Thursday, April 28, 2011

Cherry Playsuit


Even though this month of April has been far from springlike here in Wisconsin, (today we're hovering in the low 40s under a steely gray sky), I'm getting a jump on my summer sewing.  This is a separate blouse and shorts I did up in a piece of vintage linen/cotton. 



Cherries are one of my favorite iconic designs from the 1950s.  They're in my kitchen, and I have a few cherry accessories in my wardrobe, too.  But it's easy to over do it and look like  a walking Mary Engelbreit advertisement.  However, when I found this vintage fabric, I felt totally justified in going for a complete outfit!







I used the Butterick 7308 dress pattern to fashion the bodice.  I love the collar detail but didn't have enough fabric to do the full dress.  Eliminating the side zip, I added buttons down the front and lengthened the blouse hem to allow for tucking it in. 

The shorts are my old go-to pattern that I've used several times already for peg-leg, wide-leg and shorts.  Simple darts front and back, no pockets, back zip with one button closure makes for a slim fitting piece that's easy to wear.



So whenever Mother Nature gets around to sending some warm air our way, I'll be ready! 

Next up on my summer sewing list: a pair of capris and matching blouse in a fabulous floral of daisies on soft green!  I think this cherry outfit has cured me (partially) of my fear of matching separates.  Typically I'm drawn towards more contrasting colors and hate when I'm in a single color palette.  But this look is growing on me (slowly).  :)

7 comments:

  1. Oh, it's too cute!! I love the cherry pattern.

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  2. Adorable playsuit and adorable fabric.

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  3. Thanks girls! I'm so excited to actually wear it!

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  4. Awesome, I love the fabric and feel the same way about cherries. I have basically given up on cherry fabric. I'm with you on the weather bit, it seems as if summer might not happen this year. Where did you find the vintage fabric?

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  5. @ Kat - Gotta love etsy! Lots of vintage fabric but sometimes hard to find enough yardage. Since it's only 35" wide, it takes 3 yds to do a gored skirt and 5-6 to do a full-skirted dress.

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