Thursday, May 19, 2011

My 1940 hooded dress...

 I've been sewing up a storm lately and I am super excited to show you one of my favourite sewing projects to date!  I made this dress from the amazing McCall 3678 from the year 1940:
Oh how I love this pattern--hood, buttons, pleated sleeves, contrast fabric....

I made this dress for the UK meet-up.  I started it on Friday evening and didn't finish it until Saturday morning at around 9:30am (since I caught the 6am train I finished the last bits on the train!!!).  I didn't even go to sleep!!  I was so excited about this dress and about the meet-up!

In honour of the meet-up and this week's theme over at the Sew Weekly, I used a super cute union jack lining material for the hood:

And the pocket flaps:

I used red gabardine (which is a bit tricky to photograph but it's a true red).  After working with the loose weave fabric, gabardine was a dream to sew!!

The pattern is basically a princess seamed dress with buttons going down the entire front:

And there's the hood--I really love the hood:

But I think my favourite part of the dress has to be the lines in the back! The princess seams make the fabric form gentle pleats in the back:

YAY! I am very happy with my new dress!!!
What do you think?
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62 comments

  1. Debi? You what? "started it on Friday evening and didn't finish it until Saturday morning at around 9:30am" how can you work so fast? A dress like this would take me an entire WEEK!
    It's all kind of pretty and it has a hood, which since doing my last coat I want to add everywhere.
    Great job!

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  2. I love the hood too and the red and the contrasting fabric, I love all of it!!

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  3. It's so adorable!! I agree, the lines in the back are gorgeous!!
    Ashley x

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  4. Oh, that is simply gorgeous! I've been waiting impatiently for your post on this ever since I saw the photos come up from the Sew Weekly UK meet up. This dress is just too cute for words! I think it's one of my favourites that you've made so far. :-)

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  5. Oh, sweetiepie, you've outdone yourself. It's difficult for me to name a favourite out of all the outfits you've sewn this year, but this is certainly in the top three. I love the way it fits you, and you did an excellent job on the fine details: The pleats hang beautifully, the buttonholes are neat and aligned, and your choice of the Union Jack fabric for the hood lining and pocket flaps was the perfect final touch that made it really stand out; it will always remind you of your first big sewing blogger meet-up in London! I think you should make it in blue next with Saltire fabric lining, which I'm sure we can find, then have a meet-up in Edinburgh!

    I love how driven you were by your excitement to see your new friends; it made this a very special project. Those last twenty hours were insane and I still find it hard to believe that you were able to keep that light burning so brightly for so long - you've never done that before! You did a wonderful job, my love. It's a wild, wonderful experience I'm sure will be with you for a long time to come.

    A heartfelt thank you, once again, to all the readers here who give Debi so much support. She has come a long way in very short time, and your encouragement and insight have greatly contributed to both her progress and her overall happiness! It's something that is all hers, and as a partner, it's great to see her put so much of herself into something that gives her so much joy.
    I hope Debi's enthusiasm encourages you in your own projects in return.

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  6. you lookeed amazing on the day. My favorite dress !

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  7. I can't believe you made that so quickly - truly amazing! I've never seen a hooded dress before, it's really unusual and cute.

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  8. What a fabulous dress. I love it!

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  9. It looks FAB! I am in love with that dress and the hood is just pure delight. What an amazing feat, I hope you had a good time!

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  10. That has to be my favorite of all the dresses so far!!! I never even fathomed making a hooded dress; now thanks to you I am in love with that design! You look lovely too!

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  11. I had the pleasure of catching a glimpse of you wearing this in real life and it really is beautiful! I love all the details and the hood is amazing...I'm on the lookout for vintage hooded patterns now!

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  12. My, that's some super quick stitching! And what a beautiful result, I love the way the skirt hangs! Both the dress and you look stunning!!

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  13. Debi, as always, just stunning. You are getting really fast to sew that quick, awesome! The hood is just fun. Love it!

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  14. OMG you are amazing and a machine! That is such a fabulous dress and I absolutely love the hood.

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  15. That hood! Hee! It is a crazy outfit: and I mean that as a compliment! Like the other commenters, I can't imagine sewing anything so complicated in such a short space of time.

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  16. Hi Deb, I guess this will be the coat to be posted on the sewing circle. It's really beautiful and lucky you to have such a supportive partner David, when you have that special a person, it makes it that much sweeter. I started sewing shirts for my husband, he was so supportive in my sewing. I try to do 1 piece for him after I complete 7 pieces for myself.

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  17. Great project, and kudos on the fact you used the hooded version. I wonder if it was meant for sun covering (sunglasses in hand...?)? Very, very cool and unique. Love it.

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  18. It's a beautiful dress and just as nice in reality ...

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  19. Wow, its beautiful! I really really like the hood, and it fits you so well.

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  20. WOW! I can see why it's one of your favorite projects! I am so in love with this dress. You look fantastic in this dress.

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  21. Very very nice! Fits is super!

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  22. What isn't fabulous about this dress?!? I love the pockets, the hood, the cute patriotic fabric, the bold use of red.... I love everything!

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  23. Wonderful! I love the union jack fabric lining the hood. I've been looking for a 40s hooded dress pattern forever, but no luck. The closest I've been able to come is a version from the 70s...and now im inspired to try making it up. Love your dress!!!

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  24. Gorgeous! And suits you so well!

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  25. Absolutely beautiful. The vibrant red looks great on you. I really love the length of your hair, looks gorgeous on you.

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  26. I love this dress- it's fantastic - I especially love the hoodie! Congratulations!!

