Another happy dress!
If you are on Instagram at all and have similar people in your feed as me, then you are gonna know this fabric well. The, by now ubiquitous, pineapple print linen from Darn Cheap Fabrics.
For me my
But we do know I have a thing for fruit fabric (see here and here and there are a few more in the works). It's a disease I tell you. And I had to have pineapples.
This fabric turned out to be a bit tricky. It's a super heavy weight linen, with a lot of body and little to no drape. I ummed and ahhhed for quite a while. I had envisaged shamelessly ripping of Kirsty's idea of culottes, but this fabric and that silhouette were never gonna work on my frame. So I put it aside and powered on with my Sunshine on a Rainy Day happy dress.
And then, I had my answer. This fabric, and that dress, sans ruffles were gonna be best friends.
There's not much more to say about this dress (details from my previous version), except that I left off the ruffles because one happy dress with ridiculously mega ruffles is
I also broke my cardinal rule in making this dress. Never make the same pattern twice. Maybe it's not so much a rule as something I've just never undertaken. I usually love my makes so much that making another version feels to me like it might devalue the first (is this why I stopped at one child... now there's a thought). But I love this easy wear style so much I just had to do it again.
The only other change I made was to try and channel sophisticated Jillian. She doesn't get out much, so we'll give her a break. Woohoo!
Another happy dress! Yay! I didn't realise this linen was so heavy. I struggle not to make each of my patterns up over and over again because I get a little smitten with them. I have to force myself to move on.
ReplyDeleteJillian, this is a perfect marriage! The linen i heay but I predict some lovely softening up and gosh, I love this dress.
ReplyDeleteThis is a winning happy dress Jillian. Those pockets... swoon. We might make you a regular pattern repeater yet!
ReplyDeleteYes, this is definitely a happy dress. You do pineapples so well. I think the style suits it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI love it, such a nice dress and the fabric is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI think this is my favorite of all the pineapple makes and that's a tough call. I also prefer the dress without the ruffles. A perfect hot weather dress. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteJ, you are officially The Queen of Summertime in this number! So, so happy! And yay for breaking the no repeat rule- more of a good thing can often be RAD!
ReplyDeleteI loved happy dress 'the eldest' and love this pineapple fabric so I was always going to like their baby ;) You look so tropical, I know the linen is heavy, but you look fabulously cool and ready for whatever summer may bring ;)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Amanda - definitely "Queen of summer" The pattern choice was brilliant. Why wouldn't you make the same pattern twice ... it's not the pattern in my opinion it's the entire combination pattern + mods + fabric + lots of other stuff I cant't think now of, that make a dress - a unique dress ( a beautiful unique dress) !!!
ReplyDeleteYou rock the pineapples, Jillian! I find this dress very elegant on you, and interestingly, without the shoulder ruffles, it looks like a different pattern to happy dress the first! I'm sure the stiffness in the fabric will drop out in the wash - hope you have loads of happy wears from this dress!
ReplyDeleteIt's marvellous! And very different to the 'first child' so I'm sure you can love them equally! I do laugh every time I see that fabric in Darn Cheap (which is WAY TOO OFTEN as it's at the end of my street). That shape suits you beautifully and how awesome is it to make up repeat offenders that are so different! A triumph my friend, a fruity triumph!
ReplyDeleteYay for the happy dress! In the process of making this I really wasn't feeling it. I stopped and had to force myself to keep going. I'm glad I did, but the distraction was partly the lure of new projects :) I'm a bit of a butterfly that way
ReplyDeleteThank you Kirsty! I do look forward to it softening a bit. I like the stiffness in this style though as it keeps a nice shape, but some softening would make the fabric more wearable.
