While the Northern hemisphere waves goodbye to another summer… in the Southern hemisphere we are impatiently waiting for ours to arrive. I agree, I am rather spoilt… we took these photos mid-August on a quiet local beach while walking the dog and I wasn’t cold, it was a beautiful day.
Spring is nearly here & a sundress is an eminently sensible way to celebrate. Thank you Mood Fabrics for supplying this for my Mood Sewing Network post – much appreciated!
New Look 6048 – my Hello & Goodbye Summer Dress. Grinning like a goose as the waves catch me unawares!
Once I spotted this beautiful black & white lightweight stretch cotton on the Mood Fabrics website I was head over heels in love. I love a classic black/white print, however it’s the pop of aqua that makes this fabric gorgeous. Mood was most helpful in pairing it with a beautiful contrast cotton sateen for me, this one is Hawaiian Ocean Blue Stretch Cotton Sateen. Thse fabrics have a lovely weight to them, not too heavy and not too light (I know, sounds suspiciously like a breakfast cereal commercial!).
I love this combination, it is light, crisp and summery. I also have a particular fondness for cotton sateens. They are marvellously easy to sew with and endlessly versatile… not to mention coming in a wide variety of gorgeous colours and prints.
White-Black Lightweight Stretch Cotton Print from Mood Fabrics
This fabric is lovely quality and a generous 58 inches wide, giving you lots of room to play – perfect for those wider or circle skirts. It has a touch of lycra which adds a bit of crosswise stretch to the fabric – hello comfortable sundress!
I had planned to make a Vogue Vintage frock… however I kept coming back to New Look 6644 and in the end I gave into my instincts. The pattern itself is easy to sew, which isn’t why I chose it, I simply love a sweetheart neckline and the bodice has princess seams. It’s got three lovely deep pleats across the front and back, giving the skirt some fullness, without too much heaviness.
I decided to fully line this dress with some cotton lawn from my stash. I always have several metres stashed as it seems to be useful for all manner of projects.
Lining a dress might seem onerous or double the sewing time, I find lined dresses last longer, wear better and crease less. I also often make the lining to test the fit. It’s an excellent timesaver because if it does indeed fit… you are half way there!
New Look 6048 – fully lined. I like my lining to be several centimetres shorter than my shell, I’m not one for peekaboo hemlines.
If you are considering lining this particular dress, when you line the bodice you just need to layer the shell and lining wrong sides together. The top contrast band is then attached to both fabrics along the neckline on the wrong side then turned over to the front of the dress and slip-stitched down. It’s a very simple and neat finish.
I also decided to give the dress a little more structure by adding some lightweight boning to the lining seams. I used rigilene (which looks like this), which is made from woven nylon rods and can be sewn directly onto the seams. For a sundress I don’t think you want very rigid boning, just something with enough structure to support the curve of the dress seams so it sits nicely over your body. I love how this dress sits with a some added soft structure and shape.
Side view – New Look 6048. Yes… for the pocket junkies, this dress is just the ticket.
I opted to use a white invisible zipper for this dress. I did worry for a little while about the white zipper tab showing at the top of the dress… however I actually really like the white contrast against the aqua and decided to leave it white rather than painting it with nail polish to conceal it.
New Look 6048 – back view
Cotton sateen and stretch cotton are just lovely to sew with. They have a little more weight than a basic poplin and are far more forgiving to sew. Not to mention the slightly lovely sheen that the fabrics possess, giving a humble sundress a little more wow.
I would advise not ignoring those pattern instructions advising you to staystitch your edges, the lycra stretch does need to be contained as you don’t want a gaping neckline! I think this pattern is particularly suited to cotton sateen as the neckline is staystitched, stitched and then understitched… AND the contrast band is interfaced, making it far less likely to stretch out.
I think this dress would look lovely with a patent black belt and simple heels.
Now I’m off to sit out the final days of my winter… and embrace some welcome warmth and sunshine. I am one of those people guilty of clinging to their summer dresses as autumn approaches and wearing them in the fading days of winter, teamed with cardigans and jackets in a desperate bid to pretend the colder days will soon be gone…. I’m not the only one that does that… am I?
… I think I have just enough of this amazing fabric to whip up a print summer blazer with aqua highlights… *trots off to sewing room again*
Fabrics from Mood Fabrics NY: White-Black Lightweight Stretch Cotton Print (1 7/8 yard) & Hawaiian Ocean Blue Stretch Cotton Sateen (1/4 yard)
Pattern: New Look 6048 (I made size 6 – I should have made a 4 but perhaps the slightly looser fit will be more comfortable in summer!)
this one is simply because I know many of you love a good whippet photo bomb… (note: most of my photos are taken with the whippet on quiet local beaches where dogs are permitted unleashed… I think he rather loves blog photo times!)
Banjo: serial whippet photo bomber!
Sew Busy Lizzy 
Puppy!!!! He does look awfully happy. Your dress is great! The boning does make the dress looks really polished – and it’s nice to see you bringing back the blue into your wardrobe! 😉
Thanks Gillian! I adore blue & I think I need some more… & how good is commenting in WordPress? 😉
Gorgeous both fabric and fit. Plus I love the beautiful insides too. Good tip about the boning. I think Im going to start using more too.
Thank you 🙂 the boning is so easy to apply there seems no reason to me not to add it to projects – you just stitch it down. I love the insides too… that little peek-a-boo of aqua along the neckline just makes me go squee!
Beautiful dress — love the aqua!
It adds such a bright touch to the black & white combo doesn’t it!
So lovely!! Your finishes are just as lovely. I haven’t used boning is such a long time so thanks for the reminder….it does make some dresses look better.
Hi Margo – thank you so much, I was rather chuffed that it looked so fab inside out so it’s nice people notice that. The woven rod boning is so easy to apply it’s just like sewing another seam, I love the stuff!