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  27. It's so adorable! I don't know that I would have taken the chance on a hooded dress, but I'm so glad you did, because look how great it looks on you. How are you resisting immediately making 5 more?

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  28. That is a very flattering dress. I saw the photos from the UK meet-up, but the Union Jack lining wasn't easy to see - nice touch!

    I know what you mean about red not photographing well. I was out with the family last night for some wildlife viewing (our neighbour has a baby raccoon), and all the photos looked very strange because we were metering off of my daughter's bright red raincoat.

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  29. My goodness, I just can't believe how adorable that is! I love the hood, it's such a great example of how something can look completely vintage AND completely modern at the same time! It's as though little red ridding hood was like, screw the forest, I need a coffee, and hopped on the train to London. This is amazing.

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  30. I LOVE it!!! It's beautiful, and you look amazing. The lining is precious! I'm so glad I found your blog.

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  31. WOW! This is absolutely gorgeous. I think McCall 3678 is my new holy grail pattern!

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  32. What a beautiful dress!! I really love the Union Jack lining you used, the hood, and everything about it! You are an amazing sewist or is it sewer? I can't believe you finished that dress in such little time! I had to make a princess seamed dress for school and that took me about 2 weeks!

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  33. i absolutely LOVE it! wow!! i never even though about owning a hooded dress but i suddenly feel like i need one now! hahaha!!

    i love love love the color that you chose. love the union jack lining. and you're right - the lines in the back are fab. the whole dress is superb, i can see why it's your favorite!

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  34. I love it! I love it! I love it!

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  35. Ok, this dress is made of the same fabric that dreams are made of - I'm certain of it. The red is so rich, and the Union Jack hood is a perfect touch! I think you have really outdone yourself this time! Seriously, this must be one of my favorite things you've made. The seams in the back! The pockets! *sigh* Looking at this dress makes me happy :) Well done!!

    PS David's post to you was oh so adorable to read and warmed my heart.

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  36. I love the dress. The color is just beautiful on you. Very, very eye catching.

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  37. Utterly divine!!! I'm still amazed at how quickly you put this together! How much of a sweetheart is David? It's so lovely to have a partner who not only admires what you do but is openly encouraging it and giving suggestions on fabric for another one?!? You are a lucky lady :)

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  38. Aww, this is stunning! More (all?) dresses should have hoods - I'm going to have to find a pattern like this.

    You've made this up beautifully - I can't believe you made it in such a short amount of time!

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  39. ohhh I LOVE it!!!!! So adorable! You're making me miss my sewing room. It's official - I'm going back in there this weekend!

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  40. That is fantastic! As someone who sews at a snails pace, I am not sure how you got that done so quickly. :]

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  41. It is such a stunning piece of work! I don't know how you finished it so fast, either, it is like a sewing miracle.

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  42. This dress is TOO CUTE!
    I have a strange moth to flame attraction to hooded things, and McCall patterns, and 1940... so this is totally right up my alley! Kudos on a perfect dress, and I love the hood lining!

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  43. Oh my goodness, Deb!!! This is utterly gorgeous! I was just looking at one of my books on American sportswear the other evening (before bed... am I the only odd one who reads fashion books before sleepytime? ;) ), and musing over a pretty white hooded dress with a star print lining the hood. So it's so neat that today you should post this! Really beautiful job--I just adore the Union Jack print you used! :) Now it's making me want to pull out my hooded-dress pattern from the late 30s. ;)

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  44. What do I think? I think I'm jealous, Miss Little Red Riding Hood! Seriously, I love it, and the British flag contrast, too cute!

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  45. This is one of the cutest things I've ever seen!
    -Andi x

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  46. This is absolutely stunning! I love the cut, the color (yummy!), and the lining is adorable! ~ Peggy http://peggyscloset.blogspot.com/

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  47. Lovely! The hood is perfect for this unpredictable Edinburgh weather, and you are right about the back princess seams - lovely!

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  48. Thank you everyone for the lovely comments! I am really excited about this dress :)

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  49. Debi, it's just fantastic! I saw it in the meetup pics so I'm so glad to get a closer look at it. I love the lined hood, the contrast peeking out with the folded over pockets, and the hood itself! What a great idea! Not nearly enough things have hoods, such a useful item for those of us who live in climates that enjoy dumping rain on wind us. :D

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  50. Wow, what a fun, different dress. It's really lovely. Weren't you exhuasted Saturday??

    Your hair looks great in these pics BTW. I have a serious case of hair envy right now.

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  51. I love this! If only I was capable of sewing something like that.

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  52. Your hair is so gorgeous in these pics! x

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  53. This is god darn gorgeous, you look cute as a button! x

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  54. This is absolutely beautiful, I love everything about it! Who would have thought that it would come from a lowly looking pattern, I find it difficult to sometimes envision what patterns will look like made up. This is wonderful!

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  55. A fabulous result - the contrast fabric for the pocket flaps and hood lining are perfect. Very inspiring! And ditto - you are cute as a button!! :)

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  56. Oh Wow! I think I'm i love with your dress! What a cute pattern!

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  57. I think this is just stunning on you and it put me in the mood to search out a pattern to make one. I see there is also a Simplicity pattern around the same year. Haven't found a reproduction yet or a vintage one but I'll keep looking. Gaberdine is so nice for this dress. I was born in 1941 so the women were wearing clothing like this when I was a child!

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  58. This is super cute.  Would you ever consider drafting a pattern of it for say... me a stranger who has just found your blog.

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  59. I love that dress, such a great pattern. How can I find this pattern? Ps I love the fabric you choose for inside the hood and pockets! Great job

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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