Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Three Bristol Dresses



I bought the Bristol Dress/Top pattern at The Sewing Workshop's booth when I attended the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup WA in 2015.  The TSW ladies were wearing theirs in various knits.  It's a cozy, casual and stylish dress for laying, which you have to do in Puyallup in February, and fall/winter months here in Asheville, NC.  I had inspiration overload when I returned and my sights on spring when I got home with lots of snow on the ground when I left, and more when I returned.   Here are photos of the 3 Bristol dresses I sewed up while it snowed last week, and I'm still playing!

This pattern, like the TSW Odette top pattern that I have sewn several of,  allows one to treat your fabric like a puzzle that I enjoy.  So, like the Odette top, I made several of these and will probably sew up more.   It's a fun, Anthropologie like style that is very adaptable, depending on the knit you use.    I used a novelty overprinted slinky for the body and sleeves of my first one.  I planned to use a black ponte knit for the contrast, but decided it was too much "black", instead used the beige stretch pique, picking up the color of the floral motifs.  It's the same pique I used to make this Cutting Line Designs Pure and Simple jacket.  One of my friends remarked that the black floral slinky dress has a Downton Abby vibe.  

The second one is in an emerald green/black ponte knit from Fabric Mart with black matte jersey contrast hem bands and cuffs.   It's a showstopper!  The mulberry one below is in the same puckery/lacy knit that I used for a long skirt and a Eureka top.  This time I cut the yoke on the bias and stablized the yoke/body seam with the fusible knit stabilizer tape.   It coordinates with those, and many other  Berry and Chocolate Coordinates I've sewn. 

In terms of construction,  I found that a 4 thread serged seam worked best for the body, sleeve and yoke seams.   I used fusible tricot knit stay tape for the yokes and other areas that needed it.   You can eliminate the cuff if you want to.   I cut the sleeves for the mulberry one on the interesting ruffled selvedge.  

This is a great pattern to play with and use remnants that are just too good to toss!   I've uploaded many more photos of these to my Bristol Dress Flickr album.    I'm always up to something in the sewing chamber, but am a lazy blogger.   If you want to see what I'm up to, and get some inspiration to sew your own, just check my Flickr photos.

8 comments:

  1. Terri, these are fabulous! I especially like the mulberry plaid one--it has a very elegant look about it. It's nice to see someone make this pattern up. I've had the pattern since it first came out, but haven't gotten to it yet. I've been unsure about the dropped-shoulder yoke. Your versions really show how versatile the pattern is, creating both fun and cute winter looks, as well as elegant more dressy outfits. I need to get my copy of this pattern out of the drawer!

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    1. Thank you Marcy! I did the same thing, with some of the same reservations. Have fun with it. I'm going to lengthen their top version to tunic length.

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  2. Amazing dresses Terri - love them all. I think I need to consider adding that pattern as I can see it working very well in the classroom. Jacqui

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  3. Ohhhh Terri, how fabulous! Such inspiration. Elaine.

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  4. Did you see that Sewing Workshop featured your Bristol dresses on their Facebook page yesterday? How cool. looks great too!!!!!

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    1. Thank you Prencella. They know me, and are familiar with my work since I have attended their workshops and sewing shows for years. If you look at my Flickr photo albums, you will see all the TSW patterns I have sewn.

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