I love the colour pop. 🙂
me too Heather! I’m imagining it on a blazer now…
makes me feel cold just at the moment, but it’s lovely and looks like something that’s just right for both casual and less-casual wear. Win-win.
Hi Felicity – I think you are right – it’s the type of dress that’s easy to wear just about anywhere… the best kind of makes don’t you think?
Very pretty dress. I also often use a lining to test fit. Love how neat the inside of your dress is.
There is something rather fabulous about an immaculate lining isn’t there… especially when the pattern didn’t even plan for it!
It’s gorgeous! I always shy away from linings and cheat and wear an under slip, however I never even considered the make the lining first and check it for fit! Inspirational! Thanks!
I prefer linings to facing (not that this dress had facings as the top band takes care of that). I think the dresses are nicer to wear so I like to add them when I feel so inclined 🙂
What a gorgeous dress! Also love the pockets. We are just saying goodbye to summer here in UK.
I hate it when summer waves goodbye and there is a stretch of long cold months ahead… I’m quite lucky as it doesn’t get terribly cold here but our houses are also not really built for the cold so it’s tough to live through chilly nights.
I agree the pockets are great. I love that the skirt is full so the pockets don’t add any extra bulk.
Lovely sun dress. I am envious that you are heading into spring and I have winter looking my way. 😦 Enjoy!
Winter can be such a drudge – I hope your winter isn’t too cold!
Great dress! Cotton sateen is a favourite of mine as well.
I always think of cotton sateen as the ‘Madge’ of the sewing world. Wonderfully friendly and agreeable, she just wants to help you make a good project!
Love the dress and the fabric. So jealous summer is coming your way. Would be quite happy for it to be summer all the time. And also thanks for the lining as a muslin idea – Genius.
I’d happily sign a petition for year-long summer!
Oh I love the action shot of Banjo! Gorgeous dress Lizzy, I’m particularly fond of how a bit of stretch makes a woven sundress so comfy to wear 🙂
He’s an adorable little hound, he cries with excitement on the way to the beach much the kids delight. Cotton sateen is the most agreeable fabric – it even lets you eat lunch!
I love working with cotton satteen too. It’s such beautiful fabric. Your dress is really nice. I do think Mood Fabrics did well helping you choose the aqua to go with it 🙂
And aw puppydog!!!
that last shot! you can almost hear the wind under puppy!
beautiful, lizzy. you’re making me yearn for a fully lined dress…
This dress looks lovely. My favourite is the side seam pockets. Always a winner. Earlier today I was skyping with my Mum and my German aunt, who were both sitting on my Mums verandah in Bali. My Aunt was surprised to hear that Australia was cold (my Mum and I nodding in unison) and when I told her the average winter temperatures: she was rolling her eyes! Clearly your winter is even warmer! I have to stop thinking about making coats now.
So lovely. That color combo really tickles my fancy too. Enjoy your summer in it Lizzy!
I’m a bit, just a teensy bit, embarrassed to admit how long I looked at the inside picture of your dress. Perfection.
Banjo looks so perfectly and completely happy! Such a sweet boy! This dress is gorgeous and so well done. Great job!
Love this dress! And no, you aren’t the only one who holds on to “warm weather” clothes as though trying to force summer to hang around just a bit longer. I do that too. 🙂
Really gorgeous make. Thanks for the poeak into construction too.
Banjo is all kinds of bundled up enthusiasm and energy!
Your dress looks gorgeous and I’m so glad you went with the little bit of contrast blue, it makes the entire print “pop”. I agree that cotton sateen is one of the loveliest fabrics to sew. It’s so crisp and full without poking outey stiffness.
Wow, what a beauty, it’s very retro looking and a gorgeous shape on you Lizzy. I haven’t commented for ages, but I’m often popping by, you’re as inspiring as ever! x
I love a dress that is as pretty inside as out – although one would be hard-pressed to find a sundress as pretty “out” as this one is! Love that fabric!
That really is gorgeous fabric. I am a bit partial to black and white prints as well.
Oh I love this dress! The fabric’s lovely, I’m a big fan of black and white florals and the little flashes of aqua make it really special. I’ve now put this pattern firmly on my list for sewing next year, I just love the shape, especially the sweetheart neckline. Gorgeous! x
Oh that pop of blue is lovely!
What gorgeous fabric. I love a lined dress, especially soft cotton. I think they hang well, too, in addition to providing a bit more coverage.
You always look breathtakingly beautiful in your photos. I hope you’re feeling well and ready for summer dress season.
That fabric is gorgeous and you’ve made a knock-out dress with it! The weight seems perfect – light enough to move but with enough body to hold it’s shape beautifully and for the skirt to hang in such a fabulous way.
And as for Monsieur Banjo – he is the whippet of joy!
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I really like the dress although I am moving more to sleeves as I enter my 60’s! Not so sure about the fabric though.
Looks so lovely! Love the fabric and the pop of aqua at the neckline makes it a total stand out dress. Fabulous! As for the ‘whippet photo bomb’ – hysterical! Growing up, we had a Dalmatian that did that all the time – pretty much every family photo there is a tail, nose, paw or entire dog in the shot. They make for happy memories though 🙂 Banjo looks like he’s having the best time! 😀
Dogs are so funny. Banjo runs at such a pace he’s in & out of photos before we know it! I’m so glad we have him, we are always at the beach as it’s more fun to let him run than restrain him on a leash.
Pretty summer dress and the contrast blue suits beautifully. I like the tip re light boning too. Awesome dog!
Thank you. Boning is underrated I think, especially this lighter type… and it is soooo easy to apply.
I adore my dog… he drives me crazy but he certainly gets us to the beach a lot!