Finished - a 60's inspired mashup Audrey

My husband turned 40 in early July, and decided he wanted a party at home. Initially he wanted all guests to dress as Elvis - no exceptions. But eventually I was able to talk him into a slightly more flexible dress code - a 60's theme. For my outfit I had a slightly ulterior motive - I wanted to make a knit long sleeve funnel neck frock from a fabulous navy and black stable knit I'd been stashing since last year....



Teamed with a bouffant, yellow tights and black knee high boots it was a great party outfit (no decent pics from the night though I'm afraid). And even better, I've worn it a heap since. It's just really hard to get decent pics because it is so dark. This is the best I have come up with.....


It was a pretty simple but multiple- patterned mashup - I printed off another version of the Maria Denmark Audrey dress (I made a summer version here) and this time used the Plantain tee for the sleeves and upper body, used Gertie's Vintage Casual instructions to convert the neckline from a scoop to a boat neck (similar instructions can also be found in the Built By Wendy book for knits). I then made a simple collar by cutting a rectangle band 85% the diameter of the neckline circumference and stretching to fit.









This time I also adjusted the Audrey pattern to be far less A-line before I cut the fabric out (my first attempt at this with a different was a terrible fail as I tried to adjust the line of the skirt after sewing). 


Best pattern weight ever. Or not. 

I used my self drafted knit skirt to get the shape I was after - now that I've removed the cat you should just make out at the bottom how much I've deviated from the pattern A-line. I'd even consider pegging it a little more for my next version. Also I can't believe it's taken me this long to think of cutting out the dart to make marking so much easier on a PDF! 



I've said it before, but I really like the Audrey pattern as a basis for a knit dress. It's pretty common for many women to need shaping in the lower back in a knit dress, and these back darts provide that without the whole shebang having to have negative ease. I'm sorry I didn't get a pic from the back - but it's pretty similar to my other one. Definitely a winter fave this year. 







Comments

  1. Nicely mashed - looks stylish and comfy ;o)

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    1. Thanks Christy - it's getting a good workout this winter!

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  3. You look fabulous! You are so clever at the mash ups :)

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  4. Such an excellent fabric for this design!

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    1. Thanks Morgan - I just love the fabric, I'm so glad I let it stash until the perfect pattern was found for it!

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  5. Oooh, I really like this! But I'm very disappointed there is no pic of you with a bouffant hairdo :-(

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    1. Thanks Gail - me too, it was really quite a fab combination.

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    2. Love the shape of this, its gorgeous on you. Such a good idea to cut the darts out of your PDFs, I'm definitely stealing that idea!

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    3. Yeah it was a lightbulb moment when I thought of it!

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  6. This is such a cute winter dress!! I love the little collar too :D (and the cat pattern weight)

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    1. Thanks Katie, the collar is one if my fave features too!

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  7. Looks really good on you. I love funnel necks - secret scarves. I've got one of those pattern weights too :).

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    1. Thanks Debra! She volunteers her services at the most inconvenient of times....

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  8. Simple but effective. Love it styled with tights and boots.

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    1. Thanks Gail, it's so easy for a cold day when I can't be bothered thinking about an outfit!

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  9. Really gorgeous; chic and elegant. You look lovely in navy blue :)

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    1. Thanks Carolyn - I've been getting a lot more into navy in recent years, and I love navy and black together!

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  10. I really love this! It looks so effortlessly stylish, and I think the new neckline looks fantastic. Although I've seen this pattern before, it didn't really "register", but this might be just the thing for some special linen jersey I've got that's been waiting for the right knit dress pattern....thanks!

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    1. Ooh hope it works out - does the jersey have any Lycra? It might need some for recovery.....

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