ReplyDeleteI nearly didn't finish it, Anna! I was getting distracted by the bow blouse and my constantly postponed Bombshell swimsuit. I'm glad I made it, but I have no plans for further "children" as yet ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie. It's taken me a while to work out my style, but I do feel completely comfortable in my makes these days, so I'm thinking I'm heading in the right direction. Japanese patterns all the way!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's high praise! There are so many amazing makes with this fabric out there. But thank you! Funny, I thought hubby would prefer no frills but he said he felt they were missing from this dress. Weird, never thought of him as a ruffle fan. The ruffles sometimes make me feel a little theatrical in the original dress, and whilst that's fine for one dress, I'm happy I left them off this one.
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you Dame A! I will wear that crown with great pride and feel the heavy weight of its responsibilities. I will also strive for great radness in your honour x
ReplyDeleteI think we always love our first best, don't we? Just joking, we love them all equally! ;) I do feel very tropical in this dress, hence the compulsion to place a flower in my hair. Ah summer, it truly is my season...
ReplyDeleteThank you Sasha! Yes, I think if you make some changes and use different fabrics, one pattern made two times can appear very different. I'm happy to have both dresses in my wardrobe and I'm hoping to make this one a little trans-seasonal. The fabric is heavy enough that I think with some tights and a cardigan it can take me well into Autumn.
ReplyDeleteGabrielle, I do feel elegant in this dress... or was that just putting on some heels for the first time in... years? Thank you for your kind words, I'm looking forward to many wears!
ReplyDeleteIsn't "marvellous" a great word? And "triumph", that's another good one. I'm happy to accept both, lovely Sarah!
ReplyDeleteHaha! that pineapple fabric is pretty gorgeous! and I've loved seeing everyone's different creations using the same fabric pop up on IG too. Though it was strictly confined to the eastern states since we never got the fabric over here.
ReplyDeleteYou girls are all totally rocking it. It should have been a "challenge" I think. Like, "interpreting the pineapple" or something, with a button and all.
Fantastic! It is perfect - so glad you chose a dress over culottes - this suits you so well. X
ReplyDeleteFabulous dress, a perfect style to showcase those pineapples.
ReplyDeleteThe dress is beautiful! I think it stands alone, even if you have sewn this pattern in another fabric. I used to not sew from the same pattern, but once I started using them repeatedly, I haven't been able to stop myself. Each time I revisit a pattern, it's easier and faster to put together. It's a nice break from the challenges of a new pattern.
ReplyDeleteWow. You look great in this style and with lovely pineapples too. It's such a lovely fabric to wear.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love the shape of this dress and the pockets, it looks fantastic on you! Being a bit of a heavier linen I love how it looks with the a-line shape. I am always making patterns i like multiple times, i find it a lot less stressful the subsequent times as i know pretty much how it will turn out, with the exception of how the different fabric behaves. A pineapple blog button is a great idea from Carolyn - but then again I would need to know how to put one on my blog…!
ReplyDeleteHah! There has been talk of arranging a pineapple flash mob! Now that would be cool :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel! I'm still thinking about another pair of cullottes. Maybe a solid red... and I never do solids
ReplyDeleteThank you! The fabric is so busy I think it's best to just let it shine and keep the dress simple :)
ReplyDeleteAwwww thank you. It was nice to just wizz through the construction on the second one, there was no head scratching!
ReplyDeleteThanks Maria, I'm pretty happy with the results. I've loved seeing everyone's makes (including yours), so much variety out of one fabric!
ReplyDeleteThanks Emma. This dress shape is a winner for my body type and I adore the pockets too. Maybe I'm converted to making multiples!
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to make this dress since I saw it on Very Purple Person. And now after seeing yours I doubly want to make it - I saw your ruffle version too. Sublime!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate! I can highly recommend it. I had both the ruffle and pineapple versions laid out on the weekend and strangely my very girly 4yr old insisted "pineapples, pineapples", so you can guess what I wore. I see you are a fellow Japanese patterns freak, yay for us! :)
ReplyDeletewhohoo and another one! Sans bow - sans ruffles - you totally made it!
ReplyDeleteGeorgeous!
Don't you love a woohoo, Monika?! Thanks so much for the compliment :)
ReplyDelete