucker-look 2 ½” wide light weight ribbon which I thought looked wonderful. I ordered three yards, and it was just as wonderful as it looked online. However, in holding it up to my fabric, there was enough “show-through” to be problematic.
The ribbon was not opaque enough to cover sufficiently the print of the fashion fabric.
To remedy this, I used a fusible interfacing for the middle section of the sash which would be the initial circling of my waist. (I rarely use fusible interfacings, although I keep some on hand for some of the sewing I do for my granddaughters, but this time it came in handy.) This did the trick and also added just a bit of stiffness to that section of the sash. Then the un-faced end sections of the sash are still soft and flowing.
This shows the sash with fusible interfacing applied to the mid-section of the length of the sash, but not to the top layer nor bow. It adds just enough coverage to minimize the appearance of the fashion fabric beneath it.
After I took photos, I got the idea to fold the interfaced part of the sash in half lengthwise to make it narrower and maybe a bit more flattering. Here it is on my dress form:
One of our few warm, sunny days allowed me to get these following photos.
While I was making this dress, I could not help but remember the fun trip my husband and I took to Bermuda when I purchased this Liberty cotton. I still remember trying to decide which piece of Liberty print to purchase (so many from which to choose), how many yards to get (it was still manufactured in 35” width at that point), and being delighted to get a label with it. Those were the times when one dressed for dinner, had breakfast served in one’s room , and tea in the afternoon. Yes, I could not help but be nostalgic. But then I had so much fun bringing this fabric to life, I could not help but feel hopeful. It was a lovely way to spend the hours in my sewing room. And how fitting to sew with fabric which perfectly expresses my sentiments right now. Please, give me Liberty!
fiftydresses 
Beautiful dress…as always! I was curious why you chose to underline the fabric? And also why you chose underlining over lining?
Good question, Yvonne. Liberty lawn is a very fine, tight weave, and while that makes it lovely, it is also quite light weight. I underlined it to give it some body. I chose underlining rather than lining as the underlining gives me a surface upon which to invisibly sew the hem and the front facings. And I’m not sure how to explain this, but underlining it just made sewing sense to me.
Admit it….it is the couture in you. And it is greatly appreciated by your fans to see fine sewing skills still exist.
Lovely dress and the fabric works well for this style. Great couture construction techniques as usual.
Thank you, Margene!
Your dress is lovely and you’re so clever figure out how to make your belt work. Ah Bermuda; I have wonderful memories of my time there in the early 1990s. It’s a special place. I’ve been sewing like a fiend myself. A summer dress, three pairs of shorts and lots of face masks for family and friends.
Sounds like you have been busy. Peggy! That’s a good thing. I hope we both make it back to Bermuda one of these days/years!
Love your dress! Yes, give us all liberty!
Thank you, and my sentiments exactly!
It certainly makes us happy to see you in this pretty, cheerful dress. You make happy dresses. It is a pleasure to read how you made it so well.
In old books before television there was an emphasis on the family hour or the family circle, which was a cultural time or reading poetry, playing music and singing, and discussing the arts. That and afternoon tea would give us occasions to wear our dresses at home. I won’t do it though. Much as I like the idea. I have on my comfiest loungewear to watch a Balanchine dance performance on YouTube. I do think, especially if this lasts long, a routine that includes looking forward to something special at home is good in theory. Oh, wear whatever you like because you’ll surely get to wear it in public before too long. Just please keep blogging. We look forward to this and enjoy. Bless you lots!
Thank you, Mery! I, too, am finding it difficult to think about getting “dressed up” at home with no place to go. I try to look presentable, but I’m usually in my blue jeans. What I am really looking forward to is going out to the store with bight red lipstick on and NO mask.
It’s just lovely! I have a print I purchased not long before the quarentine began, that I’ve been think would make a great shirt dress. Yours is inspiring me!
Thanks, Kathy! Go for it!
Wondering how you finished the armhole seam? The same rayon tape?
Thanks for asking! I sewed each armhole seam twice, stitching lines close together. Then I trimmed the seam allowance down to about 3/8″ with my pinking shears and clipped the curves. I have found using the seam binding in that application is too restrictive.
Very flattering dress. Glad to see you well and sewing. Maybe this time will force some serious stashbusting as we can’t go shopping. Liberty cotton with batiste underlining must feel wonderful. I also try and shop for fabric when traveling as a reminder of the trip. Hopefully those days will return.
Thanks, Mary. One thing is for sure – everything we make during this time will always remind us of these unfortunate months and how we spent our days. But it sure is nice to be able to focus on something creative right now. All the best to you…
Gorgeous work and I do so love Liberty cottons. Late to the party, but want to inquire about seam binding cotton with rayon. My experience with rayon, probably because I wear it to death, is that it doesn’t hold up over time. The fabric deteriorates if not dry cleaned. What am I missing here?
What I like about this rayon seam binding (Hug Snug) is it is not only soft and pliable but very stable. I don’t think interior seams get a lot of wear and tear, and I have never noticed that this particular bind does not hold up well or wear well. I hope that addresses your concern?
Thanks for responding. I look forward to trying that Hug Snug binding myself. Love the blog! You inspire me to take my time and up craftsmanship.